OK, so I went to Kilted Nation in Manassas over my lunchbreak. Great store! There I tried on several models from what seems to be Brad's depleted stock thanks to the newspaper coverage of his store's opening. Great attention to customers, though, and a nice shop. I will be back.

As to the trying-on, it was very informative. The utilikilts I tried, several models, felt great and looked good. Sat on my waist like a pair of khakis or shorts, perfect mid-knee length. Felt very rugged but also comfortable, if a little warmer than I expected. I wasn't a fan of the outside cargo pocket. The Amerikilt I tried on looked great on the hanger, but not on me. For whatever reason I seemed to create a skirt-like A profile with that one.

Then I tried on a size-L SK. Loved the fabric; a perfect light weight for the Washington climate, and very vibrant colors in the tartan. But when they designed the SK, they didn't seem to have men of my, erm, rear endowments in mind. Made the back of the kilt -- a "Works" model -- bunch up all puffy atop my bum. When I tried on the store's only remaining size-XL SK, it was perfect from the hips down. But only by pulling the kilt to the extreme edge of plausibility, which is to say two inches past the end of the velcro, could I make it fit my waist.

After trying the SK, I think that's what I really want for my first non-greatkilt kilt, and I've sent Seamus an email asking whether it's possible to have a SK made that would fit me. If not, then it looks like I'll be going back to Kilted Nation next month when an expected shipment of UK Mockers comes in. I'm also toying with a USA Kilt casual, since it's at least somewhat tailored and it seems my hindquarters require tailoring in a kilt.

That said, it has now become my personal mission to find a supply of the beautiful Hawaiian state tartan in order to have a pocketed Freedom Kilt made to my measure before the next time I return to the islands.