The "Don of Fear"

[chasem]

Didn't the Scots immigrate from Ireland to Scotland way back in the day? Curious… maybe they left Ireland because they couldn't wear their kilts? j/k!!! (If any Irish people are offended…I'm from Kentucky. There ya go. I've just handed you an opportunity for an EASY comeback.)

Just one? I think you're low-balling here.

[DyerStraits]

Didn't the Scots immigrate from Ireland to Scotland way back in the day? Curious… maybe they left Ireland because they couldn't wear their kilts? j/k!!! (If any Irish people are offended…I'm from Kentucky. There ya go. I've just handed you an opportunity for an EASY comeback.)

KC

They've been cross-pollinating for centuries, from Scotland to Ireland and vice versa, for various socio-economic, political and/or military reasons. Even Sean Connery, "The Greatest Living Scot" and "Scotland's Greatest Living National Treasure", is patrilineally Irish. All of which makes Bren's experience at the Irish Heritage Club so baffling--like being asked not to wear an American cowboy hat at a cattleman's club in Australia. Go figure.

[BCAC]

There is a time when wearing your kilt is appropriate and a time when it is not. When another culture is being featured (like DyerStraits' Bar Mitzvah) I would not wear the kilt. Church is usually a no-go for me (our city is full of stuffy neo-cons, many ironically of Galice descent).
There are few occasions that present themselves as appropriate in my city (Bakersfield, California).

I was a guest at the Irish Heritage Club here last week. I wore my kilt. Yes, I know. Kilt=Scotland Not Ireland but the yahoos here usually intermingle the two. I was emphatically told to not wear my kilt there again. I shall not patronise their club again. They were rude, flat-out. Ironically, many are members of our local Scottish society and the founder used to be an avid kilt wearer until he founded his Irish club.

Too bad. I probably know more about the history and heritage of the Gaelic peoples and Highland dress than their entire club combined and would be an asset to them. Oh, well. Maybe I'll start my own club.

My bolding. Did you have witnesses, Bren? If so, take them to court for racial discrimination. That's what any other nationality would do. You can't only be racially discriminant against blacks, you know.

[Machaggisnz]

Boy, do you ever have some plonkers at your local Irish club. I'd love to see a few squad dies from the Royal Irish Rangers turn up in kilts and see the reaction. At my local club most of the men and boys still dance in kilts and I doubt anyone would notice my kilt. Sounds like you're better off without that sort of stupidity in your life.

[Geoff Withnell]

Even here in the Chicago area, one often get's the ol' "Why are you wearing a kilt?" reaction ("The dog ate my pants"). ...

I always tell people who ask that question "Because they will arrest me if I take it off!"

[auld argonian]

I try a little "judo" when it comes to getting hassled, however subtly, when it comes to wearing the kilt.

If I wear it somewhere and get questioned, that's one thing….when there's some kind of feeling that the questioning is sort of challenging or there's an element of ridicule involved, that's another thing entirely. When that happens, I just don't wear the kilt to that place or event again. BUT….human nature being what it is, there will always be one or another wise guy who will come over and say, "What happened to your kilt? Why aren't you wearing your kilt?" THEN I have them…I just look them in the eye and say, "Well…I only wear my kilt to things that are SPECIAL and, I'm sorry, you all have just made it clear that you aren't SPECIAL enough to make it worth my wearing the kilt."

Best

AA

[tky58]

Not surprisingly, you're getting lots of sympathetic responses and great advice on this issue, which has been discussed here numerous times before (don't get us started of the issue of Kilts In The Workplace--you'll never hear the end of it). There is essentially a "How And When" to Highland Wear, and we've all found it in various ways. So will you. In a way it relates to my mantra "Wear It Proudly, Wear It Properly, Wear It Like You Mean It". I wear my kilts to the office, to the Opera/Symphony, to play golf, for tinkering on my bicycles, knocking around on the weekend, dining out and all other manner of social events. But I suppose you have to pick your spots--while I did recently wear a kilt to a wedding where the bride was of Scots-Irish heritage, I did NOT wear it recently to attend a Bar Mitzvah (as to whether or not it is appropriate for wear to church services, that to me seems to not be a moot point, for reasons both obvious and subtle). My girlfriend was mildly worried when I kilted up to spend Christmas day with her aunt and uncle and their "sept" of the "clan" (which was silly considering her dad is part-Scottish), I got nothing but delighted compliments all around (you know you've got it right when both the parents AND their kids think you look cool) and her niece couldn't stop photographing me, so there you go. Like public speaking, the more you do it, the more confident and proficient it gets--and the more receptive your audiences become.

Actually, there IS a Jewish Tartan. It was registered by a Rabbi in Scotland. He sells Kippot (hats), Talid (Prayer Scarf) and, well Kilts made of the pattern. My wife's now retired Rabbi is quite fond of my Leatherneck kilt, which I wear often both to services and social occasions such as the Christmas dinner (Chinese food). Dorothy's (wife) Talid and Kippot are both of that pattern. My Kippot is, however Marpat camouflage. Needless to say the Reform temple is quite accepting, even of her Catholic, Marine husband.

Steven Wilson, MD

[Just Hugh]

I was at a Bar Mitzvah and didn't wear my kilt. I joked that a yarmulke and kilt had never been worn together, and was promptly introduced to a member of the family (by marriage) who had done it at a wedding. We spoke briefly about our Scots heritage and why we had each decided to not wear the kilt that day.

Had we met before the event, we might have decided differently, but you can't live your life on regrets.

[joek]

Having a supportive wife from the get-go is great ! Scottish games is one idea. Going to a sports bar or Irish bar during the upcoming World Soccer Cup is another. If you are into any type of gardening or landscaping most garden centers are staffed by women. You'll find they like the kilt and will converse about it if you start the conversation about it. I was in a grocery store the other day (in Pennsylvania)and a lady I did not know identified it as a digital camo and asked if I was a member of the British Regiment. Just think of how comfortable it is and go for it ! Some will like it, some won't. What matters is your comfort.

[BCAC]

I was at a Bar Mitzvah and didn't wear my kilt. I joked that a yarmulke and kilt had never been worn together, and was promptly introduced to a member of the family (by marriage) who had done it at a wedding. We spoke briefly about our Scots heritage and why we had each decided to not wear the kilt that day.

Had we met before the event, we might have decided differently, but you can't live your life on regrets.

There was/is a photo on this very forum of our very own Panache and a friend/relative wearing a yarmulke and kilt in matching IOS tartan, so it definitely has been done, and with panache, even!