Suggested n00b reading

[AKScott]

Dear n00b,

Welcome to the wonderful world of kilts. Girls you thought were totally unapproachable are about to cling to you like a cheap suit. You have found the shiznit.

As a registered user here for about six months I find the "new posts" feature brings me three new registered users introducing themselves for every one thread of other content.

Certainly a warm welcome to "all y'all", but I can't reasonably type "welcome to Xmarks from Fairbanks, AK" fifteen times every day.

n00bs have about five questions, and individually they each ask three of those same five over and over. I was right there where you are six months ago; it isn't a slam, it is just an observation.

Please go read these threads, and if we haven't already answered your question, then ask.

1 kilt, 10 looks. This thread is stickied twice for a reason. If you haven't read it already, please do.

http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/f...-attire-46888/

Got it?

The next one is a picture thread, sorry dial up users. HRH Prince Charles, the Prince of Wales to those of us in the US, has a metric ton of titles, including the Duke of Rothesay. This man can go kilted for three different reasons, he is also the something-somthing of the Gordon Highlanders plus he has that other thingamathing. The main thing is he has a sense of style without parallel in the modern age.

Everyone here, and I mean everyone agrees he dresses very well. Sort of goes with the job, but he also happens to be good at it. In this thread notice not only is understated elegance a key to masculine style; spend some time (you are probably a recently engaged Norte Americano with some Scottish heritage) ruminating about how the UK residents in this thread view the royal fanily in general.

The pics are terrific guideline, but the cultural minutae should be eye-opening. Around here at Xmarks please do respect that our cousins' point of view is not invalid.

http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/f...-photos-49608/

Notice many pay homage, but if you look back at the splash banner photo few emulate. Interesting.

Here is another interesting old thread. Highlanders discuss highland attire. This one is locked and should be locked. if you disagree with something, spend some time reading related threads before you vent your ignorance. If you are halfway home, there is some stuff in here that might make you mad. Once you get "there" you'll understand. A kilt isn't just 'other' pants.

http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/f...-attire-57432/

Here is a fun one. Among the clerical staff in my office is a 21 year old girl who wants to amrry a man with a smile just like this one.

http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/f...lection-60396/

If you are having trouble with your kilt measurements and thinking about bringing in something inexpensive, consider this stuff:

http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/f...ke-note-65830/

And you have to be ready. If you step out in a kilt in the US sooner or later someone is going to say something. I have a collection of comebacks gleaned from this site taped to my door, but they were scattered all over. Hopefully the comebacks will collect here:

http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/f...95/#post979175

EDIT: a bit of historical context is helpful too. Traditional highland dress is, in American terms, "vintage" the stuff our grandfathers and great great grandfathers wore. As a total n00b, and even now, I refer to the pictures in this thread often to get some idea where current styles came from. It helps me understand why we do now some of the things we do now, it is because "we" used to do it this other way.

http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/f...xamples-63059/

Final observations:

It is OK to mix brown leather and black leather. Typically this would be black leather shoes with a brown leather sporran. Really, it is OK. I don't have a single link to offer, but the evidence is everywhere.

If MacMillan of Rathdowne and Jock Scott agree, take it as carried down the mountain by Moses. They hardly ever disagree any road, but if they both agree a thing is a bad idea, go find a new plan.



The three keys to kilts:

1. Man plumage, not man as back up vocals to girl plumage.

2. If you can dress like HRH Charles and smile like Hamish you are going to do great.

3. White hose is the mark of a rental outift.



Hopefully the rabble will have some a few other threads to suggest, there is that one about bias cut waistcoats currently eluding me....

[cdarwin]

I will surely take flack for this, but I will say it anyway. First, the links and threads you have provided are quite useful and interesting. However, there are plenty of existing announcements and sticky-ed threads in the various forums of this site. 'n00bs' will have a tendency to not read or search before they post. This is not a phenomenon unique to this site. It has happened since bulletin boards and news groups. This site has a 'Kilt Board Newbies' forum for new members to introduce themselves and ask stupid questions. You are free to ignore them if you so wish. I am surely guilty of asking stupid questions myself and I accept all harsh comments accordingly. I have found that the more time I spend scouring old threads, the less likely I am to ask more stupid questions. What is my point? Meh...

Cheers,
-J

[Ryan Ross]

I will surely take flack for this, but I will say it anyway. First, the links and threads you have provided are quite useful and interesting. However, there are plenty of existing announcements and sticky-ed threads in the various forums of this site. 'n00bs' will have a tendency to not read or search before they post. This is not a phenomenon unique to this site. It has happened since bulletin boards and news groups. This site has a 'Kilt Board Newbies' forum for new members to introduce themselves and ask stupid questions. You are free to ignore them if you so wish. I am surely guilty of asking stupid questions myself and I accept all harsh comments accordingly. I have found that the more time I spend scouring old threads, the less likely I am to ask more stupid questions. What is my point? Meh...

Cheers,
-J

***

To the OP:

If you had read up, you'd have found that noobs creating an introduction thread is not only customary here, but encouraged (see below link).

http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/f...uncements.html

You will also find that, around here, noob status does not always go away in six months' time.

Got it?

[mookien]

AKScott: While around since October, I remain a functional newbie. Thanks for the pointers and commentary. I will read them, when I return from Florida to my high-speed connection.

cdarwin: I was in Tallahassee for a couple of days last week and actually found the home of Kiltmart (I can even read street addresses!) - one half aisle in a thrift shop called Chic Repeat (or something like that). :-)

[cdarwin]

cdarwin: I was in Tallahassee for a couple of days last week and actually found the home of Kiltmart (I can even read street addresses!) - one half aisle in a thrift shop called Chic Repeat (or something like that). :-)

It is really interesting that you bring this up. This is the second time in as many days that Kilt Mart has been brought to my attention. I had come across her website a few times in my 'internet research' and had not realized she was located in Tallahassee until a few days ago. I finally stopped in after driving past it numerous times and finally calling her. Not bad for cheap costume kilts if you're into that sort of thing.

[mookien]

It is really interesting that you bring this up. This is the second time in as many days that Kilt Mart has been brought to my attention. I had come across her website a few times in my 'internet research' and had not realized she was located in Tallahassee until a few days ago. I finally stopped in after driving past it numerous times and finally calling her. Not bad for cheap costume kilts if you're into that sort of thing.

I was in the shop only a few minutes. The lady at the desk told me that if I was serious about their "Scottish" attire, she would have to call someone (presumably knowledgeable) to help me. The kilts I picked up looked like wool, but were acrylic and labelled as such.

I was curious, because I bought a dark brown belt and brass-colored buckle from Kiltmart online for a very reasonable price, and received prompt and very curteous service. The belt looks great, functions properly, and appears well made. The leather is softer and more pliable than a more expensive black belt obtained from a now-forgotten vendor at last year's Pleasanton games.

[Sharkman]

I appreciate the post AKScott,

I'm a real noob around here and I'm constantly looking through the old threads and reading the new posts for answers to my questions and I have received a lot of advice and encourgement since I became intereseted in the kilt several years ago.

I have had a pretty favorable experience since I started wearing my kilt and received several compliments and inquiries when I was out. A pretty enjoyable and interesting day for sure.

[AKScott]

I was most expecting to be called out for showing most of us do not actually turnout like HRH the Duke of Rothesay, all the nice things said about his wardrobe notwithstanding.

On the one hand understated elegance is the key to masculine style, but then we/I/ the n00b finds a bunch of pictures of dudes not just kilted, but in an absolute riot of colorful accessories, with part of a dead animal on prominent display after 6PM.

It takes some getting used to I think. I agree with Steve's sugestion from a month or two ago that pictures are more helpful than text.

The bias cut waistcoat picture thread continues to elude me.

I too posted an introduction thread as instructed by Steve.

[southpacifickilt]

thanks for this... very interesting. havnt quite got through it all yet but all pretty much things i wanted to know. of course knowing is probably about all i can do about this stuff until i get to the other side of university and start to make some of my own money
also... what Sharkman said

[AKScott]

I did indeed have the bias cut tartan waistcoat thread bookmarked on one of my office computers.

Does everyone need one, no. Is it good to know and give contextual definition to the rest the looks, yes.

http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/f...istcoat-52702/