Casual Kilts from USA Kilts

**TheOfficialBren** · 21st January 13, 07:28 PM

Does anyone have one of these? That Holyrood tartan is really jumping out at me.

What do you guys think of the Casual kilt? I am going to retire my Stillwater and need something in the interrim period before I spring for a wool 5-yarder.

Build? Weight? Comfort? Swish? Opinions?

Thank you.

**McElmurry** · 21st January 13, 08:05 PM

I own one which I purchased to see what PV was like.

Build: construction is excellent but there is no waistband. My waist is 36 and my hips are 44 and the kilt tapers all the way to the top. The top does not stretch so it has a tendency to dig into my sides and is not comfortable. If your hips and waist are nearer the same size this will not be an issue.

Weight: the fabric is mid weight but there is not much of it so overall it is light weight.

Comfort: mine is not comfortable...see above under build.

Swish: none...it is more of a flounce.

Opinions: I would not recommend this to a friend. The construction and material is terrific which leads me to believe the semi-trad would be a good choice but the casual has so few kilt like qualities I can't really bring myself to wear it out of the house.

**Zardoz** · 21st January 13, 08:15 PM

If you are coming off a Stillwater standard or Economy, I would go with a USA Kilts Semi Trad. It's construction and features would be more like what you are used to.

**TheOfficialBren** · 21st January 13, 08:16 PM

Oh. Okay. Thank you for the feedback, McElmurry.
I'm coming off of a Stillwater Thrifty. I really feel like it's time to graduate and move up to a "real" kilt made of wool. While I wait for it to be made I would like to also get another thrash-about kilt (nicer than the Thrifty but something okay to get messy in). I plan to have the nice wool for appropriate occasions and the other one for occasions where I don't want to risk damaging my wool.

I see that the USA Casual is made of PV, which I have heard good things about. My Thrifty is made of acryllic, which I hate.

Cost is a factor, since I plan to allocate more funds toward the nice kilt.

**Zardoz** · 21st January 13, 09:19 PM

well, the Stillwater Thrifty and USA Casual are basically similar as far as closure and waistband. You would be getting better fabric and construction though. Plus the USA can be made to order in your size.

Question for McElmurry; you say "The top does not stretch" on the USA Casual. Granted, but unless we're talking about Sportkilts the top doesn't stretch on most kilts.

**seanachie** · 21st January 13, 09:21 PM

I'll stake out an opposite opinion of the above. I think the casual is a great kilt for casual things. I have 2 dogs I like to run around with in the park, on Saturday's I have chores and other things to get done for all of these the casual is great. I would not want to soil a good wool kilt in this situation and the casual can easily be washed. I do not understand the sizing issue at all. I know that Rocky requests all the standard measurements so not knowing all the facts I will with hold judgement but it definitely sounds like some pertinent information is absent. I have had no problem with the fit and I have also had no issues communicating with Rocky on any issue for an order I have placed.
This is not a 16 oz wool tank so sure the swish is not the same, but I don't think it is worth disparaging.

I certainly have no issue wearing it outside of the house. More due to circumstance than planning our family Christmas card this year was a photo in which I was wearing my MacRae casual. Suggesting this is devoid of kilt qualities does not strike me correct. I have never had anyone think it was anything but a kilt and to most folks the material and yardage are not major issues. Value for money I think they are good deal.

The semi trads are nice as well. I guess I find them a step up in quality and build and tend to reserve them from the less dirty and casual occassions. A night out, church, social events I am entirely comfortable with my semi trad.

Also, as I mentioned above some vendors are easier to communicate with than others. In this regard USAK is really good, so if I had a concern and was not sure you can send an email or make a call and I would be surprised if you did not get a satisfactory answer.

Opinions can vary but that is my 2 cents.

**TurboKittie** · 21st January 13, 09:24 PM

My husband has SWK thrifty kilts, a USA Casual and other kilts.

The SWK thriftys are only worn in the house. He cannot even be seen wearing them whilst taking out the garbage. They are like comfortable pajama or sweat pants...especially after a few washes.

The USA Casual...the colors are gorgeous. It's a beautiful kilt, especially as a step up from the entry level SWK thrifty. If you were to do athletics while kilted, I would highly recommend these for that. They launder like a dream. The feel and movement of the fabric is not the same as wool however.

For swish and real kilt, you gotta go with wool.

**TheOfficialBren** · 21st January 13, 09:25 PM

That's what I'm after in a knock-about kilt...better fabric and better construction but not breaking the bank. I want to put more money toward the nice wool kilt (for dressing nicely) but ALSO replace my current acryllic with something a bit nicer but appropriate for knocking about.

Total=two different kilts for two different occasions.

Thank you, everyone, for your opinions.
:-)

**New World Czech** · 21st January 13, 09:46 PM

USA Casual is a great inexpensive kilt and looks nice. Only someone making a close inspection and knows about kilts would think it inferior. I am wearing an of the rack Celtic Nations Casual from Rocky in the link below. I am wearing the Santa hat. If you look through the other photos you can see a side pleat shot. Well worth the money and a big step up from a SWK Thrifty.

http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/s...ia#post1138175

**McElmurry** · 21st January 13, 09:57 PM

Originally Posted by Zardoz

Question for McElmurry; you say "The top does not stretch" on the USA Casual. Granted, but unless we're talking about Sportkilts the top doesn't stretch on most kilts.

On my tank there is no stretch at the straps but the waistband (upper two inches) is a cylinder and in fact the very top has a slightly larger circumference than the waist where the staps are located. This allows the kilt to flair a bit above my true waist and makes it very comfortable. On my casual the circumference at the top is two inches less than two inches below the top. So the top digs into my sides. If I wear it a little loose with a belt the pleats pucker in back because of the two inch difference in circumference. Again this is only an issue if ones waist and hip measurements are significantly different and particularly if one intends to wear the casual kilt at the true waist.