How were you introduced to kiltdom?

[beepx22]

oh all is well, he's grown accustomed to his son in a kilt, even tried it himself a few times, seems that being in a rock band and wearing a kilt go together like...hmmmm, haggis and bannocks.. so he doesn't mind now

[Dakotan]

Funny story, that...... I do some kayaking.
This is an NRS brand "Kilt" kayak cockpit sprayskirt.
A "seed" was planted, one thought / thing lead to another in my somewhat disjointed mind, and my first SportKilt was on the way. 5 kilts later here I am!
Strange / wierd but true!

[Vince]

Hello to all who have seen my posts at Bravehearts and Tom's. I have finally made it over here. Great site!

Now to the subject. A kilt is a idea is alway a idea that has lurked in the back of my mind, but alas I couldn't really justify buying one as to the best of my knowledge I don't have one drop of Celtic blood. A couple of years ago my girlfriend and I were at the highland games and she asked me why I don't wear a kilt. I voiced my one reservation, but the idea was there again. In web surfing, I found Bravehearts and Tom's Cafe. After reading the many posts, I finally decided that not being 'Celtic" was no excuse at all. As is my custom, I jumped in with both feet and ordered a really nice 8 yard kilt from Scotland and a 4 yard kilt from Bearkilts.

My kilts are my most comfortable items of clothing I own. I just wish that I had wised up sooner.

[Nick]

I had never really thought about kilts until last summer. I was in a local production of Brigadoon, which is set in the Highlands, and that got me started, which is kind of funny, because I played Tommy, and American, who is one to two guys in the whole show who never wear a kilt.

At any rate, our choreographer was a competitive Highland dancer, and we got to be friends. I'm taking her Highland dance class at my university, and will be performing this summer.

I've got three kilt. My first I made, it's cotton in Black Watch, but I don't wear it much. My second turned out better, it's solid black 10oz. duc cloth, and I wear it at least once a week. My other is a great kilt, in MacLeod. I've got a Utilikilt on the way, too.

[David in Maryland]

Nick,
Check out my pictures in the Post Your Pictures Section. There are a couple of me wearing my MacLeod of Harris Ancient Great Kilt. Which MacLeod did you get for your Great Kilt and why? I am partial to the MacLeod of Harris, since that is the clan and branch I belong to.

[al' Sporrano]

I'll be quick.

I sing on a semi pro basis and hired a kilt in Dec. 2002 for a 'gig'. The reaction was astounding. Something stirred inside, I discovered Kiltmen.Com and bought my first kilt at the beginning of 2003.

I'm lucky as I live close to Scotland's borders. Loads going on and lots of opportunity to wear my kilt. Not that I need a function to wear it.

Now looking for a second, but struggling on deciding what to get.

Al

[philbo]

I blame Lance for putting me in a kilt. And all the kilts that I've made or bought afterwards, somehow that's all Lance's fault as well. And all the Guinness we share, Lance is to blame for that, too.

[erudite]

When I was about 13, and still very impressionable, my parents took me to the Fair Hill MD Scottish games. Watching really big guys toss Cabers and asundry heavy things left a positive impression. I've always been a bit odd, and decided along the line (probably after Brave Heart or Rob Roy) that I wanted to be married in kilt. Sadly, I married a Dublin girl in Ireland, who threatened that I would be laughed out of the church. So I stayed away from kilts for the duration of the marriage. Since I closed that chapter, about 2 years ago, I decided it was time to move onward and upward. I bought a primarily stone house, named it Lionshold, and adopted the rampant lion as a symbol (which led me back to all things Scottish).

The cost of a kilt had always prohibited me from buying one, but then I found Sportkilt. I have a respect for history, so I did some research into tartans, and chose the universal blackwatch. I also got kilts for my 3 and 5 year old sons, the pride of Lionshold as it were. (we're on the sportskilt wall of fame, the surname is Hendrix).

I've had it since the fall and have ocassionally worn it around West Philly, where a friend lives. She's amused by the reactions I draw form U. Penn students. I wore the it for christmas with a tux shirt and jacket, and was accused of wearing a skirt by friends and family. Again, they know I don't fit any mold. I was so encouraged by the reactions that I bought a second, a Royal Stewart.

Last weekend I was in San Francisco, to hang out with an old friend. I wore my kilts all the time Thursday to Sunday. He chuckled, but completely changed his tune when he saw all the lasses come over and chat me up. I may have converted one or two of his friends, after they witnessed the kilt's excellent rapport with the birds (boids). I ended up flying back across the country in the Royal Stewart, and had nothing but positive experiences, with the TSA, ground crew, and air crew.

I picked up my sons, still in my kilt, and my first wife (I'm still taking applications for a second wife) said, "Yer dad's here, and he's wearing his skirt again." She hates it, the rest of the world loves it. With that kind of positive impact, I'm going to buy more kilts and wear them more often.

And that, gentlemen, is my abridged road to kilted freedom. slainte.

[phil h]

nice story Erudite
good for you.

[Robbie]

As a Scot I have to admit that I find all these "Road to Damascus" conversions to kilts really interesting.

My own story, I'm afraid, is much more mundane. I grew up in an age when there was little of the peer pressure or desire for designer labels prevalent in the young today, and small boys (and girls) just dressed in whatever their mothers laid out for them in the morning. In my case, from early primary school days my mother laid out a kilt so that was what I always wore, and have ever since.