Kilted in the mall

**Alan** · 24th November 05, 11:27 PM

The other day I was at the mall to get pictures made of my family. I was wearing my traditional kilt in the Macleod tartan. While waiting to get the proofs of the pictures we walked through the different stores doing some Christmas shopping. After a few minutes in a store I noticed a family following me around. I guess I was a novelty because this family just wanted to show their daughter a man in a kilt. They were very nice about it and even said how good it looked. Other comments while walking through the mall were varied. One guy came up to me an said how much he liked the kilt and wished that he had the guts to wear one. Of course one of the comments from the younger crowed was "who does he think he is, braveheard. I just ignored them. I did get a lot of people staring but all in all the comments were mostly good. Interesting night though.

**Ranald** · 25th November 05, 03:02 AM

Originally Posted by snipe481

The other day I was at the mall to get pictures made of my family. I was wearing my traditional kilt in the Macleod tartan. While waiting to get the proofs of the pictures we walked through the different stores doing some Christmas shopping. After a few minutes in a store I noticed a family following me around. I guess I was a novelty because this family just wanted to show their daughter a man in a kilt. They were very nice about it and even said how good it looked. Other comments while walking through the mall were varied. One guy came up to me an said how much he liked the kilt and wished that he had the guts to wear one. Of course one of the comments from the younger crowed was "who does he think he is, braveheard. I just ignored them. I did get a lot of people staring but all in all the comments were mostly good. Interesting night though.

It's funny you say that, I was out with the family last weekend, went to Aberdeen (Bon Accord Centre) shopping mall. The reaction was startling, you'd have thought they had never seen a guy in a kilt before, it was like the parting of the waves.Well actually I felt like a film star.
No-one though came and asked anything or offered any comments.
I feel sometimes though that the best thing to keep in mind is 'who cares what everybody else thinks'.

**Graham** · 25th November 05, 03:30 AM

Ranald, that still amazes me, being in Scotland. How are you regarded do you think? an oddball? a tourist?
Would that Scotland could embrace it's own National garment with greater enthusiasm!!

Snipe, I was in town today, all I got was giggles from teenagers. well done for stepping out kilted!

**Martyn** · 28th November 05, 10:27 AM

Originally Posted by Ranald

It's funny you say that, I was out with the family last weekend, went to Aberdeen (Bon Accord Centre) shopping mall. The reaction was startling, you'd have thought they had never seen a guy in a kilt before, it was like the parting of the waves.Well actually I felt like a film star.
No-one though came and asked anything or offered any comments.
I feel sometimes though that the best thing to keep in mind is 'who cares what everybody else thinks'.

Always wear the kilt in Scotland 100% of the time, no body bats an eye; so I am supprised at this comment!

Cheers...
Martyn

**GlassMan** · 28th November 05, 12:08 PM

It's been a long time since I met anyone whose hand was LARGE enough to comfortably fit on my massive behind!

Seriously, I'm actually a frequent visitor to one of the malls near my house and most of the merchants look forward to when I get a new kilt so that I can show it off!

**Ranald** · 28th November 05, 12:59 PM

Originally Posted by Martyn

Always wear the kilt in Scotland 100% of the time, no body bats an eye; so I am supprised at this comment!

Cheers...
Martyn

Well I'm surprised too.Sad but true.
Maybe it's an location thing, like I hear Edinburgh no-one would bat an eyelid,
but then again I do not live in Edinburgh.
Out of interest where did you go in Scotland and where are you now in the south east of England ?

**Hamish** · 28th November 05, 06:30 PM

Originally Posted by Martyn

Always wear the kilt in Scotland 100% of the time, no body bats an eye; so I am supprised at this comment!

Cheers...
Martyn

Much the same for me too Martyn. I try to get up there several times each year and have had very little reaction to my kilts - even the non-tartan casual ones! Having said that, on one occasion I was at the check-out in a supermarket in Elgin when a small toddler pointing to me yelled at his mother, "Look! Look there's a Highlander!"

I could only think it was something to do with the way I walked!!;)

**Martyn** · 29th November 05, 04:26 AM

Originally Posted by Hamish

Much the same for me too Martyn. I try to get up there several times each year and have had very little reaction to my kilts - even the non-tartan casual ones! Having said that, on one occasion I was at the check-out in a supermarket in Elgin when a small toddler pointing to me yelled at his mother, "Look! Look there's a Highlander!"

I could only think it was something to do with the way I walked!!;)

Indeed Hamish, I wore my black TFCK for a whole week in Scotland during the summer; not one look or comment did I notice. Did some shopping in the "mall" next to Britania, still no looks or anything. I did the same with the black kilt at Blue Water (Nr London for those outside of the UK) now there I did get some looks, cirtainly more than the time before when I wore a Tartan; at least thst is according to the wife!

Take it easy
Martyn

**highlander_Daz** · 29th November 05, 04:35 AM

I dont wear it full time although I would like to, several times a week for pipeing and on occasions and special days, the further North you head the more likely you are to see someone in the Kilt.

**Kilted Gunfighter** · 29th November 05, 05:15 AM

New member here... Hello all! Some of you I know from other forums, so it is nice to see you again!

As for my kilted experiences at "the mall" I have had almost all positive experiences.

I can't wear a kilt at work, as I wear a uniform, but I am usually kilted when I am not working, and certainly all weekend.

Since I have been wearing kilts (4 or 5 years now), I have heard the following types of comments:

In the home improvement (DIY for you lot in the UK) stores:

"Cool Kilt!"

"Hey, you're the third guy to wear a kilt in the store today!" (This was just this past weekend)

Child: "Mommy! that man is wearing a skirt!"
Mommy: "Thats a kilt, honey. Thats what a real man looks like" (where was that woman when I was single!?!?)

In the local bookstore (where I spend SO much of my money)

Red-haired, green eyed stunner: "Bill! How are you? Sorry I didn't recognize you, I've never seen you with your pants on." (I thought the older lady a few feet away was going to have a heart attack right there!)

"Excuse me sir, my son wants a kilt like that... where did you get it?"

"Oh, how sexy is that!"

"Dude! Dude! That kilts rocks, dude!" (like, DUDE!, I am getting old, dude!)

At Disneyworld:

Young Scotsman: "Oi, where'd you get tha' kilt?" (I was wearing a black Utilikilt) "I like tha', oh aye, I REALLY like tha'!"

At the local mall (frequented by lots of British tourists):

Young Scotsman: "I gotta get one of those when I get home!"

"Sir? Can we take a picture with you?"

I could go on, but it seems to me that either kilkts are the "coolest" thing ever, and America just loves them, or people that think that wearing a kilt is strange are just keeping their mouths shut... and as most of you know, my countrymen rarely keep their mouths shut about anything.

Bill