To Lend, or Not to Lend?

[AKScott]

Good call I think Cygnus. As I was scanning the responses I was thinking to myself I would lend out my Stillwater. My tank I might lend to my 40 year old brother in law for a quiet evening out with his wife my sister maybe.

[FatherWilliam57]

A wise, thoughtful, and considerate gesture on your part. May all go well!

[Really a McQueen]

...
After mulling it over and considering your posts, here is what I have been thinking:

1. My kilt almost certainly will be a bit big (2"+ in the waist).

...

So, I've asked him to come over after work today where I'll have $20 and a business card for the local kilt rental shop waiting for him. I'll offer all of the accessories he needs from my closet but will ask that he rent just the kilt for the dance.
...
In the end, I think this is the best way to go - I can encourage him to go kilted (and to do so with style) without worrying about the most significant part of my Highland wardrobe.

Good on you. I've add my emphasis on the part I considered most important. Did the young man even know, prior to approaching you, that there was any place locally where he could hire a kilt? My bet is that the answer is 'likely not', and that you were the only kilt source he was familiar with.

Perhaps, once he has completed his first kilted outing, you can sit down with him for a proper chat, and help him get started on his own kilt collection.

[Meggers]

Im not sure...I could DEFINITELY see being reluctant to pass around something so precious to you, but perhaps you could tell him that he may wear it to the dance only and if he's going to do anything after the dance, he needs to return it before then.

Also, you could make it clear how expensive it was and hold him responsible if something were to happen to it, making sure he understands that it cost you a pretty penny...

Im not sure. Thats quite a pickle. The gesture would be very nice but the risk is also pretty great.

[Meggers]

Thanks to all who posted (and for making me not feel like a selfish jerk for my reluctance to lend)!

After mulling it over and considering your posts, here is what I have been thinking:

1. My kilt almost certainly will be a bit big (2"+ in the waist).
2. Others may do stupid things over which the borrower has no control.
3. I have other things to offer that would allow him to wear a kilt for much less than renting the whole ensemble.

So, I've asked him to come over after work today where I'll have $20 and a business card for the local kilt rental shop waiting for him. I'll offer all of the accessories he needs from my closet but will ask that he rent just the kilt for the dance.

If something gets spilled on my jacket, that's not such a big deal as I can have it cleaned (or replaced) more easily than a kilt, I have quite a few pairs of hose and flashes, etc.

In the end, I think this is the best way to go - I can encourage him to go kilted (and to do so with style) without worrying about the most significant part of my Highland wardrobe.

I think thats very fair

I say you chose well. I would never lend my made-to-measure wool kilt, though I would consider lending the acrylic one I bought off Ebay.

I would also like to thank you for using the correct word, lend, instead of "loan." Too many people don't know the difference and it is a pet peeve of mine.

"Do you think you could borrow me that kilt?" <---- pure evil phrase.

[English Bloke]

I keep a PV kilt (machine washable) for lending. I would never lend a wool kilt. Your gesture is a decent compromise and most commendable Sir. Nice one!

[Cygnus]

An update:

The neighbor's son just left, and it went really well. The kid had a 30" waist, so I didn't even have to look like I was stingy or untrusting because there is no way my kilt was going to stay up on a 30" waist!

I taught him what everything was called, showed him how to put on a kilt, how to tie the garters, how to get into and out of a car, how to keep the pleats in order, etc. He took the card for the kilt hire shop and said he'd call them right away.

I also asked him if he had Scottish heritage, and he said he doesn't have any at all - it turns out the kilt was his date's idea!

Further proof that men in kilts are significantly more appealing to the fairer sex.

[rmckay]

Great compromise. My 17 year old starting asking to wear my one wool kilt last year to school. I let him do it a time or two, but was terrified the entire time. So finally i just broke down and bought him a stillwater kilt of his own.

He is still growing so I didn't want to buy him a good kilt, but figured an inexpensive stillwater was just the answer. He now wears that kilt once or twice a month to school.

On a side note it got caught on a chair in the locker room just this week and got a small tear in it, which a kindly neighbor sewed up for him. It is a tough decision when you want to get someone into being kilted, but the idea of someone else wearing it just makes you cringe.

In the long run I think you made a great choice and applaud you for helping him get his wish without the risk to your own kilt.

[Mirthlesstroll]

An excellent and thoughtful compromise!

[Thomas H]

Rent him a Kilt and pay for the rental as a Friend and in hopes that it will catch on with him, That way if any thing happens and Lord willing it will not ,

You will still have yours.

Explain to him how long it would take to replace it .