When it is accepted, it will not be noticed.

[xman]

Speaking personally, I want it to be seen as within normal to be kilted. So far I have gotten casual acceptance from most folks or supportive comments from some. Around here we have a pretty multicultural environment so seeing people in turbans and many other cultural garments is not uncommon. I think most people just feel my (admittedly just PV casual) kilt falls into that category and I'm happy that it does. The most annoying experiences I have had so far are when strangers want to talk about tartans* with me. Hardly an insult.

*From what I can gather so far the MacDonald sett looks familiar, but most people only know the Royal Stewart so they assume that's what I must be wearing. Interesting. I casually correct them and announce that they were the other kings.

[Big Mikey]

Pants or kilt makes no difference. At my size I stand out in a crowd simply by standing BUT why not wear the kilt, honour my (limited) heritage and just look mighty fine while doing it.

As to the original point, no, I hope that kilts never become that common place. It takes a special man to don a kilt now and I'm getting too old to adopt what ever new "rebel" behaviour comes along.

[vesuvianite]

flipping it around a bit - as a mother, I hope that someday breastfeeding is as accepted as kilts currently are!
If we've come to accept women in jeans, and men with long hair, surely kilts can't be far behind. And I will like it!

[Kiltman]

Pants or kilt makes no difference. At my size I stand out in a crowd simply by standing BUT why not wear the kilt, honour my (limited) heritage and just look mighty fine while doing it.

As to the original point, no, I hope that kilts never become that common place. It takes a special man to don a kilt now and I'm getting too old to adopt what ever new "rebel" behaviour comes along.

I have to agree with Big Mikey. While I don't have his size. I don't think that kilts will become accepted as an alternative to pants or shorts. I wear them because I like them and that's all.

[Howard Clark]

My son and I went to the supermarket this afternoon (Aprox. 4:15) in Newton, IA, just after the "Iowa Corn Indy 250" was over at the race track. We had been playing paintball since noon. I play in a hemp RKilt from Robert Pel (now stained with orange paint spots from the days play).

Open mouthed dumbfounded staring today. It was funny. Only two people we saw had no reaction at all, and one of them was a relative, the other the manager of the liquor dept. at the store, who already knows me and has seen me in almost every kilt I own.

I don't think there is any danger of the kilt "going mainstream" on the USA any time soon. Less staring would be nice, but if you don't have a sense of humour and some wit about you, it is unwise to wear the kilt in these parts. A smile and a sense of humour work rather well for people who would deride it for whatever reason. I am no giant, but tattoos and years of blacksmithing don't hurt either, I suppose.

I don't wish the kilt to be common either. More accepted by more of the population would be good.

[Woodsman]

flipping it around a bit - as a mother, I hope that someday breastfeeding is as accepted as kilts currently are!
If we've come to accept women in jeans, and men with long hair, surely kilts can't be far behind. And I will like it!

True, and think about men with earings and other body piercings, tatoos on men and women, men in pink clothing, casual dress in general and other oddities that would have been a shocker years ago.

Still it's surprising that you don't see more kilts on a daily basis.

[wildrover]

Accepted, yes. Common, no, please.

[Cygnus]

With all the kilts showing up at posh Hollywood screenings and in other "highly-covered" events, it is only a matter of time before a "mainstream" clothing manufacturer hops on the modern kilt wagon (whether those that are already kilted like it or not). I'm honestly surprised it hasn't happened yet. I think traditional kilts are too expensive to make and too varied to be mass-produced when the kilt-wave hits, though, so you can rest assured that the tradition is safe from the fashion perversions of the ignorant masses.

I'm not sure if kilt-wearing will be common, but I'd venture it will be a lot more mainstream than it is now. And I'd imagine the young hooligans won't wear their kilts properly, either, nor will the store staff be able to help them select the right kilt. So get ready for kilts down to mid-calf with boxer shorts hanging out of the top (*cringe*).

To (somewhat heretically) quote the Bible, that day will be "great and terrible".

[Whidbey78]

With all the kilts showing up at posh Hollywood screenings and in other "highly-covered" events, it is only a matter of time before a "mainstream" clothing manufacturer hops on the modern kilt wagon (whether those that are already kilted like it or not). I'm honestly surprised it hasn't happened yet. I think traditional kilts are too expensive to make and too varied to be mass-produced when the kilt-wave hits, though, so you can rest assured that the tradition is safe from the fashion perversions of the ignorant masses.

I'm not sure if kilt-wearing will be common, but I'd venture it will be a lot more mainstream than it is now. And I'd imagine the young hooligans won't wear their kilts properly, either, nor will the store staff be able to help them select the right kilt. So get ready for kilts down to mid-calf with boxer shorts hanging out of the top (*cringe*).

To (somewhat heretically) quote the Bible, that day will be "great and terrible".

I agree.

This brings to mind the extremely baggy and wide legged pants I see from time to time. Not just baggy pants, but those ones that almost look like a long skirt that was split in the middle to make two pant legs, each as wide as the waist. They are literally one inseam away from what my grandmother wore! I fear that an unbifurcated version is around the corner, complete with 20 pounds of chains and useless metal rings and spikes and studs to go jingaling. A boy-dress! I won't say it's a man-dress though...but that's my $0.02.

The upside is that it won't be hard to spot those of us that actually know how to wear a kilt, just as it's easy to spot someone who really knows how to wear a suit.

My dad was shocked when he visited me while I was stationed in San Diego several years ago. We walked by a surf shop and they were selling short-sleeved pearl snap western cut shirts and the so-called "trucker's hats." I looked at him and said "DAD! You're in style...again."

If it happens, I'll just stick to my guns and when people tell me I'm stylish I'll just tell them that I always was...and that they just now figured it out.

[wildrover]

This brings to mind the extremely baggy and wide legged pants I see from time to time. Not just baggy pants, but those ones that almost look like a long skirt that was split in the middle to make two pant legs, each as wide as the waist. They are literally one inseam away from what my grandmother wore! I fear that an unbifurcated version is around the corner, complete with 20 pounds of chains and useless metal rings and spikes and studs to go jingaling. A boy-dress! I won't say it's a man-dress though...but that's my $0.02.

You joke, but it's already on the market.

Also, as you mentioned, everyone will be acutely aware of the difference between a "traditional" tartan kilt and everything else ...so I'm not gonna stress over it. Kilts and kilt-like articles of clothing are becoming more common, but the kilt's place seems to be quite firmly set in the public mind, if worn with style as opposed to statement.

-Sean