Well, I am a professional bladesmith, and have been for 20 years now, full time. I really only got into kilts a couple of years ago. This summer I took my kids to the second annual youth hammer-in (knifemaking classes for kids), sponsored by the American Bladesmith Society, and held at Smoky Mountain Knifeworks in Sevierville, TN. I was kilted the whole time. I wore a Matt Newsome box pleat when not working, and a box pleated kilt of my own make for working in at the event (I was one of the instructors as well as taking my kids to learn). There was only one ignoramus who tried all weekend to insult me into a confrontation. I managed to ignore him for the most part, and outwit him when I could not (that was not difficult). The main movers at the event all know me and have for many years, since I have been an ABS Master Smith since 1992, and a couple of them are actually quite good friends. Most of the conversation about the kilt was where to get one, and which tartan is that ?

I do wear a kilt almost everywhere now, and work in my own shop in a kilt almost all the time, but alone, so I don't know how much that helps.

I think the most important thing is to be confident in who you are.

If you are comfortable in your own skin, and with what you see in the mirror in the morning, less if this stuff is an issue. If not, well then there is work to do in other areas of your life, aside from wardrobe and the response to it.