What would be a good first time place to go kilted?

**am1745** · 13th February 09, 07:08 AM

You get funny looks from folk even here in scotland!

**nab2488** · 18th February 09, 08:43 PM

I remember my first outing because it was not very long ago. I wore it out to lunch at a take out chinese restaurant. The woman at the counter never said a thing. Did not even notice it as far as I knew. I sat down and waited for my food to be done and a father and daughter came in. They ordered and sat down across from me. Not even noticing me. The my order came up and I stood up. The dad was reading a magazine so he never noticed me. As I was walking out I heard the daughter say "Daddy why is that man in a skirt?" I looked back and he just looked at me and gave me a big laugh. I was in a rush so I did not stick around to see how he explained it. I then went to the grocery store and never had a single comment. Most comments I have gotten are actually from little girls saying something similar to the first little girl.

**TheKiltedCoder** · 18th February 09, 08:57 PM

Originally Posted by Ayin McFye

... My opinion is strength in numbers if possible. If you know one or two guys that will go out kilting with you, then it's a little easier to not feel alone...

Hear, hear!

The first time I ever went kilted in public was to the Museum of Natural History in Milwaukee. The gentleman who got me kilted wore his UK, and I was in one of his wool piping kilts (his Stuart Royal, if memory serves). We went to go see the "Bodies..." exhibit.

Note that the museum also has a butterfly room. The person minding the room went into her standard spiel about "turn around quickly in front of the mirror to ensure that you aren't taking any butterflies out with you." When looking at my friend and me, she, without a beat, modified her spiel to "slowly turn around..."

My wife (and his S.O) got a chuckle out of that.

Best advice: grab a wingman if you can. Failing that, you'll do better with more upscale places: even if someone is desperately wanting to insult your kilt, they probably won't do it at a $40/plate restaurant.

Good luck, and let us know how it goes!

Brian

**sathor** · 18th February 09, 09:08 PM

Originally Posted by nab2488

I remember my first outing because it was not very long ago. I wore it out to lunch at a take out chinese restaurant. The woman at the counter never said a thing. Did not even notice it as far as I knew. I sat down and waited for my food to be done and a father and daughter came in. They ordered and sat down across from me. Not even noticing me. The my order came up and I stood up. The dad was reading a magazine so he never noticed me. As I was walking out I heard the daughter say "Daddy why is that man in a skirt?" I looked back and he just looked at me and gave me a big laugh. I was in a rush so I did not stick around to see how he explained it. I then went to the grocery store and never had a single comment. Most comments I have gotten are actually from little girls saying something similar to the first little girl.

I had one of those girls once question me. She was 4, and I asked if she played football. She said no, so I asked why she was wearing a football jersey then. She stopped asking.

**KiltedBrewer** · 18th February 09, 09:27 PM

Congratulations on a great first outing. My first was in Wal-Mart, too. And if you can get past that, you can wear your kilt anywhere! The more you kilt the better it gets.

David

**Scott West** · 19th February 09, 12:53 PM

My first kilted public excursion was to a 2008 Christmas party. I admit, as we approached I was a tad apprehensive. But, i love my kilt, and my wife (in a matching kilt) and I charged straight ahead into the party. I received MANY compliments, absolutely no negative comments and even had "the question" posed by a stranger no more than 30 seconds after I arrived. The highlight was when a female party-goer was "tying her shoes" right beside me trying to steathly crane her neck in order to sneek a peek - and this was at a Christmas party! Since then four of my friends have purchased (casual) kilts!!

Put on your kilt, walk confident and proud!! After all, we've centuries behind our fashion statement!

**Dave K** · 19th February 09, 02:15 PM

Originally Posted by nab2488

"Daddy why is that man in a skirt?"

Of all the people who have said anything to me, my son tops the list. The first time I put on my kilt both boys (8 and 5) looked at it from the front and approved. Then I turned around and the younger son said "Dad, that doesn't have two holes for your legs to stick out. That means you're a princess!" My friends think that's just hilarious.

**The Barry** · 19th February 09, 03:38 PM

During my first non-pipe band kilting, it took me a few minutes to walk around the house and get comfortable. Then I went out, and here's my secret:

I wore shades.

It sounds stupid, but it REALLY helped. Nice, mirrored shades allow you to "keep an eye" on people without their knowledge. The only downside? You should wait for a nice day. But, it's February, so the sun pokes out from time to time, even here in the emerald city.

**rodandy** · 24th February 09, 05:37 PM

My first time was in Yosemite National Park in a Sportkilt hiking kilt in Pacific Trail tartan. I don't recall any negative comments and several people came up to me and asked if I were from Scotland or if I just preferred the kilt. Right after I got back from that trip I bought a Sportkilt in the Anderson tartan. The Sportkilts are a fairly inexpensive way to get used to the idea of wearing a kilt. Now I have a semi-traditional in the US. Navy (Edzell) tartan on order from USAK. I can't wait!

**Desert Celt** · 24th February 09, 06:57 PM

my "first time" was at the Beer fest here in Tucson, not a single negative comment all night. just make sure you've got your answers prepared: cause you'll get LOTS of questions. otherwise a pub preferably with at least a friend or two.