Wearing the Kilt the First Time in Scotland vs. America

Been wearing a kilt for 3 days and I fucking love it

I started wearing the kilt after a life changing event (heart attack, double bypass), after a long long road to recovery and back to "normal" health (took many years) I decided that I'm on borrowed time and screw what people think. Now I'm a Yorkshireman with no obvious Scottish roots who has fallen in love with the kilt and wears it everyday. Now I live in Sheffield (steel city) in the North of England and apart from a Piper street performer I haven't encountered another kilt wearer. Saying that I have had nothing but positive encounters with folk and have increased in confidence tenfold

I started wearing a kilt 7 days a week (other than winter) in 2017 while living in Boston, Massachusetts. I moved to a small town, Yarmouth Port, on Cape Cod in late 2019 and within a very short period of time I became something of a local celebrity. Today (April 2023) I went to the Veterans Administration Medical Clinic in nearby Hyannis to have some medical tests and every place I went after my appointment before returning home, strangers approached me complimenting me on my kilt and asking me questions about my kilt. During the conversation with one guy, I think I actually convinced him to get his first kilt.

I think I’ve gotten one negative comment that may have been directed at me wearing a kilt: I was walking across a parking lot and a car was headed in the other direction. I vaguely heard something that may have been, “Take that $h!t off!” It could have been directed at my kilt or at the fact that I was wearing a face mask during a pandemic. Either way, they fall into the “cowards” that don’t matter. Dozens upon dozens of other interactions have been positive with more than a handful asking “the question.” I don’t consider those “negative,” since they are expressing a genuine curiosity (which isn’t really any of their business). How do you gain the confidence to wear a kilt? Here’s the three easy steps: obtain a kilt; put the kilt on; go outside.

Only had one negative comment/interaction. As I passed by a woman, she said in a sneering tone "nice skirt". I smiled and said "thank you. It's actually called a kilt" To which she replied in a pretty nasty tone of voice "Yes, I know. My daughter made my son wear one at her wedding against my wishes." Ahhh. Not mad at me and not really at the kilt. Just was still processing some residual anger about her daughter's wedding. Oh well. But as the gents said, the positives have far outweighed any negative or even neutral comments. Here's a different story, though - about a month or so ago we had to go to a family funeral for the husband of one of my wife's cousins. I chose not to wear a kilt because I hadn't asked beforehand and didn't want to show up in a way that might draw attention. The family (including the widow) were upset (lightheartedly) that I did NOT wear a kilt. To the person who asked the question originally, I don't think you can get the confidence before you wear a kilt in public... you get that confidence by wearing it.

The last time I wore my kilt in public was for our youngest son's high school graduation. As I walked to the building from the parking lot, some punk kid yelled, "Look at that freak!" I was irritated but, meh. As I caught up to my family, a woman asked me to go speak to her elderly mother or grandmother who turned out to be from Scotland. The lady was sweet and genuinely excited to see someone wearing a kilt, which she said is not as common even in Scotland as she would have liked. It certainly made my day and boosted my confidence. If I hadn't lost about 100 pounds and about 12 inches around the middle, I'd still wear it. Another 50 pounds and it will be time to replace it!

Wore my kilt the first time last week to work.

Definitely a wall flower, but I’ve had no issues. I have had stares, but no negative comments. I enjoy kilting up for dates with my wife, sales events (I have a small business making hand made fishing rods and other things) and other special occasions. The kilt actually helps me out of my shell, to the extent I need that help.

Last weekend I attended a daytime Masonic event wearing not only my kilt but my Prince Charlie as well. On the way home, I needed to stop by and pick up a purchase I phoned in the day before. I was really nervous as I have never worn my PC to anything but private events. I figured what the heck, and went into the store, told the lady what I was there for, then stood waiting for about five minutes while she retrieved it. I was looking around the whole time to see what the reaction might be, and honestly, not one person gave me a second glance. I was a bit surprised to be honest, as I was quite out of place around all the t-shirts, shorts, and sandals. When she returned with my purchase she asked if I was going someplace special and told me I looked very nice. Was a nicely surprising outcome to my first time wearing a PC in public.

my first time wearing a kilt was a positive experience. my first time wearing and i had an "elderly" lady ask what i was wearing underneath. she left with a smile on her face thanks to my retort.

I have been interested in a kilt for decades but only started wearing them a year ago. Since then, it has become my daily attire. I have had hundreds of positive reactions with only a handful of negatives. I went to a Catholic high school, so that was a big hold up; kilts were "for girls." A year ago I decided to give a cheap utility kilt a chance. That got great reactions, which gave me the confidence to continue. I expanded to a total of 4 of those cheap things before going for a quality casual kilt a few months later (of which I now have 5, bringing me to 9 total options😅). I now wear a kilt to work almost every day. It's comfortable and a great ice breaker

I was lucky enough to be an Infantryman in combat. After that experience, I lost all shits for anyone’s opinion of me. What a blessing!

I've been surprised by the overall lack of response to my kilt. I think most people want to seem cosmopolitan, so they don't make a big deal about it. I've been further surprised at how little response I received at truck stops in the middle of Texas … and the few responses were positive. I have gotten teased occasionally by acquaintances … but they would have been making fun of something else if I wasn't wearing the kilt. I have thick skin, and I can dish it out in return. I get far more positive responses than negative. I mostly get no response. People sometimes stare, but even that happens so infrequently that it catches me (and my wife) by surprise. "Why are they staring?" (long puzzled pause) "Oh yeah … they must be staring at my kilt." The kilt makes a nice conversation starter at parties, where people are far more likely to comment. In a crowd of strangers, it designates me as one of the interesting people. And perhaps most relevant to this topic, if you're wearing a kilt, you're already telling people that you don't really care what people think or say.

I even wore my kilt to Cars and Coffee more then once , it was a blast.

As to the question of how to start wearing the kilt; just start; 1st at home, around the yard, celtic/irish/scottish fests, next move to diners out, and/or music sessions, celtic holidays, and Burns' suppers... i recently took a kilt to Ireland for a "fancy" diner (that wasn't ) at Kinnity Castle, and ended up wearing it while playing the bones with a group of guys in an irish session, and when returning from ireland to the States, I wore my kilt... because of broken air conditioning (and I didn't have shorts) on the flights... everyone i met (and introduced themselves to me because I was wearing a kilt) on the airports and planes - loved it

I was nervous wearing my kilt to work for the first time. I have never looked back. I've worn them for over 5 years daily. I get asked to have pictures with people. Women love it the most but it's men that ask me about where do you get one, do you like it, what about your clan. How do you measure them? etc. I've been wearing kilts 95 percent of the time. People at Costco, if I show up without one of my many kilts they ask me, "what, no Kilt today.?" (Yes, I have had on the exceedingly rare occasion when I've heard, "fag, girl, transfag from the random as..hole." I'm quick on the comeback. "There are Two types of people that make fun of my kilt. 1. Those that like their gay dreams and those that have gay dreams, which one are you?"

I am going to Scotland with my sister. She persuaded me to go. She is a big traveler but me, not so much. I am planning to take my band uniform . It's pure police officer from the waste up and pure highland wear from the waste down. I was just hoping to find a picturesque spot for a few photos. I was also thinking of taking my pipes to play in the old country.

I just started wearing a kilt today and I wish I would have gotten one a long time ago. Best thing I've ever worn.

As a capitalist...I LOVE that $50 got you to wear a kilt for the first time! For that...hell ya, I'd totally be down for that. My biggest concern is sometimes the venue. For example, tomorrow, my wife and I are headed to the art museum for their spring Art in Bloom show. It's where florists are challenged to create a design to compliment the masterpieces in the museum. Shameless plug, my wife and her old partner took 2nd a few years back. I digress, I'll usually wear a suit as that's what many gentlemen will wear. This year, I've decided to kilt it up a notch. My wife is a tad worried that it might be a distraction, but when I reminded her that some gentlemen even wear tuxedo's to this event, which is a bit much, I'll probably get a side glance and that'll be it.

Great video folks