To Lend, or Not to Lend?

[madmacs]

However much faith you have in him... There are other people there too... And i'm sure that someone who sees a "skirt" will only see a price tag of $20... rather than $400+...
1 spilt coke... Bye bye kilt... That's not including food... Cigarettes... Fights... And a whole load of other possibilities...

You could maybe get together with his parents and chip in for a stillwater kilt (or similar)... He'd get to keep it then too... And about the same price as a rental ($30 for a thrifty $80 for a standard... Ask for a student discount? )

[gary meakin]

What is your relationship to this kid. Is it more important than stuff?
I had a co-worker ask to borrow my only kilt (13 oz - 8 yd - hand sewn)
I told him as long as he could afford to replace it then he could borrow it.
He borrowed it and had it dry cleaned before returning it and is now a proud kilt owner himself.
gary

PS
I would say no if he asked to borrow it for a halloween party though.

[Ryan Ross]

Aye- best to say no.

It hasn't been mentioned yet that this kid isn't used to wearing a kilt, and therefor, even if the kilt came back with no damage that couldn't be repaired, I'll just bet you that the pleats would come back an absolute wrinkled horror.

Just something else to think on.

[biblemonkey]

The potential for accidents is definitely there regardless of the young man's rsponsible nature. If you can afford it I would rent one for him or, since you are apparently within the same size range, buy a Stillwater heavy weight and let him borrow that then you'd have TWO kilts and a good excuse to buy it!

Another option is to make sure the parents are willing to take responsibility if it is damaged as was suggested by Bidule.

[Cygnus]

Thanks to all who posted (and for making me not feel like a selfish jerk for my reluctance to lend)!

After mulling it over and considering your posts, here is what I have been thinking:

1. My kilt almost certainly will be a bit big (2"+ in the waist).
2. Others may do stupid things over which the borrower has no control.
3. I have other things to offer that would allow him to wear a kilt for much less than renting the whole ensemble.

So, I've asked him to come over after work today where I'll have $20 and a business card for the local kilt rental shop waiting for him. I'll offer all of the accessories he needs from my closet but will ask that he rent just the kilt for the dance.

If something gets spilled on my jacket, that's not such a big deal as I can have it cleaned (or replaced) more easily than a kilt, I have quite a few pairs of hose and flashes, etc.

In the end, I think this is the best way to go - I can encourage him to go kilted (and to do so with style) without worrying about the most significant part of my Highland wardrobe.

[CDNSushi]

Sounds like a wise compromise to me.

Maybe point out what others have said, that it's not necessarily a matter of not trusting HIM, (as surely he would be as careful as if it were his very own kilt), but rather what others might choose to do that remains out of everyone's immediate control, making it a wildcard in terms of risk.

[Ryan Ross]

Thanks to all who posted (and for making me not feel like a selfish jerk for my reluctance to lend)!

After mulling it over and considering your posts, here is what I have been thinking:

1. My kilt almost certainly will be a bit big (2"+ in the waist).
2. Others may do stupid things over which the borrower has no control.
3. I have other things to offer that would allow him to wear a kilt for much less than renting the whole ensemble.

So, I've asked him to come over after work today where I'll have $20 and a business card for the local kilt rental shop waiting for him. I'll offer all of the accessories he needs from my closet but will ask that he rent just the kilt for the dance.

If something gets spilled on my jacket, that's not such a big deal as I can have it cleaned (or replaced) more easily than a kilt, I have quite a few pairs of hose and flashes, etc.

In the end, I think this is the best way to go - I can encourage him to go kilted (and to do so with style) without worrying about the most significant part of my Highland wardrobe.

You're a good man, sir.

[Riverkilt]

Wise.

I'm wondering where a kid gets the cajones to ask a man to wear his kilt. Sort of a boundary violation.

I'm all for the therapeutic response of encouraging the young man to work to earn his own kilt.

[Andy Proffitt]

No good deed goes unpunished.

[Bob C]

I say you chose well. I would never lend my made-to-measure wool kilt, though I would consider lending the acrylic one I bought off Ebay.

I would also like to thank you for using the correct word, lend, instead of "loan." Too many people don't know the difference and it is a pet peeve of mine.