Wearing your kilt to other cultural events

[canawler]

Question:
Would it be disrespectful to wear your kilt to these events? (Before you answer, consider how you would feel if a troupe of lederhosen-clad revelers showed up at a Highland event).

I ran into a similar situation to this at the Potomac Celtic Festival this year. A man was walking around in a traditional Dutch outfit (sorry, I don't know the name of the clothing) complete with the large wooden shoes. I didn't talk to him but I did overhear several conversations. I'm not sure exactly what country he was from but I believe he was showing off his culture as everyone else was showing off theirs. I wasn't offended at all and I didn't notice any negative reactions. It certainly was a conversation starter.

[davedove]

I think the difference is if you are wearing the kilt as a costume or just another article of clothing. If you are all done up with ALL the accessories, you would probably get a few looks. But, if you were wearing the kilt as part of your normal clothes, it would be different (okay, you might still get a few looks) I don't think it is being disrepectful though. After all, it's just clothes.

Wear one of the German oriented tartans to show honor to the occasion.

[Yaish]

Showing up in a kilt to a German fest is no worse than showing up to a Scottish fest in pants. If you were a participant, and had some role to play in the festivities then you might want to dress the correct part, but as a visitor?

Wear YOUR normal clothes. If a kilt is part of that, so be it.

[MysticMead]

kilts at other cultural events... sure why not... I have..and will wear them again.. Oktoberfest kilted is a LOT of fun... and from my experience kilted or not... no one there really cares if you are dressed differently.. as long as you are there to have fun

[GMan]

Just my opinion, I see no disrespect at all, as long as you are confident and well mannered, it is not an issue. Just remember most people are like it yet a few are always going to be offended no matter what.

[Rusty]

Just my two cents worth, Last year I went kilted to a ethnic festival here in town. The largest ethnic group in this area and the state for that matter is German, so the organizers had put an emphasis on the German, German's from Russia and German Hungarian's. I was asked many questions about the kilt, Scotland, and the British Isles in general I even told a few in attendance about the "German Tartan." Needless to say I had a great time. The chairman of the cultural organization that put the event together asked me if I would be willing to set up a booth on Scotland and Ireland at this years event.

[Graywolf]

And we know it was not originally the Chicken Dance, but the Duck Dance, right?

[Phil]

I think if you have gone to the trouble of dressing well then that is a compliment you have paid to the company you are in. Look at the trouble women go to - new dress and shoes, visit the hairdresser, slap on the make-up, paint the nails, and what do men usually do, shower if they're lucky, throw on jeans and a T-shirt and they're ready. That is disrespectful. Take a little trouble and look good and everybody will respect you for it.