Brand new to kilts...

[Foosinho]

I've been lurking around the site for about a week or so, and am thinking about making the plunge I've been considering for probably better than 15 years (ie, virtually my entire adult life) and purchasing my first kilt.

First, a little about me. I'm not of Scottish descent; but I have a very complete tree on my mother's side in Ireland, and can trace a direct link to John Garvey of Co. Mayo, Archbishop of Armagh, Church of Ireland (d. 1591). There is also more than one marriage to the Butler family (Earls of Ormonde, Co. Kilkenny), there's a tie to a Col. Shortall that appeared to come to Ireland with Cromwell, and there's even a purported tie to King James I (one of his granddaughters allegedly married into the family, but I've been unable to verify this - my grandfather was the genealogist, and his notes don't say which King James, nor any other detail either. Time-wise, it's got to be James I - aka James VI in Scotland. So I guess I *do* have some Scottish blood in me, if that's accurate. All rather ironic, considering the long history of Catholicism in my mother's family. ) Regardless, I feel a much stronger tie to my Irish roots than any Scottish history, and I'm interested in kilts partially as an expression of my Gaelic roots.

I've never worn a kilt, and I've been put off by the cost I've seen for the high-end tailored wool kilts; that seems like a lot to pay if it's something I don't like or end up virtually never wearing. My suits (which I virtually never wear) don't come anywhere close in cost to a top-shelf kilt.

So, I'm intrigued by the Stillwater Thrifty-Kilts. That seems like an excellent jumping-off point. I can always follow up with better, more expensive kilts if I find out it's "for me".

However, I still have some concerns.

First - I'm actively trying to slim down some. I'm not huge - 6'2", 230lb - but I do have a gut. I measured last night at 46" chest, 46" waist (across the belly button), and 45" rump. I was a little surprised at those numbers, since 38" pants require a belt to stay put; but I wear my pants pretty low. I've got long legs, and pants look better on me a little lower. I've seen plenty of pictures here of kilts at the "natural waist" and at the belly button, and they look good, so that's where I want to wear it. Should I hold off a bit and see if I can shed more weight, or should I jump in now and sew on some additional velcro if I need to take a few inches off the kilt later? It's an inexpensive kilt, but I still don't want to be throwing money away. (I'd like to get it a little early so I can start getting accustomed to it before the Dublin Irish Festival in Dublin Ohio, 100 days from now; I'd like to be able to wear it out then.)

Second - what accessories are a MUST? If I love it, it seems pretty obvious I'll be kitting myself out completely, but for casual or sporty wear (most of my Oxford shirts are not solid colors - checked, instead - so at least early on we're talking about casual wear out-n-about, maybe to the pub or some Columbus Crew footy games, and not with nicer shirts, much less a twill jacket) what kind of accessories should I get right away, to ensure I don't look goofy? I assume belt, sporran, hose... flashes? Kilt pin? If I get a Thrifty-Kilt and a belt, should I sew on my own belt loops? Or is everything pretty much going to stay put on it's own?

Finally - and I'll end my novel on this one - I know choice of tartan, and the acceptability of that choice, can be very personal, but it's important to me that I have a good reason for choosing what tartans I choose. I don't think I'd be comfortable wearing a specific clan tartan "just because". So I'm probably going to start out with an Irish National. I think I can justify a Barclay Dress, as the colors are perfect for Columbus Crew games. I'm still looking for a tartan that would work for Ohio State sporting events. Other than that... I think I should be sticking to territorial tartans. Thoughts? Would Stewart tartans be unreasonable (since I can't even authenticate the presumed link)? Am I getting ahead of myself since I don't even have one kilt yet, or am I just anticipating the inevitable?