Thank you everyone for their comments and advice! I have to say, I hadn't expected to start such a furious debate with my first post.

Wally, thanks for the tip on the Rob Roy...definitely bore fruit!

Piper, thanks for the post on ways to wear a great kilt and the advice on simply making my own...I think that's the route I'll try for, first, instead of spending a bunch of money at a vendor.

Most of the Ren Faire type events I attend are part of the SCA...which as someone mentioned earlier, IS a little more stringent on period-dress. There aren't official dress codes...but you get a lot more sniffs and looks from people down their noses if you're blatantly non-period. I don't particularly care for those looks, even if I DO look great in a phillabeg (don't we all?)

More than avoiding the fashion police though, a lot of the outdoor events I attend have a high temperature difference between day and night (Pennsic in Pennsylvania is as high as 95 during the day and literally freezing at night). A great kilt will let the breeze in during the day and stil let me curl up with a lady friend at night without giving me pneumonia. I've been miserable in just a phillabeg before at some events...especially when they get rained out, and wearing a cloak over a kilt just seems sad to me...I don't want to hide a kilt if I'm wearing it!

Again, thank you all for your helpful comments! I'll be on the lookout for some tartan fabric now, and I'll let you know how it turns out once I get it together!

Out of curiousity, does anyone know where a pattern or guide might exist for having a belt or drawstring on the inside to make pleating faster? I believe Piper mentioned that one. Looking period is all well and good, but I'm all for cutting 75% of dress time off of an outfit for an event. Thanks again everyone!

David