How Do People React When You Wear The Kilt?

Wearing a kilt has been huge for me. I've been dubbed "the kilt guy" around town and I've never had a negative reaction. What I have had is a lot of opportunity to talk to people who would have never noticed me without the kilt.

When I started wearing a kilt, I was mostly surprised by how little reaction I got from strangers.

When I got my first Kilt, 23 odd years ago, Clan Montgomerie, I couldn't wait to put it on and get oot and about. I've had about 90% good reactions, I live up by the Canadian border and any trips into Canada are always good. Canada is a very Scottish place. Oddly enough, my bad experiences have always come via women. Once while walking through a local Pub, on a busy night, a woman tried to push up my Kilt as I walked by, I dumped a full pint of Guinness on her. The Pub threw her out, and gave me a new Guinness.

Well as a man in Scotland I wear my kilt daily I normally get high praise for it especially from old people it puts a smile on their face

Note to young single guys: girls love them.

People mostly just give me wierded out looks when I wear my kilts. Family and friends love it though! When I head to bigger towns or cities, I do get mostly compliments!

I recently ran into an old classmate I hadn't seen in nearly twenty years. After talking with him for a few minutes, I remarked on his kilt tartan (I asked if it is his family's, which it is) and he said wearing it was a new decision. It suits him! My only comment was that he needed a sporan to complete the look. He was genuinely pleased that I knew what it was. (I come from a long line of kilt wearing men, something most people don't know about my family history.)

I had a boss that said when I wore my kilt on St Andrews Day, that what I was doing where he was from was a cry for help. I threw a rebuttal and said that it takes a real man to wear a kilt.

Always loved the look of the kilt. Recently found out I had some British-Irish ancestry; African American in the US so it is what it is. I purchased a Gordon Dress Modern as my first kilt on the cheap for giggles. And found it to be the most comfortable thing I have ever worn. I decided to look into it further, but have not been able to track down any additional information. So, I designed my own, saved my coins and had it woven. I agree with what you guys are saying, reactions have been mostly positive. The positive is REALLY POSITIVE! The negative is mostly looks or under their breath comments either insecure males, young males, and sadly other African Americans males; the ladies do love a guy in a kilt though. But it is overwhelming positive, from wanting to take photos, to suggesting that a boyfriend or husband should get one also, to questions about the tartan; which I get a kick out of saying it's my family tartan. I tend to like the dresser look with hose, flashes, a sporran, vest and tie, with regular wingtip dress shoes, and everyone seems to love the dresser look. And I'm going to nerd out for a second and mention that I use either Star Trek Next Generation or Discovery communication badge for a kilt pin. Which just makes folks have a more positive reaction, most being that they love the Star Trek pin. I do live in south Texas so unfortunately this limits the amount of time I can comfortably wear it because in the summers it reaches 100 on a cool day. Also, I purchased a really cool Pierced Thistle Kilt Belt Buckle from USAKilt, that thing is solid and freaking awesome. Have gotten a bunch of comments about how cool the buckle is as well.

In New Orleans I never get a second look when walking outside in a kilt but at social events and at bars I get a lot of compliments. At Burns Night I frequently get high praise for how nice my kilt and family tartan looks. Never had any negative thus far but folks dress up in crazy costumes all the time in New Orleans so by comparison a kilt is tame.

I get the "confused" response a lot. I work on a college campus, and whenever I wear my kilt, I inevitably get some questions or some weird looks. I've even found some people laughing about it, which I have just counted as a gift to them--I made them smile and laugh today! I also like to use it as an opportunity to teach people about kilts and Scottish culture. My favorite, though, is when someone tries to take a picture of me in my kilt without my knowing (I usually know they're attempting it), so I just turn to the camera, flash a smile, and strike a pose!

I've been wearing The Kilt full time now since March 2021. As a non-Scottish Englishman I'd say that 99% of the comments have been positive. I have had the obvious "are you a true Scot" questions and some young kids with the "nice skirt Mr", but for the most part I've had good reactions (even when out in -3°c weather)

I usually get good positive reactions when I wear my cornish tartan I've even had Scottish people in Cornwall on holiday come up and ask me about it and they all loved to see it

As a high schooler who kilts at school regularly, everyone who's commented on it has been positive. Most people know what it is even if they can't remember the name or where it comes from. Overall nothing but good experiences from my end.

That's a good one! I really don't care how people react to me wearing a kilt. The love of my life thinks I'm bonkers wearing one being Polish plus being one of supersize size with battle scars. Really enjoy your videos.... and will have to drop some coin and order a Pennsylvania tartan kilt.

I don't consider it a problem if someone says skirt. For me a kilt is a specific subcategory of skirt. A skirt being a garment worn around the waist, a kilt being pleated in a particular way. In the similar way that trews are a particular sub category of trousers.

You brought up examples of the exact questions and reactions I get when people approach to me to ask about my kilts, even more shocking to them is finding out that I have no Scottish or Irish background at all. I am Mexican, I was Born in Mexico City and now I Live in the US. I wear kilts casually and also own a few Sport kilts to do my workouts. To me, Kilts are just a personal choice, an awesome and comfortable choice.

first time out in a kilt was inside the house, then the back yard, then around the neighborhood, then through a wal-mart. you get used to it pretty quickly and realize wearing a kilt is no big deal. you guys were pretty much spot-on regarding peoples reactions: it's either friends ribbing on you or compliments. otherwise people just don't really care.

I went out in public for the first time kilted a few days ago. The first two people I saw complimented the kilt. That they were both ladies also helped. ;-)

I’ve gotten some “what are you wearing” and I explain Some “I like your kilt” But the weirdest one I’ve had was when I was wearing a pink shirt in October for breast cancer. Some guy came up and was wondering if I liked women’s genitalia. I kept working but he continued so I told him “yeah, now leave.” He then held up his fist for a fistbump