How Did You Select Your First Kilt?

[Manu]

Well alright, its your choice and your money. Generally, we Highland Scots stick to one tartan.

I'm aware of the Highland practice. If I remember correctly though Jock, I've seen you wearing a couple of different kilts, no? They were both McLeod of Harris, but I believe one was an enlarged sett.

[Jock Scot]

I'm aware of the Highland practice. If I remember correctly though Jock, I've seen you wearing a couple of different kilts, no? They were both McLeod of Harris, but I believe one was an enlarged sett.

Quite right, both the same Clan tartan, one is old and rather tatty now and used for more rugged and casual events and the other is reserved for the more smart events such as weddings. All perfectly acceptable from a Highland Scot's point of view and should I live for another 50 years., my present smart kilt will take up more casual duties and a new one will deal with the smart events.

[lschwartz]

My first kilt was a matter of necessity and availability...

I was at a Celtic festival in Maryland a few years back with friends and family and I made the brilliant decision to wear full length blue jeans and a black polo shirt. Of course the temperature was in the 80's or 90's and I was sweltering. So, my darling bride suggested I go look at the kilts as a cooler option. I did but couldn't find one in wool that I liked or could afford so I bought an AmeriKilt utility kilt in olive drab. No bulky cargo pockets, just a cloth sporran and small hip pocket. A clean and simple design in cotton duck that I still wear for casual wear at home and around town on errands. It was cool and comfortable and the start in my kilted adventures.

Olive_detail_4.jpg

I next bought one in acrylic fabric in Lamont, the clan on my maternal grandmothers side of the family. Similar to black watch/campbell, but with a white stripe added.

lamontm_clipped_rev_1_ab645c0d-3021-4044-afec-dd2869003ded.jpg
That is the only clan affiliation that I know of so I will stick with the variants of the Lamont tartan (ancient, modern, muted/hunting) I think.

I do have an Irish National in PV from USA Kilts since I liked the colors and my ancestors on the Lamont side got all over the british isles (england, ireland, scotland, and also wales).

You can certainly go with your military service tartans as many of us have. I did a search on Hawaii in the Scottish Registar of Tartans website and found two you might want to check out.

This is the Hawaii tartan, and it may be the official state tartan, per the write up on the website: http://www.tartansauthority.com/tart...awaii-district

This is a fashion tartan made and owned by USA Kilts called State Seal of Hawaii: http://www.tartansauthority.com/tart...hawaii-fashion

[ASinclair]

I ordered Sinclair Hunting old colours tartan from Scotland, and my wife hand-sewed my first kilt, using The Art of Kilt Making.

[Bluethunder90]

AmeriKilt utility kilt in olive drab. No bulky cargo pockets, just a cloth sporran and small hip pocket. A clean and simple design in cotton duck

Olive_detail_4.jpg

I do like that AmeriKilt utility kilt. That one is definitely on my list



lamontm_clipped_rev_1_ab645c0d-3021-4044-afec-dd2869003ded.jpg


This is the Hawaii tartan, and it may be the official state tartan, per the write up on the website: http://www.tartansauthority.com/tart...awaii-district

This is a fashion tartan made and owned by USA Kilts called State Seal of Hawaii: http://www.tartansauthority.com/tart...hawaii-fashion

I like both the Hawaii tartans. At this rate I'm going to have a closet full of kilts....

[derosa]

I like both the Hawaii tartans. At this rate I'm going to have a closet full of kilts....

There's worse habits in life than a closet full of kilts, still won't beat my wife's purse collection and those are used and put away for forever; haven't seen a reuse in 13 years.
I also went with clergy as a first along with a Muir at the same time as its the only clan relation I currently know of. I've added 2 more clergy in purple, one box and one knife for variety. I've also added Culloden and would like to add a Russell as that is my actual name and an Arctic. I also have a kiltman canvas kilt which is nice for working around the house. Really any excuse seems like a good one to me but I try to keep it to a kilt a year.

[PatrickHughes123]

There's worse habits in life than a closet full of kilts, still won't beat my wife's purse collection and those are used and put away for forever; haven't seen a reuse in 13 years.
I also went with clergy as a first along with a Muir at the same time as its the only clan relation I currently know of. I've added 2 more clergy in purple, one box and one knife for variety. I've also added Culloden and would like to add a Russell as that is my actual name and an Arctic. I also have a kiltman canvas kilt which is nice for working around the house. Really any excuse seems like a good one to me but I try to keep it to a kilt a year.

So you wear a kilt for a year the change it when the year changes?

[kingandrew]

My first was a budget acrylic kilt bought at a Renaissance Faire. The tartan was Royal Stewart since I love the "assertive" color scheme and my mother's clan (Boyd) is often associated with the Stewarts. The kilt came as a package with some budget accessories such as a cheap daywear sporran (with chain), a kilt pin, and some matching flashes.

After wearing the acrylic number a few times and getting very positive responses, I decided to upgrade to wool. I ordered a 5-yard, lightweight (11 oz.) "casual' kilt from Scotweb in Boyd tartan. It looks and feels much better than the acrylic, which I soon passed on to the teenage son of a friend who was interested in trying out kilt wearing.

I recently upgraded again to a full 8-yard model from USA Kilts in 13 oz. Boyd tartan. It is definitely even nicer than the Scotweb model.

So, like Jock, I've got a dressier and more casual kilt, both in the same clan tartan.

Andrew

[derosa]

So you wear a kilt for a year the change it when the year changes?

No, every year I add a kilt. Now I have 6 I wear at different times.

[OC Richard]

both (kilts) the same Clan tartan, one is old and rather tatty now and used for more rugged and casual events and the other is reserved for the more smart events such as weddings.

That's exactly my tweed kilt jacket situation: one a bit motheaten and shabby, for Rugby (watching not playing!) and the other in better condition, for piping gigs.

With the tartan of kilts, of course some Clans have several tartans, and a Mr Stewart could have a closet-full of the things, all different, with a Mr MacDonald not far behind.