Public reactions to the kilt

[wildrover]

Tobus,

This is all part of being part of the Kilted world. The drones find us different because well we are and i for one am very happy with that. Water off a ducks back mate

My drones have never complained .

I wasn't even wearing my kilt over the weekend, and got a few comments. Wednesday, after realizing that I was out of space in the luggage (mostly, it was the pipes in the way), I regretfully left the kilt at home (yep, TSA had to feel The Resistance through my pants). BTW I would've been wearing the kilt, it's just that I would've had to either find a place for the footwear I normally dance in (smooth soled boots), or swing in Docs, which as I've mentioned before doesn't work well. No room = no kilt. The funny part is, after all our (ok, my) griping about TSA...the guy working the xray thought it was awesome that I play. I should've been kilted.

Thursday, I brought them (the pipes) out for about an hour in Frick Park...if anyone here is from Pittsburgh, you'll likely know Frick Part...got a ton of compliments, and a couple people asked where my kilt was. Second dose of dammitol taken for the weekend...shoulda been kilted, after all I was out for a run/hike along the backwoods trails anyway. Tunes: Mrs John MacColl, Sands of Kuwait, Major Alastair Ritchie, 79th Farewell to Gibraltar, and the usual massed band/parade classics.

Saturday turned out to be formal night (found out about it after I got off the plane)...and I immediately kicked myself for not sorting out the luggage. I mentally booted myself again, when I noticed one of the other guys wearing his UK at the dance.

Here's where it got good...I went over and said hi, we got to talking, and he mentioned there was a guy in Denver who wore his kilt to swing/blues in the past. Further questioning revealed that he was talking about me (there is a thread about it elsewhere). Third mental boot to the head...where is my bottle of dammitol!

Two ladies asked me for a hand on the way out, carrying some stuff down to the cars...while wearing pants, I was asked The Question, and the Standard Answer (socks, shoes, sometimes lipstick) got a good laugh .

That makes twice in two months that I have regretted not being kilted . This must stop.

[mbhandy]

Small towns are great. I live in one and the only comments I get now is when I don't wear my kilts.

MrBill

[thescot]

Tobus, from the responses you cited and quoted, it sounds like your small town is a pretty good place to wear a kilt. And, like mbhandy said above, they do get used to you pretty quikcly in a small town. I konw that they have around here. No one in the "downtown" area thinks twice about seeing me in a kilt anymore. Unless it's a tourist, and I don't even wear one every day.

[Tobus]

Tobus, from the responses you cited and quoted, it sounds like your small town is a pretty good place to wear a kilt.

Those responses were not from my small town... they were from people in San Antonio, 50 miles away.

[Bill aka Mole]

I went to Charleston yesterday to see my niece who is currently on leave from her ship. I had quite a few compliments with the best one being from two Scottish gents near the Pineapple Fountain on the waterfront. Both thought I looked very good even if I wasn't of Scottish descent.

After 22 years in the Navy and visiting various ports around the world wearing various uniforms while in-port (including a local regulation for civilian attire for various paygrades), I'm used to being stared at by others. I smile and walk with confidence, a tactic that has saved my buns a few times.

[EagleJCS]

After 22 years in the Navy and visiting various ports around the world wearing various uniforms while in-port (including a local regulation for civilian attire for various paygrades), I'm used to being stared at by others. I smile and walk with confidence, a tactic that has saved my buns a few times.

I sometimes get stares when I'm in my Scout uniform while doing an errand (either on the way to or from a Scout event). That got me used to being stared at (or at least getting confused looks), so it doesn't bother me when I'm kilted. I guess some people just aren't accustomed to seeing someone take pride in their appearance. I just look them in the eye, smile, and nod (and maybe say 'hi' if I'm close enough).

[Slowburn]

Tobus,
I am waiting for my first tank in that exact fabric. I thank you for posting the picture I was wondering if browns would have looked good with the tartan, and with your photo I can say they do. I think your experience is what one could expect in many areas of this country. Having not had the pleasure of stepping out in public kilted I cannot yet relate. You confidence will carry the day.

[Jordan]

That makes twice in two months that I have regretted not being kilted . This must stop.

You need to sort yourself out there. Or buy shares in Dammitol

[wildrover]

You need to sort yourself out there. Or buy shares in Dammitol

Damn right I do . Kilt is being released back in to the wild tonight .

[Detroitpete]

Last weekend--like most, I was kilted the entire time. Saturday night was opera and dinner with my wife and our friend. Sunday was a kirking of the tartans. I had two very different experiences. At the opera I had a few pleasant comments. After the show we walked across the street to a VERY nice upscale place for food and drinks. I'm using the head when a gentleman of about my age--but a few more drinks under his belt than I says a litany of the usual cross-dress etc comments. I let him finish as I washed my hands and then turned to him and said, "I'm not sure how you found the means to enjoy this fine establishment, but obviously, however you've attained this--it didn't buy you a bit of class".

The next day was pure kilted joy at the kirking of the tartans conducted by our local St. Andrew's society.

Today it's off to the museum, fine art film theatre and dinner. All whilst kilted. I'm sure to get a mix of responses. I've wore a kilt long enough now to not let the negative comments get under my skin too much--and see the positive comments as a chance to be an 'ambassador' for we kilities