How find the guts to go kilted in a conservative community?

[Draelore]

I found that wearing it for specific Scottish functions or commemorative days worked well. So I started with my Aunts birthday (she is Scotch), and then moved to St. Andrews day, Burns Night, and Tartan Day. I have found that most people give you a "oh, thats nice" answer when you can give a particular reason that is associated with Scottish History or Culture. After that you just branch out for more and more days (your birthday, "no pants day", kilted Thursdays, whatever).

I found that initially in public, I was much more comfortable wearing kilt hose and appropriate footwear with the kilt. In my mind this helped establish in the minds of those seeing me that I was wearing a kilt and not a plaid skirt. I ditched the white hose for a similar reason (they look like girls knee socks to me) and only wear colored hose with my kilt.

Andy

[Robert Lamb]

There are many who talk the talk
But only a few who actually walk the walk.
It's time to rise up and walk with us.

[Jack Daw]

Noobie, I posted a little story a couple of months ago. Last February, my car broke down after I had gone to see the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards. I was stuck right off the freeway. I wasn't uncomfortable, though, until the tow-truck arrived and out stepped a large hispanic. I thought I had better explain myself ot I might get left behind, but he smiled and said he had a Utilikilt. You just never know. I've gotten more positve comments than negative. Actually, I've gotten only one or two over the last 8 years.

[Roan Carter]

Wear combat boots. Don't tuck your shirt in.
Also, wear whatever tartan you like. No one can say anything, I promise.

[Standard]

A good way to start wearing your kilt out in public is to head out to dinner at a nice restaurant with your wife. Have her dress up, and you wear your kilt, not in full dress mode, but with a shirt and tie, and dress shoes. Nice way to break into public without feeling like you are on parade the entire time since you will be seated a good portion of the time. Also if you don't try to go too casual with your kilt wear at first, but think of it more of dressing up, as you would with a nice pair of dockers and a button down shirt might help. I'm sure that most of us here on this board have felt the same way you do the first time we wore out kilts out of the house. (BTW not everyone on XMarks wears a kilt full time.)

For the first several times out of the house if you have your wife (or another suitably pretty girl ) with you it will help settle some of your fears, and offer a good 'support group.'

However, as others have said just do it! You will feel self concious the first couple of times out of the house, but you'll find most people will be curious and polite about your kilt. The key to it is, in my mind anyhoo, to feel confident and sure of yourself, and treat the kilt as any other way of dressing. And remember to enjoy yourself, I've yet to meet a guy in a kilt who was not in a good mood.

[mbhandy]

Wear combat boots. Don't tuck your shirt in.
Also, wear whatever tartan you like. No one can say anything, I promise.

And wear a Tshirt that states:


If It's not Scottish
It's CRAP

:crap:

Just go for it. Remember you are in a College Area.

MrBill

[Coinneach]

It's more frightening in your head than it is on the street.

Most people won't say anything. Some people won't even notice. (When I first started wearing a kilt, I thought I was seeing lots of people in kilts...then realized they were only wearing long baggy shorts.)

If you have a t-shirt with writing on it, wear that...eyes will gravitate up to the shirt, not the kilt.

Go somewhere with a purpose...my first trip out the door kilted was to the Home Depot in my Workman's Utilikilt for a load of river rock. Struck up a lovely conversation with an older woman at the check out counter...but not one word was said about the kilt.

Or, go somewhere safe. Go stand in line at the DMV where people are really preoccupied. Then when you feel comfortable, you can mumble, "oh, I think I'm in the wrong line" and leave.

Last year I was walking downtown when I heard "nice kilt." I turned around to see a tall, broad-shouldered jean-jacketed man with a mohawk looking at me and I realized I was in front of the local biker bar. He smiled and said, "I've got one, too!"

You're going to be fine!

[Big Homestead]

I live in a conservative community. I attend church, lend my time to those who need it, and do speaking engagements to at risk youth and special needs people. I wear my kilt because it is mine to wear. And most people love it. If you find you get sneered at, remember a few things.

1. The entire world was conquered by guys in skirts. Be it Romans, [EDITTED] , Scots, Vikings, ....whoever. The toughest men in the history of Earth wore a kilt/skirt garment.

2. If you spent the money on it, and you support others in wearing them, do it.

3. Chicks really do like men in kilts. I am married, but when I'm out in my kilt ...many many ladies find it in their blood to tell me out loud how sexy these things are.

4. Being able to wear a kilt in the open tells a great deal about your manhood and sense of self security.

When you get the nuggets to wear your kilt in public without flinching, I will tip my hat to you, sir. And regardless, good on ya for coming to your kilted community and asking for input. It takes a lot to ask for direction.

Cheers

[Ryan Ross]

Just as everyone else has advised, the key thing is your own level of confidence. If you feel secure and confident, others will see that.

Sure, there might be a jerk or two around, but I doubt it'll be that bad, and I really doubt that the ammount of negative feedback will be anywhere close to the ammount of positive feedback.

In my experience, the ladies especially like the kilt (the interesting ones do, that is), and because you're wearing something so unusual, they won't hesitate to come over and have a chat with you about it. Ladies are known for finding a confident man very attractive, or so it seems, and they see the kilt as a sign that the man wearing it is a very secure man indeed (check out the documentary in my sig, if you'd like to see some girls talking about their fondness for a man in kilt).

The biggest tip I can give is to wear it early and often. Get used to it. Get comfortable with it. What you want to do is get to a point where you basically forget you're wearing it. That way, you'll walk around with ease and be relaxed, instead of walking around with the feeling that you're in your underwear (which is how I've heard the initial response described- the kilt seemed pretty natural to me from the beginning, though).

Anyway, just be comfortable, be prepaired to talk intelligently about the kilt and it's history, don't let any negative comments ruffle your feathers, and enjoy it.

Best of luck to you.

[auld argonian]

What - for the love of God - could be MORE conservative than the kilt? Okay...maybe a toga or something.

Whoever said above that you should wear it on special Scottish occasions has a good point...and that's a starting point. Remember, though, that there care an awful of of Scottish Holidays...there was a thread some time ago that enumerated some of them...plenty of anniversaries of battles, lots of significant Scots birthdays...you get the drift.

And I will say it again...has anybody looked around and seen how some of the other kilt-less people are dressing these days? So who has the right to criticize a guy for wearing a kilt? Oy vey! One of the things that they're showing for men this summer is oversized, baggy, plaid shorts...would you rather wear baggy-*** shorts that look like they're too big or a kilt that actually fits?

Conservative? Hey...just look at the membership of this forum and you'll see some guys who should rate as pretty conservative...lots of current and ex-military, couple of federal employees...kilts have nothing to do with your social or political views; they are just another piece of MEN'S clothing.

I've got a buddy who gets all weirded out by my showing up in a kilt yet he wears shorts all summer...frankly, you see more of his exposed body in shorts than you do mine wearing a kilt but he still thinks that I'm somehow being weird and an exhibitionist or something. I'd guess that a whole lot of people get weird because they are asking "The Question" whether out loud or in their own heads...my current standard answer is delivered rather coldly, "Excuse me, but if you knew me, you would know that I am a very modest person and I assure you that modesty will be maintained at all times. Kapish?"

Get out there and see how it goes...you'll probably find quite a few people who actually find it interesting and different and you'll get more compliments than criticism.

Best

AA