Is it possible to wear a kilt and not look like you're from Scotland?

[MacKenzie]

With the greatest of respect that is exactly the problem! Many Scots DO think that you are trying to dress as a Scot, particularly at a Highland Games. You may think that you look very smart and you are in your way, you may think that you are being a Canadian/ American/Wherever doing your own thing but the tartan kilt, hose, flashes, bonnet, stick scuppers that idea in Scots eyes -------. Not only that, i go back to my point that the unknowing man in the street the world over thinks "tartan kilt = Scotland".

I don't think this divergence of viewpoint and consequential opinion will ever be reconciled.

One cannot argue that "tartan kilt = Scotland". Or can you? How many times have we seen on this board a post where someone in a kilt is asked by the unknowing man in the street, "Are you Irish?" or, "Are you from Australia?" and so on?

Is it possible to wear a [tartan] kilt and not look like you're from Scotland? Yes. Even if you are wearing a kilt in Scotland. Or is the "Tartan Army" look now the defacto stereotype?

Is it possible to wear BDUs* and not look like you're in the US Armed Forces? Yes, but the unknowing man in the street the world over thinks "BDUs = Military".

Is it possible to wear a scrubs and not look like you're in the medical profession? Yes, but the unknowing man in the street the world over thinks "scrubs = Doctor or Nurse".

You'll never be able to reconcile the opinion of the unknowing man in the street. It's a variable too large.


* Apologies to Father Bill. BDU = Battle Dress Uniform.