Your first kilt wearing experience

[EagleJCS]

The decision to wear a kilt. Had been doing family tree research and was in the process of learning to play the Great Highland pipes. Kind of went hand-in-hand after discovering there is a Clan Scott.

Choice of kilt. Scott Red Modern, Locharron 16 oz.

The occasion. First time wearing was shortly after receiving it. Family went down to visit my aunt and I took along family info and the kilt.

Your experience. I liked it.

The response. Mixed - we're a long time away from any solid Scottish heritage (most recent immigrant on either side was my ggm from Ireland in 1903), so no one in the family in recent history had worn a kilt or tartan.

Kilt wearing since then. Pipe band events (wearing Ancient Henderson), Highland Games, a couple of weddings, including my sister's (by her request).

[OC Richard]

The decision to wear a kilt.

I took up learning the pipes at 17; at 18 I had a set of pipes and naturally wanted a kilt! This would have been 1975.


Choice of kilt.

We lived in a desert (no, literally, with sand dunes surrounding the town) in the middle of nowhere and I didn't have a clue about anything. I had never seen a kilt in person. I figured out more or less how a kilt was made from photos (of course there was no internet). I went to a local fabric shop and bought some plaid wool. I fancied that the "tartan" was very apropos to the desert, a tan background with navy blue, black, red, and white overstripes.

My grandmother made the kilt, following my crude pattern. I wish I knew where that strange kilt is now! I don't know if I have any photo of that thing.

The occasion.

I actually don't remember the first time I wore it. I wore it hiking in the desert, shooting, driving around in a Jeep, and playing my pipes.

Your experience.

I thought it was cool.

The response.

My friends thought it was cool, the kilt and the pipes and all.

Kilt wearing since then.

My second kilt was also made by my grandmother. In October 1977 my father and I went to see the tour of The Scots Guards, and in the programme (which I have here in my hands) there is an advert for The Scottish Shopper in Seattle Washington.

I sent away for the catalogue. When it came I ordered a plain Day sporran, kilt hose, flashes, kilt straps & buckles, and a few yards of MacDonald of the Isles Hunting tartan.

My grandmother made the kilt. I don't know where that kilt is now, but looking back on it, it was actually not too bad, though she didn't know about cutting out the pleats etc.

I made a matching Full Plaid. I happened across MacKenzie tartan full hose that exactly matched my kilt. I bought a horsehair sporran, waistbelt, crossbelt, feather bonnet, and dirk.

Then I made a Full Dress doublet myself, modifed from a navy blue blazer I bought at a thrift shop:



In 1976 we moved to Greater Los Angeles and in 1977 I joined a very good pipe band (G2) who issued me an entire uniform consisting of a heavyweight kilt and plaid, heavy Melton doublet, etc. This was the first time I had worn an acutal Scottish-made kilt.

Also around that time I went to the Santa Monica (then Long Beach) Highland Games. There was a vendor with no table, just stuff laying in the dirt. I bought from him a nicely made Prince Charlie and sealskin Evening sporran.

Thus began nearly 40 years of continuous kiltwearing and piping.

[gary meakin]

Please comment on:

The decision to wear a kilt. At the Loon Mt. Highland Games I realized not just pipers wore the kilt.
Choice of kilt. MacLachlan Modern
The occasion. Same event 1 year later. Had no accoutrements but wore the kilt anyway

Your experience. In my 10+ years of wearing the kilt, I haven't had a bad experience yet.
The response. Great (I was at a Scottish Festival).
Kilt wearing since then. 5-6 times a year at Scottish events and family gatherings. Every weekend during hiking season.

[Bill aka Mole]

The decision to wear a kilt: I have seen men wearing them since I was 5 or 6, including family friends.

Choice of kilt: An off the rack SportKilt in Edzell (US Navy) tartan.

The occasion: I wanted a kilt.

Your experience: It didn't fit well and I didn't have enough of a standard wardrobe to work with it. I still liked it.

The response: Wife likes it. Others were confused; apparently kilt wearing isn't a normal thing seen in the Orangeburg area by anyone, let alone a person who moved here from Los Angeles. Women seem to like it a bit, men seem to be scared of a man wearing a kilt.

Kilt wearing since then: Mostly on weekends or other times when I'll be Code 7 (no response) from my Fire Department.

[Laird_M]

The decision to wear a kilt - decided to hire outfits for my wedding reception.
Choice of kilt - Spirit of Bannock Burn - had clan connection and went well with Wife's outfit
The occasion - Wedding reception.
Your experience - outstanding.
The response - Really favourable.
Kilt wearing since then - MacLeod of Harris (Ancient) for casual, semi-formal and scouting purposes.

Saving up to get more kilts etc, but its a slloooowwww process.

[Jock Scot]

The decision to wear the kilt? It was made for me as I was too young to object.

Choice of tartan? There was no choice.

The occasion? No idea.

The experience? The what?

The response? No idea.

Kilt wearing since then? Just a normal everyday type event-------no different to putting on trousers------it just depends on the mood and the occasion-------only ever worn one tartan for at least the last six decades.

[Pipersson]

:-)
It started last summer after I had been thinking of having a kilt for some years.
So I ordered a polyviscose 5 yard casual kilt in Stewart Hunting Tartan, a brown sporran, brown belt, buckle, hose (off white...forgive me!), flashes and kiltpin...Most things by CarseOfGowrie.
I went to Hamburg for holidays and took my kiltstuff with me to wear it for British Day which is arranged by the British Community in Hamburg at the Poloclub.
Actually I had no patience and decided to wear the things with a blue jumper for shopping at IKEA before...
People were surprised but smiling at me...in a friendly way.
I felt great and decided to become a serious kiltwearer.
After that I has only few occasions and did not really like my PV Kilt.
I bought a wool casual by Scotweb some month later as sale-bargain which doesn't really fit as I know now...
BUT...My first real made-to-measure kilt is about be be ordered...

...to be continued

[Chas]

I don't know how I missed this thread.

The decision to wear a kilt. - Not mine. I was stationed at RAF Honington in Suffolk. I was the Scout Leader on camp. Another scouter was posted in, Andrew Berry by name. He was appointed as Group Scout Leader. We became good friends. After a while I discovered that he was a piper and got him to pipe at our annual scout prize giving event.

That is what started this whole tale of woe. One of the parents at the event was a senior officer. He thought that it would be a good idea if the station had a pipe band. He set about creating one. He got pipers and drummers posted in and then draughted them into the band.

It could have been a good idea. It could have worked. They could have been a good band.

They were not. If I am really generous, the best I can say is that they were bloody awful. The drummers were in competition with each other, to see who could finish first. The tempo would vary as they tried to catch each other out. It was trad jazz meeting hot-house garage rave.

The pipers were no better. They could not agree as to what was in tune and what was not. One of them could not pipe and march at the same time. He wore a baldrick with a shooting stick clipped on. When the band came to a halt, he sat on the shooting stick and started to play.

Not so much a case of Pipes and Drums, but rather Pipes or Drums - you could listen to one or the other, but not both at the same time.

Rather than improve the band, the Officers decided to add camouflage. That's where I came in. About 20 of us were detailed to 'Band Support'. We were in fact, cheerleaders. We formed a square round the band while they marched, so the public couldn't see them. We lined up between the band and the public to screen them during playing. Then they gave us flags to wave.

In the end there 40 of us as a 'Support Drill Squad'. Marching round the band, waving flags, executing dozens of manoeuvres without the word of command. We really got into this and were adding extra flourishes to make it more impressive. We were good. The band was rubbish, but we were good.

The Officers were happy, the public were impressed by our standard of drill, they didn't get to see a lot of the band, but two out of three isn't bad.

Choice of kilt. - Issued. Told it was Anderson, but I seem to remember a very red tartan, not the blue/red that is usually accepted as Anderson. They probably lied to us. Black woollen RAF issue hose; no flashes; standard issue Wedgewood Blue shirt and issue black tie; RAF battledress blouse; RAF blue/grey beret and brass capbadge, not staybright.

The occasion. - An RAF Open Day.

Your experience. - I was in a big group obeying orders, I was not an individual.

The response. - We Rocked - The public loved us.

Kilt wearing since then. - Nothing for 20 years and then I won one in a competition, so I had to wear it.

Regards

Chas

[Hachiman]

The decision to wear a kilt: Getting married. Since my parents were stuck in Australia and couldn't make it to the USA, I decided to rent a kilt in my mother's clan tartan to represent my mum. My wife would be (eventually) assuming my last name to represent my father.
Choice of kilt: Wallace Modern
The occasion: my wedding day.
Your experience: so awesome, I wanted one of my own- despite having wrenched a muscle in my back 2 days earlier, the kilted experience was very comfortable.
The response: very positive
Kilt wearing since then: Only managed to get my own kilt a couple of weeks ago. A Wallace Modern in a 5 yard casual from Scotweb.

[freddie]

Being Scottish I'd always loved the sight of The Kilt and over twenty years ago I got the urge to wear one. I used to walk down the street imagining wearing one and eventually bought an outfit. The kilt was in MacDuff ancient.
The first event I attended was a Christmas drinks party at Warwick Castle. I felt a million dollars walking across the courtyard. While inside I remember raising my glass to a targe hanging on the wall which was said to have been taken from a clan chief at the Battle of Culloden. The official photographer came up to me and said "You look good, better than the rest of them".
That was a very positive experience and I was hooked and wore my kilt at every opportunity.
I was adopted, so I needed one kilt in my blood father's clan and one in the tartan of my adopted family and have been collecting kilts ever since. I've been on 'faddy' diets, so I've had to get smaller kilts then sold them on as I gained the weight again. One thing I really wanted was an army kilt military pleated in the Mackenzie Seaforth tartan (my blood Father was a
Seaforth Highlander) and I bought myself one two years ago. My current line-up is the army kilt, a 9 yard Lochcarron Strome in Ancient Buchanan, a 9 yard Lochcarron Strome in MacDonald of The Isles (my close adoptive family are Hendersons and McPhillips - MacDonald septs) a 9 yard House of Edgar medium weight in Ancient Hume an 8 yard PV casual in Gunn (again for Henderson) and an old 4 yard PV casual in 'Black Watch' which I wear around the house.