The Kilt is a costume.....

[Scotcop]

Family, "friends", when I am trying to casually wear it around the house and out and about.

[Bugbear]

Family, "friends", when I am trying to casually wear it around the house and out and about.

Ehh, just keep wearing it and shrug the comments off. To them, it probably does look like a costume.

[skauwt]

i was at a my partners grandmothers cremation in Belfast the other week and decided to wear my kilt after permission from the future father in law he was more than happy to see me in my "Lallan Dress" as he put it
the future bro and sis in law where a bit shocked that i was attending a cremation without any "draaws "on ,
and being the only crematorium in northen ireland there was plenty of other parties for other folks cremations given me the mad stares and giggles
i just shrugged the wise *** comments and pointed out to them my country has a national dress and being proud of my heritage i`ll wear it to wherever i see fit including the inlaws weddings next year and they can say what they want
let them say what they want to get it out there system when they realise how much it means to you they`ll perhaps "haud thir whhesshtt " in the future

[cavscout]

Most of the time I simply ignore them, I have enough in my life to take care of and "babysitting the idiots of the world" is not one of them.

Sometimes I know the person is teasing and I let them have their laugh or I may play along if it doesn't belittle me or the kilt.

If the perosn is simply being rude, I will try to turn their obvious insecurity back on them. For example: A co-worker was insinuating that I must frequent certain types of bars where guys dress like women (my words, his were much less civil). I simply responded by saying "well, you sound like a man of experience." He tried to recover with "I don't go to those places, I've seen them in the paper", to which I said "What kind of paper have you been reading to find places like that?"..... He beat a hasty retreat and I've not heard another word about kilts from him.

Another situation, a person said (somewhat tongue in cheek) "I bet some of your Marine Corps buddies would beat your a$$ if they knew you were wearing a skirt.". I simply said, "Unless you are a Marine, don't presume to know what one would think or do."

Bottom line, don't let anyone belittle you over it. It may cost you some friends, but they probably weren't really friends if that's how they treat you. Family is a different story, that may take a bit more compromise but no reason to give the the idea that they have won if you don't wear the kilt around them. If asked, simply say "There are some who just can't handle how good looking I am so I cover up as much as needed to keep them from being jealous."

[xman]

Chin up lad. Nothing stuns the ridiculing like the realisation that you refuse to think it ridiculous. Makes them feel the fool. "How can he be so cock sure and confident", say the men folk, "when I've just called him funny"? "How can that kilt make him so attractive and confident"? will the ladies think about you. Deep in their heart of hearts they're jealous anyway.

[ThistleDown]

But Highland dress IS the national costume of Scotland.

[Riverkilt]

Everyone's an expert about everything.

I like the common two word response to people who've insulted you.

Look them hard in the eye and slowly and clearly repeat the beloved words to their face.

[jkane]

When I am at a loss for words, I simply agree with them. In this case I would just say yes it is a costume and go about my business. If I like the person and want to have more conversation, I might ask why do you want to know? They are trying to get a rise out of you. By agreeing, they loose their steam and then begin to accept it as just who you are instead of something to tease you about.

Relax, be calm, and just act like you already know what they think and don't care either way for their opinions.

[BrazHunter]

The kilt is a garment, not a costume ...
You can just tell them to take a peak at a dictionary and educate themselves ...

According to Oxford American Dictionary

kilt |kilt|
noun
a knee-length skirt of pleated tartan cloth, traditionally worn by men as part of Scottish Highland dress and now also worn by women and girls.
kilt
verb [ trans. ]
gather (a garment or material) in vertical pleats : [as adj. ] ( kilted) kilted skirts.
DERIVATIVES
kilted adjective
ORIGIN Middle English (as a verb in the sense [tuck up around the body] ): of Scandinavian origin; compare with Danish kilte (op) ‘tuck (up)’ and Old Norse kilting ‘a skirt.’ The noun dates from the mid 18th cent.

[campbell]

For family and friends I have found that the best thing is to purchase a few DVDs to show them. Television shows like Monarch of the Glen (Series 1-3), and movies like Brigadoon, Formula 51, and The Queen will get them used to the kilt.

As far as strangers are concerned, time and place are everything. The kilt is never out of place at: The Highland Games, St. Patrick's Day Parade, a Burns supper, and a wedding in which the groom is wearing a kilt. On any other occasion you will probably get rude comments. A tartan tie with a suit (pants) may be a better option for those situations.