So You're Going To Speak To Someone Who's Wearing A Kilt

[Zardoz]

Actually, I've noticed that sort of reaction as well. Just about anything out of the ordinary from how you are dressed, to what you are doing. And yes, they seem to think you're the hired entertainment for that moment.

Glad it's not just me!

[GMan]

A lot depends on the situation. If the person is even a wee bit tipsy, I rarely engage. If they think they are cute or funny in asking questions they get no response. If I notice a bit of apprehension in their voice, chances are they are sincere in the conversation, and it usually turns out to be a grand conversation.

[Detroitpete]

I don't know if this helps but I have what I consider to be a very good example of how one individual approached it. I was at a large outdoor flee market-antique sale in NC. I'm always kilted on vacation so I had even forgotten myself what I was wearing.

I noticed a group of 'older women' standing not too far from me smiling, something else caught my eye and I moved toward it, just then I heard;

Oy, Jock!, Jock!

I turned to see that it was one of the ladies and she motioned to me to come over. In her British accent she said that she was going to discuss things with me for the benefit of her lady friends, then she said:

"Are you having a stroll?" I said yes.
"Lovely attire for the mountains" I agreed.
"I can tell that that is a clan tartan, but I'm not sure which, what is it?" I explained it was a MacLaren Modern.
"Thank you for wearing that, it makes me think of home" I said your welcome.
"The ladies think you look smashing too and wonder if thier husbands wouldn't mind seeing that, perhaps even donning one themselves." I told her that they should give it a try.

The last thing she said was "Are there any establishments near that carry kilts and tartan wear?" I was in Franklin North Carolina---so I told them about Matt Newsome's place.

I hope they went and enjoyed themselves.

It was a pleasant conversation and I tried to be as curtious and helpful as possible. But I have to tell you--the power of the kilt--standing there with a group of women oogling at me, I'm sure I blushed through the entire encounter.

[Fit2BKilted]

Honestly...I've never understood the fascination with "what's under your kilt".
Is it appropriate to approach a lady in a skirt and ask her if she's wearing any panties?
Can a man not go commando in a pair of shorts just as easily?

I saw a T-shirt once and wish now I had bought it that said:

Yes I'm Scottish
No I don't play the bagpipes
Yes I've eaten Haggis
Yes the kilt is comfortable
None of your business

It made me laugh because it seems to hit the top 5 questions.
BTW...if you know where I can get this T-shirt.... please let me know. I cannae find it again.

I'd go for that as well, but change the first line to: No, I'm not Scottish

Brian

Hopefully, CafePress will accept it and we can all buy it. ;-)

The first in the series by Kilted Cracks

and Wishes Granted: For Merlin & For BeeDee

[Catdad]

When finding out that the kilt wearer is not Scotish (and he or she mentions a nationality), do not respond with, "Oh, I didn't know xxxxx wore kilts."

[Rex_Tremende]

My advice would be that if you don't have a reason for the gentleman in the kilt to want to speak to you beyond satisfying your own curiosity, best not to bother. The very least you should have is a compliment to offer if not your own interesting story to tell.

Regards,
Rex.

[Old Hippie]

some citizens at a rest stop wanted a picture with her because she was in her leather biker gear.

My wife is a nurse. We ride motorcycles. Once she was locking up her bike at the hospital and a couple of doctors stopped to look her over. "What's the matter?" she asked. "Never seen a nurse in black leather?"

"Only in my dreams," replied one, rather wistfully.

I have come to the conclusion that if you can be singled out as being dressed 'differently' from the norm, no matter how mundane you think it is, I believe the general public sees your kilt in the same light as if you were sporting a Starfleet uniform!

Could be. One interesting thing I've noticed is that people get really thrown for a mental loop if you're not wearing a tartan. I wear contemporary kilts because that's what I have right now.

Most people make the connection pretty easily, because no matter what Steven Villegas says, a Utilikilt has some design elements suggestive of a kilt, not a man-skirt.

I occasionally get asked, "What tartan is that?" when I'm wearing a UK -- and I explain "tartan" is the pattern of the cloth, not the cloth itself. They're easy for us to "get" but as you say a lot of people still think only of kilts as "tartan, worn as costume."

At the local Highland Games a couple of weeks ago I had some interesting conversations with members of the Caledonian Society. Some of the comments were, "I'll bet you could wear that every day!" "Wow, I've never seen a kilt with pockets!" "That's a really practical look" "Where did you get THAT?" and "Is that a military kilt?"

I had assumed that people who make kilt-wearing part of their identity would have seen contemporary kilts, even own one or two. It does say something about how they may see the role of the kilt in their own lives.

:ootd:

[Zardoz]

Could be. One interesting thing I've noticed is that people get really thrown for a mental loop if you're not wearing a tartan. I wear contemporary kilts because that's what I have right now.

At the local Highland Games a couple of weeks ago I had some interesting conversations with members of the Caledonian Society. Some of the comments were, "I'll bet you could wear that every day!" "Wow, I've never seen a kilt with pockets!" "That's a really practical look" "Where did you get THAT?" and "Is that a military kilt?"

I had assumed that people who make kilt-wearing part of their identity would have seen contemporary kilts, even own one or two. It does say something about how they may see the role of the kilt in their own lives.

:ootd:

Yes, It does say something about how they may see the role of the kilt in their lives. Unfortunatly, from the viewpoint of a daily kilt wearer anyway, they see it as a sort of costume, primarily suited to wear at Scot heritage functions like games, Burns suppers, etc..(safety in numbers?)

This is not a critical assessment of anyone by me! They are involved with their heritage, and wear the kilt as a display of that identity, but don't care to wear it all the time. So as you saw, they are unaware of most of the details about kilts and Highlandware we concern ourselves with here on our forum. I believe this is true of vast majority of kilt 'owners' around the globe.

[Windwalker]

Honestly...I've never understood the fascination with "what's under your kilt".
Is it appropriate to approach a lady in a skirt and ask her if she's wearing any panties?
Can a man not go commando in a pair of shorts just as easily?

I saw a T-shirt once and wish now I had bought it that said:

Yes I'm Scottish
No I don't play the bagpipes
Yes I've eaten Haggis
Yes the kilt is comfortable
None of your business

It made me laugh because it seems to hit the top 5 questions.
BTW...if you know where I can get this T-shirt.... please let me know. I cannae find it again.

http://giftshop.scottishtartans.org/cheeky_tshirts.htm Ask an ye shall receive, Matt has them!