The "Don of Fear"

[BBNC]

I didn't know what to expect the first time I donned my kilt, I was going to a family gathering, non-Scottish side of the family at that. The first comment was from a stranger at a quick stop where I picked up ice and drinks on the way; she remarked how nice I looked (she was Scottish). My better half was beaming when she heard that! At the picnic, the only derogatory remarks were from a couple of my brothers, but what do they know? Most everyone else wanted to know what the kilt represented, so I simply explained the Scottish connection (Muirhead) on my mother's side of the family. After that, there was nothing to it.

I will admit though, I don't wear it often and still feel somewhat conspicuous unless I'm with other kilt-wearers.

As David Farragut said, "damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead!" (US Navy tradition) He was a Civil War Admiral of Scotch-Irish descent.

[Rick Y]

Other than wearing the kilt in the privacy of your own home (which does serve a useful purpose of accustomizing you to the feel of wearing a kilt, probably the easiest place to start in your public kilt wearing is to attend kilted nights out. If, that is, you are lucky enough to have something decently local. If not, start one! It needs no agenda...just a place to meet and talk and have access to food and drink.

[thecompaqguy]

It was the denim kilt today sans sporran... pics to follow

[Alan H]

Mate, I have to ask....why do you care what other people think?

I mean, there's no reason to be a raging, aggressive jerk about the kilt, or about anything else, eh? However, exactly whom are you hurting by wearing a kilt, so that you should be concerned about anybody elses thoughts regarding it?

People will notice you in your kilt. Yes, they will. So what? It's not like you're parading around stark naked. If you're absolutely terrified about anybody "noticing" you for any reason, whatsoever, then the issues you have, have NOTHING to do with "kilts" and everything to do with self-esteem. Those are hard words, eh?

If you want to wear your kilt, then wear it. If you don't, then don't. Simple enough. Don't make more out of it than it is.

Just so you know, the first time I wore a kilt I was ready to stare down or beat down anybody who called me out on it and was a jerk about it. After one day went by I realized that simply wasn't going to happen. In seven years of frequent kilt-wearing, I can recount about four negative interactions, balanced by literally hundreds of positive ones. Note that those are sprinkled throughout THOUSANDS of hours of nobody saying a darned thing to me about the kilt, at all. A few people notice, here and there. Mostly nobody says a word and I just go about my business.

On the other hand, a seriously hot babe, easily twenty-five years my junior spotted me coming around the corner behind the bank today, and stopped and looked me up and down. She quite brazenly and said... "Now, that's NICE". I looked her up and down and said... "I could say the same thing about you." She smiled. Everybody wins.

Relax. Don't make more out of it, than it is.

[tpa]

"Those who matter won't mind, and those who mind probably don't matter."

Great quote.

(Firefighting and horseback riding, for example, are two activities that are decidedly not kilt-friendly. )

Wonder how the Scots got round prior to mechanised transport and 1746?

[MinusHD]

I'm still a newbie, and I'm not fully over the fear, but I'm getting there. At this point I have to agree that there's no rational reason for the fear... I've only had positive experiences in a kilted state, so I'm certain my confidence level will continue the upward curve. It's actually enjoyable to be different, and the comfort is second to none. I'm looking forward to adding a more traditional kilt next to my basic original Sport Kilt in the closet in the near future. Let's keep on kilting!

[Godot]

I made sure to buff up on all the witty comebacks for the various kilt comments the third time I wore a kilt (if I recall the first two were kilt events so I was in a crowd of the kilted). I held my head up and strode confidently into the restaurant (I did cheat a little, it was a British themed restaurant) and I got some nice compliments, the waitress asked about the tartan, and on my way out after dinner a drop dead gorgeous woman about my age looked me up and down and gave me that "look" with a smile... I decided I would wear kilts more often after that haha. You get the occasional heckle or "skirt" comment, but you get far more positive comments and it's a great conversation starter to meet new people.

[thecompaqguy]

Mate, I have to ask....why do you care what other people think?

I mean, there's no reason to be a raging, aggressive jerk about the kilt, or about anything else, eh? However, exactly whom are you hurting by wearing a kilt, so that you should be concerned about anybody elses thoughts regarding it?

People will notice you in your kilt. Yes, they will. So what? It's not like you're parading around stark naked. If you're absolutely terrified about anybody "noticing" you for any reason, whatsoever, then the issues you have, have NOTHING to do with "kilts" and everything to do with self-esteem. Those are hard words, eh?

If you want to wear your kilt, then wear it. If you don't, then don't. Simple enough. Don't make more out of it than it is.

Just so you know, the first time I wore a kilt I was ready to stare down or beat down anybody who called me out on it and was a jerk about it. After one day went by I realized that simply wasn't going to happen. In seven years of frequent kilt-wearing...

Relax. Don't make more out of it, than it is.

I am relaxed, we're all at different stages of kilting hence the name of this thread

I seem to have killed the thread. Whoops :mrgreen:

I have set teeth on edge here, such a shame as I was explaining that it is a journey of sorts, with stages, being levels of confidence... some will be more bold than others, some of us have varying circumstances... so an angry outburst of "wear the kilt or do not" doesn't really cut it here... no one's making more of it than it is... The Mrs alternates between liking the kilt a little, to not very much, but regardless I wear it when I want to... sometimes it's nice to stand out, I am still an individual. Any kilt stands out, but it is good to have another option apart from shorts or trousers

[Kalok Sundancer]

I think that I might be one of the "rare" exceptions. Prior to wearing a kilt, I was already comfortable with whom I am and what I am. I have been comfortable wearing a kilt since the very first time I put one in, which was less than a year ago. I didn't treat it as "special". I treated it as another article of clothing, and viewed it as such. I genuinely do not care what others think of me wearing my kilt. I wear it because I want to and because I feel like it; not because of others.

One of my Lodge brothers, who incidentally is Scottish and a piper, told me that the first time he saw me in my kilt, that I looked as comfortable with it as if I had been wearing it all of my life.

[Mike_Oettle]

Kiltedjohn wrote:

For me the real problem is that my wife doesn't like the attention it gets. I would probably wear it much more often if I had only myself to consider.

My wife doesn’t like the attention, and she also doesn’t like the kilt. Period. But I love the freedom it gives me.
She says people mock me and she feels hurt for my part. But I don’t care if people mock me. A great many more folk pay me compliments.
Long live the kilt!
Regards,
Mike