Tartan or self-colour for everyday wear

[James Martin]

I wear tartan kilts most of the time, mainly because they look nice, but also because the general public know what to make of it -- "it's Scottish, so he must be Scottish" -- whereas some people feel ill at ease with a man wearing something less easily identifiable.

On the other hand, once the warm weather arrives, I'm happy to put on my plain light-coloured home-mades. If there were any really light-coloured tartans that did not remind me of dishcloths, I'd get one, but there does not seem to be anything available.

But black? No, not on my wish list. I have no black clothes at all.

Martin S,
Grenoble, France.

[Tartan Hiker]

But we're all missing the vital point here....

Cessna said he'd like to unload the Black Watch...

If it's my size, heck, you won't even have to dry clean it!!!

[Pleater]

If it looks right it probably is right - it is a rule for engineering, but clothes are engineered.

If wearing darker kilts is how you like to look then you will be more at ease and so look even better - and your wife bought you the black kilt, this fact alone should give you a really big clue as to which kilt to wear.

[Livingston]

But we're all missing the vital point here....

Cessna said he'd like to unload the Black Watch...

If it's my size, heck, you won't even have to dry clean it!!!

Point well taken.

Well, what size is it Cessna? There are at least 2 of us that would be interested in assiting you with it

[cessna152towser]

Black watch kilt is waist 36"; length is 22". Weight of kilt is 3lbs so its a medium weight. I now take a 39" waist so have to loosen the buckles out if I wear it now, and the length is a bit short as I had a tailor attend to it a few years back when the selvedging frayed - while this tidied up the hemline it also shortened the kilt by an inch - I normally wear 23" or 24" length. The photo was taken in 1993, when I was younger and slimmer and before the kilt was shortened by about an inch. The interior lining above the level of the pleats is very tattered and frayed but as this is not visible when worn it could still be a presentable kilt if cleaned - just that I no longer feel good in it as it's no longer a comfortable fit for me. I originally bought it from the small kilts and bagpipes shop which used to be run by a retired doctor at Gordon, Berwickshire, and which closed quite a few years ago.

[Livingston]

Black watch kilt is waist 36"; length is 22". Weight of kilt is 3lbs so its a medium weight. <<snip>>

hmmm....I better get the tape measure out and see where I am. That sounds very close.

[Sherry]

Just as a note about the dry cleaning costs, you can wash the kilt yourself.

http://www.uncommongatherings.com/RB&Lkilt.htm

Afterall, your ancestors did!

[David Thornton]

Livingston, I like you and all but that's not just close, that's just right for me.
Cessna, PM me with the price.
These guys are not your friends. I repeat, not your friends.
David

[Iolaus]

Just as a note about the dry cleaning costs, you can wash the kilt yourself.

http://www.uncommongatherings.com/RB&Lkilt.htm

Afterall, your ancestors did!

2. Gently pat the kilt to make sure it is soaking up the soapy water.
Do not agitate it too much, agitation makes wool shrink.
Walk away an allow kilt to soak, 20-30 minutes, or when ever you
remember it.

Hmmm. I hadn't heard that before; I thought I just had to avoid hot water and dryers.

[Bob C]

But we're all missing the vital point here....

Cessna said he'd like to unload the Black Watch...

If it's my size, heck, you won't even have to dry clean it!!!

I was thinking the same thing. I'm too big for it, though.