How find the guts to go kilted in a conservative community?

[Vafuth]

a case of simple childhood innocence. Last night I bumped into my next door neighbor who asked me what was up with the kilt. I explained my ancestry and told him that I really enjoyed wearing it and probably would more often. He thought it was cool. He then proceeded to tell me how his little 4 year old cousin was over this past weekend watching tv when they saw me walk by the apartment. The little girl then asked him "Why is that man wearing a dress?" When he told me this I laughed so hard. I know the little girl and I could picture it happening. Her aunt and her cousin then proceeded to explain that it was a kilt, and that it was a Scottish thing. I can't wait until the next time I see that little one. I'm going to ask her if she liked my "dress". LOL.

That just cute...I catch that a lot from kids with their moms and dads...just makes me chuckle...I'll walk by a car in a parking lot (kilted of course) and just as I pass I'll hear in a little voice from the open window of the car... "Why is that man wearing a skirt?" or "look, that man is wearing a skirt!!"...

its funny how from an adult those types of remarks seem to annoy but from a child its just cute and amusing.

[Semiomniscient]

If you want something reasonable, (and wearing a kilt is reasonable--particularly because you own one!) then you just have to go for it... and to make things easier for yourself, prepare an answer for the inevitable "why are you wearing a kilt?" My answer when I was a little kid was "Because I'm Scottish." And most people leave it at that. Bytheway, I'm in and from Louisiana and some of the most conservative people I know wear kilts!
And as far as tartans, you can wear whatever tartan makes you feel stylish. There are some who have made up rules about who can wear what tartans... but it's really mostly bunk. (IE: You have no right to wear your mother's tartan unless you've taken her name.) That kind of thing is silly. Most people like to wear their clan tartans though. But I prefer the district tartan from where some of my forebears came from.

[Semiomniscient]

That just cute...I catch that a lot from kids with their moms and dads...just makes me chuckle...I'll walk by a car in a parking lot (kilted of course) and just as I pass I'll hear in a little voice from the open window of the car... "Why is that man wearing a skirt?" or "look, that man is wearing a skirt!!"...

its funny how from an adult those types of remarks seem to annoy but from a child its just cute and amusing.

Yeah, I think it's because we expect children to be ignorant (forgive the term). We usually look at adults and think "they should know what a kilt is!" I guess Braveheart has helped out a lot... but there is a large population where I'm from who apparently missed that one and still look at me like I'm a cross-dresser if I have to walk into the grocery or gas station kilted.

[Vafuth]

If you want something reasonable, (and wearing a kilt is reasonable--particularly because you own one!) then you just have to go for it... and to make things easier for yourself, prepare an answer for the inevitable "why are you wearing a kilt?" My answer when I was a little kid was "Because I'm Scottish." And most people leave it at that. Bytheway, I'm in and from Louisiana and some of the most conservative people I know wear kilts!
And as far as tartans, you can wear whatever tartan makes you feel stylish. There are some who have made up rules about who can wear what tartans... but it's really mostly bunk. (IE: You have no right to wear your mother's tartan unless you've taken her name.) That kind of thing is silly. Most people like to wear their clan tartans though. But I prefer the district tartan from where some of my forebears came from.

it is kinda dumb how some appoint themselves as "kilt police"...but there are only a very few tartans which DO require special permission to wear. but they are mostly corporate or privately own tartans. (I.E. the Irn-Bru Tartan owned by the A.G. Barr company in Scotland.)

but there is an amount of inner pride wearing the tartan associated with your particular clan or family.

And if you REALLY want to go conservative, there are some really nice wool tweed 3 piece kilt suits available.

[Semiomniscient]

Yeah, well I don't think it's illegal to wear any tartan. Just as it's not illegal to wear a company's logo. But I generally stick to tradition because that's one of the reasons most wear the kilt, because of their Scottish heritage... unless you really don't like your family tartan, you most likely will wear it.
I really would like a tweed kilt, they are the epitome of kilt in my opinion.

[Ayin McFye]

Another good idea is to find local Xmarks members in your area and go out and have some pints together. What state do you live in?

[Semiomniscient]

Another good idea is to find local Xmarks members in your area and go out and have some pints together. What state do you live in?

Me? I'm in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

[Ayin McFye]

Me? I'm in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

No sorry. I meant Noobie. His profile doesn't show what state he's in.

[Dukeof Kircaldy]

the Stuart tartan is considered the tartan for people without a clan allegiance. I have Forbes clan affiliation and Jacobite connections as well.

I have never had a problem with wearing the kilt. Other people may have, but that didn't bother me.

Actually, I would worry more about wearing a kilt in liberal communities where people might get the wrong idea. On the other hand, people openly cross dress where I live.

There is a big difference from cross dressing and wearing a kilt.

[McClef]

There is a big difference from cross dressing and wearing a kilt.

Well if they didn't know that in Scotland we would indeed be in trouble!

But emphasising the masculinity of the kilt is indeed a good argument to be given to potential gainsayers - it's far from rocking the conventional boat.