Kilt-friendly places?

[Paco500]

Everywhere I've been in my kilt has been friendly. In Northern Virginia/Washington, DC, I see another kilted guy once every few months or so. Either dressed in formal attire or kicking around IKEA in a UK.

We have the "Scottish Walk" every winter in Old Town Alexandria, so kilts pop up quite a bit around then.

[Rigged]

There's one other "kilt guy" in my neighborhood. We had a kilt night in Sunnyvale that went well in my opinion.

As anyplace, some people get it and some don't. I don't recall getting any negative comments, except for a couple of yahoos shouting from a passing car.

[porrick]

Having just returned from a trip to York, I'd have to add it to the list of kilt friendly places - no reaction to wearing my black Mercy kilt.

There is an old city ordinance that is still standing today: it is permitted to kill off any kilted Scot within the city walls - provided it is done with a long-bow.

As you pulled it off, I'll bring my kilt along when I go to York in September... I'll just have to be on the watch for long-bows, though (!)

[flairball]

I'm a new kilt wearer, and I'm stil trying to decide if Boston is a kilt friendly place. I haven't recieved any negative feedback while wearing it around some of the more progressive areas, or areas near the universities. In fact just the opposite. I've received compliments, smiles, and over heard pleasent remarks.

Haven't worn it to any of the Irish-American communities yet. Ironically this is where I think I might recieve the most negative feed back. Unfortunately, the Irish-Americans in this area tend to be a bit parochial in their thinking. Lots of followers, very few leaders, group think and such. I don't think many would recognize the kilt as part of their Celtic heritage.

I did wear it to an Irish pub last night. Was well received too, but then again I always am when I go there.

[Mithral]

Ozone...that's awesome!

Asheville, NC is probably one of the few places in the South that a guy in a kilt will receive very little attention...at least downtown. I can safely say that I can't stroll very far in downtown Asheville without seeing something much more unusual than a kilt. I guess thats why we are "The Paris of the South"

Malls, Wal-Mart, and the auto parts store...that's a different story!

Heh, yeah. Honestly, the only negative response (and it wasn't too bad really) I've had since I moved here was when I was walking through the halls at ABTech and as I passed out of earshot (or after she thought I did anyway) an older woman started saying to her friend, "Oh my god! Was he wearing a skirt? He was wearing a skirt." Annoying? yes. Anti-kilt? Not really. Most people here seem to like mine.

[The Wizard of BC]

I beg to differ with that other person on that other post but the friendliest place to wear a kilt is MY shop. It fact, it's my entire town. It is not unusual to see other kilted brethren here at all. We even have an official "Pipers Corner".

In MY shop we allow all forms of kilt wearers. Even if they don't adhere to tradition and wear those funny, striped and multi-colored things you keep trying to call kilts. Heck we even allow those who can't spell, and wear cilts.
You can wear your kilt into MY shop and be greeted with a cup of coffee and even a cookie. Even if you can't afford pockets in your kilt, and are forced to carry your 'guy stuff' in a tote sack around your waist, you will be welcomed.

I MY town I believe the city fathers have a bevy of ladies on the payroll who's only job is to warmly greet kilted men with "OOOHHHH, AAAAHHHH that's a nice kilt. Would you please walk in front of me?". And believe me, these ladies take their jobs very seriously.

Heck we're so friendly here I even, once, greeted a young man who didn't know any better, and entered MY shop in a kilt that CAN YOU BELIEVE IT, had two legs in it. I mean he was a very nice young man, but trying to cover your perverted deviency with lame excuses of having to climb ladders to paint his house. I don't know why he just couldn't admit to being wierd and put on his real kilt like all the rest of us.

So come to Victoria. Here we simply don't care for all those new-fangled fashions called "pants". He we know what men should wear.

[Iolaus]

I beg to differ with that other person on that other post but the friendliest place to wear a kilt is MY shop....

The gauntlet has been thrown.

[Gary Krueger]

Being a competing piper and playing with a pipe band here in Michigan, I am used to wearing either my family kilt (solo) or band kilt when and where I like. I am 6' 4" and 280 lbs, so I don't much get problems from folks.

It is a habit for my wife and I to go out on New Years Eve with me wearing the kilt of choice at that time. I get comments like "What plaid is that? (they of course mean tartan)" or "Congratulations on not being ashamed to wear your scottish heritage in public."

Living close to Canada (it's just East and/or South of us here in the Detroit area) means that people are quite used to kilts.

Now bagpipes on the other hand..... :rolleyes:

[longshadows]

So come to Victoria. Here we simply don't care for all those new-fangled fashions called "pants". He we know what men should wear.

That settles it! The site for the 2007 XMarkstheScot.com convention is Victoria, BC. (Steve, can you fit all of us into your shop?)

Dreaming...

[BLAZN]

1) People will look you in the eye and smile when you're wearing a kilt—especially other men.

Eh. Yes and no. Some guys just look at me like I'm insane. That's a given. I mean... what guy in his right mind would VOLUNTEER to serve on an ocean going vessel that SINKS ON PURPOSE?!?
Women tend to smile at me a lot.

2) Some will stop you and ask about your kilt, its tartan, where you got it, what's a “Utilikilt,” etc.

Never been approached at all, really. A buddy of mine once asked "what's with the kilts?" "Comfort, man, comfort." That was the end of that.

3) You don't feel like you have green hair or two heads when you are there.

Hmmm... not so sure if that is because the people seem to accept it, or I just don't care what they think. Either way... I don't feel like I have green hair and two heads at all.

4) Nobody you encounter will think you're wearing a "dress."

Not unless you count the ribbing from my neighbor (who actualy thinks my kilts are quite nice looking... bear in mind all the ones I wear were made by me). Otherwise, no one responds this way at all. The worst comment I have heard was from one guy to another when they saw me... and it was nothing more than his declaration of a desire to be more endowed. ;)

5) You're not the only guy in town who wears a kilt in public and you've seen the other one for yourself.

Hmmm... Do recall, I live in Hawaii. Polynesians abound out here. Sarongs are pretty common, especially on Sundays. I see big Polynesian men in sarongs ALL the time. The only kilt wearer I have ever seen is myself in a mirror. I know there's at least one other XMarker on island, over at the Marine Corps base. He's on the other side of the island, where I rarely travel, though.


All in all, I'd not so much say that Honolulu is kilt "friendly" as I would call it "kilt tolerant."