As a follow on ...

**jjoseph** · 22nd March 06, 11:47 AM

Grew up among several families .. two sets of birth-parents / step-parents, adoptive parents, and god-parents... and each and every family had some kind of major celtic connexion be it Irish, Scottish or Welsh... then my mom was Cajun to boot. I was the one in my generation to inherit an interest in the folk stuff, maybe to feel a bit more connected, but regardless it was my gain! Then came the 80's and the era of the combat-boot-grunge look. Somehow I managed to blend the two even then, so when I bought an Ashley MacIsaac CD a few years back, my first thought was "Damn, I miss kilts." It was the most natural thing in the world for me to find one, buy it, and say, "Ahhhh, home at last." Now I have nine hanging in the wardrobe and one on me most days as well as the stuff to dress them up or dress them down. (I do have to say that although I enjoy formal a LOT, I'm still most at home knocking about in combat boots, a solid T, and a leather jacket.)

Once I started wearing them and getting the "Oh, then you play the bagpipes?" comments, I actually found a group and started to play, so it's been a win / win all around. (Plus I get to chat up this crowd, LOL).

Ah, and the added benefit: admiration from the sig other... and enough comments when we go out to inspire jealousy. Life is good.

**efer** · 22nd March 06, 01:35 PM

Here's my first post...
My story is similar to others. I have been wanting to get a kilt for many years but the cost of traditional tartan w/ all the trimmings (Prince Charles style) was too much. My wife was unsure if I would wear it in public besides to the Highlands games.
I got a UK Mocker last year at the OR country fair and have been happily kilted ever since. Looking forward to getting more kilts as teh budget will allow

Cheers,
Eric

**cormacmacguardhe** · 22nd March 06, 01:43 PM

My Scottish heritage has been a big thing in my life for several years, after attending the local Highland Games I decided to get a kilt of my own. Due to financial considerations at that time all I could get was a sport kilt. Took me two years to get the next one, a SWK Nightstalker standard. Try to wear it as often as possible. My wife does not say much either way, but makes no negative remarks.

**Mattg** · 22nd March 06, 01:55 PM

My story is similar. I have a stong Scottish heritage but I didn't know that until recently. I became very interested in it and have been searching for a place where I could find out about Kilts and all things Scottish. Now I'm just waiting on my kilt and when I get that I will be happily kilting along!

**Alan H** · 22nd March 06, 02:06 PM

I'd gone to a number of Celtic music events and spotted the Utilikilts. I thought they looked pretty good, and says to myself "I could do that".

I balked at the price, right off, until I started looking around. Now I'd not think twice....well, I'd think about the damage to the checkbook, but I don't find the price to be unreasonable any mmore.

**auld argonian** · 22nd March 06, 02:41 PM

...and I'd like to add this to my previous post...

...when I started looking for kilts on the internet the links eventually led to Xmarks. The fact that the crowd here was so helpful, intelligent and downright funny definitely gave me the "green light" to go ahead and do the kilt thing...it certainly seemed that it was something that not a few other men that were about my age were getting into and so it wasn't as if I was going about this alone.

So thanks...

Best

AA

**Valencian Kilted** · 22nd March 06, 03:58 PM

In my case, no scottish heritage has to be proudly remembered on badges or family trees, no cultural connection seems to be close by far to my homeland and also my family influences (my grandfather used to sing flamenco and we are mediterraneans after all),.... but from my kid's years I felt attracted much more by the sound of a bagpipe, and the astounding vision of a highlander in full dress....

At the tender age of 32

I made one of my dreams true and I went to Alba for last year easter's holidays. I knew from some friends that kilts were expensive for my wages level, but my brother told me to buy him one, even when he's not at all connected with scotland in any sense, even affective,...

In Glasgow I stopped in front of all the kiltmakers shops I found,... and I thought that it was an impossible dream... until I found a 2x1 offer

...
A Royal Stuart for my brother, and a black tartan patterned one for me,... for 180 pounds for both.

Of course after coming back (kilted) to Spain, I found this superb clan of good people that taught me so many things..., and I noticed that my wanderful kilt is just a casual 4 yards lightweight kilt... but I love it anyway! I also learnt that a black belt doesn't match at all with a brown leather sporran! :rolleyes: ... I'll keep learning,... be sure of it!

¡Salud!

T O N O

toadinakilt · 25th March 06, 08:58 PM

I always thought kilts were cool, but didn't know much about them...we weren;t real sure about our heritage, and nobody really took the time to research it.
I decided I needed one after coming here to Covenant College. Our college symbol is the Scot, mostly in honor of the Scottish Presbyterians, to which our school owes much.
So I bought a green-ish Sport Kilt, and wore it around every once in awhile...the impetus came from another freshman who owned a black UK, and wore it every week or so...then I discovered XMarks, and found out that Sport Kilts were not even close to being as awesome as a real kilt...so I bought the SWK. I can't afford to expand the collection yet...I want to make my own now, to save on bucks.