It's those closest to you who can be the biggest stumbling block.

[Cherub]

This is exactly what I was going to say. When people think kilt, they think tartan. They expect to see an array of colors in a nice design. Even with me, I would never wear a solid color kilt. It does not appeal to me in the slightest. To me, a Scottish kilt is tartan material pleated. I think most people share that same outlook. That being said, there are those that have trouble accepting even the most traditional of Scottish kilts. They just don't see it as an acceptable garment unless attending a specific event where one would be worn.

Well I can't speak to the Tartan non-tartan question as the only kilt i currently own is a Black Utilikilt. I have had some people comment on it but not many and my Wife loves me in it, (Reason enuf to wear it right there )

I don't wear it all the time but i am wearing it more often, my parents don't get it but they accept it...however i have only worn it once out with them an since that was to the Toronto Island i did not get much flack, i'll have to try it to a Bigger family function and see what reactions i get.:

[McFarkus]

I agree that the tartan kilt with the addition of the sporran clearly marks the garment as something apart from normal clothes. Those that don't know it's a kilt are more likely to ask rather than assume it's a skirt.

[###KILTEDKIWI###]

Now, this may be because they know me a whole lot better than J. Random Stranger on the street, so still I wonder at the general attitude. But it is disheartening. Especially at all the other stories of people's general approval. I had two people say to me this morning that it was a good choice for the weather...

Mate,

I feel that is because of where we live also. it is the same in NZ, and as we both know, the differences between our 2 countries are not alot, well apart from the fact that you have crawly things that will kill you and ewe's lot stole all of the sun and have ten times the populace.. any way sidetracking...

People in our ANZAC communities associate themselves as either, Australian, or as a New Zealander, not an aussie or kiwi of Scots, Irish, English etc decent. the majority of the european's here have never looked into their own ancestory, and would have no idea where in the world they come from, they just accept, that as an example their last name is say Mcleod (an easily identifible Scottish name), this to them is just a name just as smith, brown etc, and they would of grown up with people with similar names, macrae, macdonald, macgregor, irvine, sinclair, murray (as extreme examples) etc etc.
Personally, i feel that after the 2 wars, Aus' and NZ, were wanting to stamp their mark on the world, and didnt want to be seen as a dominion of the UK, and have done quite a lot of damage to disassociate themselves from their own roots, sadly.

so for them to accept you wearing the kilt, it would be a big stretch if they have no clue about their own origin.

[O'Callaghan]

This is exactly what I was going to say. When people think kilt, they think tartan. They expect to see an array of colors in a nice design. Even with me, I would never wear a solid color kilt. It does not appeal to me in the slightest. To me, a Scottish kilt is tartan material pleated. I think most people share that same outlook. That being said, there are those that have trouble accepting even the most traditional of Scottish kilts. They just don't see it as an acceptable garment unless attending a specific event where one would be worn.

People probably do think that, but my celtic ancestry is Irish, not Scottish, and to the extent that kilts were ever relatively popular there, which was only around 100 years ago and so not really that far back, they were solid colours, normally either green or saffron.

Now, the above is not all that well known to most people, and you have to scratch around a bit to find cheap kilts in those colours, although they do exist. The kilts I own don't include one (yet), but I am planning to get a green one eventually. Instead I have a black kilt and a couple in 'Irish tartans', which are even less steeped in antiquity, having been designed long after Irish kilts were already on the wane, and not even designed in Ireland. However, I think the kiltmakers sell these precisely because people do think that a tartan kilt looks more like a kilt.

[staticsan]

People in our ANZAC communities associate themselves as either, Australian, or as a New Zealander, not an aussie or kiwi of Scots, Irish, English etc decent. the majority of the european's here have never looked into their own ancestory, and would have no idea where in the world they come from, they just accept, that as an example their last name is say Mcleod (an easily identifible Scottish name), this to them is just a name just as smith, brown etc, and they would of grown up with people with similar names, macrae, macdonald, macgregor, irvine, sinclair, murray (as extreme examples) etc etc.
Personally, i feel that after the 2 wars, Aus' and NZ, were wanting to stamp their mark on the world, and didnt want to be seen as a dominion of the UK, and have done quite a lot of damage to disassociate themselves from their own roots, sadly.

so for them to accept you wearing the kilt, it would be a big stretch if they have no clue about their own origin.

Thats an insight I hadn't really explored before. Whilst Australians can be proud of their heritage, it is a sensitive social issue to enclave oneself in it and refuse to be a part of the wider Australian society. This sort of thinking might be what is really behind my mother's comment of "Australians don't wear kilts"...

The US doesn't really have that problem, I perceive.

Wade.

[###KILTEDKIWI###]

Thats an insight I hadn't really explored before. Whilst Australians can be proud of their heritage, it is a sensitive social issue to enclave oneself in it and refuse to be a part of the wider Australian society. This sort of thinking might be what is really behind my mother's comment of "Australians don't wear kilts"...

its like being asked by someone with the last name of Mackenzie why your wearing a kilt and they dont even know where they come from...happens to me all the time.

i dont have to tell you about our aussie / kiwi bloke culture I'm sure, rugby (union and league) / AFL, beers and cars - fords / holdens, thats about the limit of it for some of them...but wear something that is part of your tradition and heritage, its what a weirdo.
says the ford singlet wearing guy with the mullet and a can of VB firmly perched on an "esky" (thats a chilly bin for us normals)...