A White Kilt Kit

[Chef]

This looks really close to the military white mess jackets. Those look great with a kilt too, as long as you civilianize them (change buttons, remove rank insignia, etc.). Actually, they look grea with all that stuff too, but that's not really authorized.

Actually the pic I found is a Navy Mess jacket. The cruise ship uniforms are identical though just different epaulets and buttons. I actually had one of these about 22 years ago for my kilt when I got married to my first wife. Hence why I don't have any pics.

I picked it up at a store in Miami, paid around $60 for the jacket and they did the sleeves for free. I found white braiding for the epaulets and I replaced the gold tone buttons with kilt buttons. It work fantastic with my Black Stewart kilt. The guys in the shop thought I was nuts but they sold it to me. Unfortunately it stopped fitting about 10 years ago and I gave it away.

(cue music) "Love.....exciting and real... " May I introduce Captain Steubing, Commander of the Love Boat.

Well the kilt would have been better than those white shorts they always wore

[James MacMillan]

#@*!*%+ is the best that I ever heard a Sailor say about his "Whites" in my years at sea!

[emolas]

At first I was thinking that a solid white kilt would look dreadful but then Hamish had to go and post a picture of himself looking stunning in one and I had to rethink my opinion... It would be a shock to see someone say "I wonder how ________ would look?" and Hamish didn't have a picture of himself wearing it .

I do want to jump on the "high maintenance bandwagon" and say that white only looks good for about 15 minutes after putting it on. If you are getting it simply for a wedding then it would be nice but it's a bit of an investment for a one-time outfit. Personally, I would wear black but if you really want to wear white, I would suggest a white jacket and regular tartan kilt.

[turpin]

I was actually going to raise that very point. As a former sailor in the United States Navy, I spent considerable amounts of summer time dressed in all-white uniforms. And even the polyester "easy care" ones were a stone . The slightest coffee spill, brush against something, standing downwind of a pencil sharpener, even, and you were wearing it for the rest of the day.

I'd be very hesitant about getting an all-white kilt.

Ahhh, forget washing the white kilt. Just do what the redcoats did and rub pipe clay on the dirty spots. There's nothing whiter than pure kaolinite.

[Hamish]

At first I was thinking that a solid white kilt would look dreadful but then Hamish had to go and post a picture of himself looking stunning in one and I had to rethink my opinion... It would be a shock to see someone say "I wonder how ________ would look?" and Hamish didn't have a picture of himself wearing it .

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Thanks for that, Emolas. We aim to please!

However, all I can think is that all you guys who are so against wearing white must be mucky eaters/drinkers or oblivious of your immediate environment! Many's the time I have worn white all day with narry a mark on the kilt - OK, I'll look carefully at a bench before sitting on it ,and I'll avoid brushing against car/train doors as I encounter them. Similarly, I'll take care no to spill food or drink and, of course, I would not romp on the grass whilst in a white kilt! Not that I have tried it, but if I wore a white kilt for several days I would expect it to be a little grubby at the edges. Were that to happen, I'd take the woollen TFCK one to the dry cleaner (it's been there a few times already), and the Utilikilt would be tossed into the washing machine or hand washed. I would not say that I am over cautious, but maybe I am!

[Howard Clark]

I'm not so sure we are mucky or unaware, but rather "self aware",and know that we may not be as cautious as would be required by wearing white. I agree that you 'can' wear white if you are careful, but I dinna like to have to be that careful. I pretty regularly wear a really nice white shirt with kilt and jacket, and even when I am careful, it is difficult for me to stay clean. I am just a dirt magnet, I guess.

If I am wearing one of my nicer kilts, I am very aware of what I rub against, sit on, or do, anyway. So you do have a thoroughly valid point, Hamish. I just don't think I could keep a white one in decent condition very long.

[cacunn]

If you want a white kilt why not make a white X-Kilt? After is has been completed soak it in Scotchgard for two or three days, then have two employee clean and wipe all surfaces before you come near them.

[James MacMillan]

Hey Hamish - Have you ever heard the expression "Bull in a China shop?" Well that pretty much explains my life style!

I avoid light colors for just that reason. Which is also a pretty good advertisement for the tartan. Because with all the colors woven together, if a strange color or spill joins the fray, they are readily accepted!

But I am still against the white kilt. I would be so self concious, trying to avoid dirt, that it would vastly reduce the pleasure of the moment.

[Clockwork John]

I would have to agree with the majority here that a white kilt is simply not practical. Personally, I have a hard enough time keeping my Black Watch clean... I can't imagine how grimy a white kilt would get. I considered getting or making a white kilt for my baptism a few months ago, but, as others have said, I couldn't justify the cost for something I'd only wear once.

[dpseadvr]

I have to agree with everybody if you stain it it would be a pain to get clean. As a diver we wear shorts and a t-shirt all the time but when I had to wear my whites it sucked like it was said in an earlier thread even if you where careful something would always get on you.