One year trouser-free!

[Dollander]

One year ago today, my first kilt arrived in the mail. It was nothing spectacular, just a (presumably Pakistani) utility kilt in a Rayon-blend knockoff of Marton Mills' "Grey Highlander" tartan, but I was nonetheless all too excited to try it on. I took a pic and sent it to a friend to ask if I should wear it to work the following day, and she not only encouraged me to do so but even admitted that I look better in a kilt than in jeans. That, combined with the overall positive reaction from my friends, family, coworkers, and even complete strangers, led me to never wear trousers again.

While those first few kilts have since been retired in favor of my self-made versions, they changed my life forever. I know, that may sound a bit dramatic, but I don't know how else to say it. It's boosted my confidence, more so than even joining a gym and losing 40 pounds did. My posture has improved, I take longer strides...hell, I now actively enjoy walking for its own sake, if only to feel the fabric swishing behind me as I move. Come to think of it, that's probably why I've only gained back 10 of those lost pounds now that I haven't been getting to said gym very often.



On the left is that very pic that I sent to my friend, and the one on the right is me earlier today in my most recently completed kilt (Malcolm Modern polyviscose). While I've kept to the same overall medium-apron, RevK style, I've made improvements to the design as I saw fit: a more pronounced taper and deeper pleats for the aprons, polyester reinforcement in the waistband (particularly important for the wool ones), and of course swapping snaps for straps/buckles and including a fringe...oh, and not bothering with pockets as I've long since come to prefer a sporran. And when you consider that the most complex garment I'd made prior was a very simple magician's robe back in my Ren Faire days, it certainly doesn't hurt my confidence when people are impressed or even surprised to learn I made them myself. So on the rare occasion someone tries to get a rise out of me with a "nice skirt" quip, I can easily laugh it off. Because my "skirt" makes me feel way more self-assured...and dare I say, manly...than trousers ever could.

[The Wizard of BC]

Good on ya. I'm 12 years trouser free myself. And yes, I make all my own kilts too.

[EvaUnit37]

Well done sir! I'm encouraged to hear that our clothing heritage still has such positive effects on those that choose to give it a proper go.

Thank you for sharing!

[GMan]

Great feeling isn't it? I have bee kilted for nearly 20 years. The only way to gp!

[Mael Coluim]

Well done, sir! Great choice in tartan, I say.

[Dollander]

Good on ya. I'm 12 years trouser free myself. And yes, I make all my own kilts too.

Funny. Though it goes without saying that your modernized "tanks" are far more impressive than my somewhere-between-MUG-and-casual creations. And of course there's the fact that you make them for other people; whenever someone suggests I make kilts to sell, I'm quick to point out that it's a lot easier to get a proper fit when I have my own body as reference throughout the process...not to mention that there are still some flaws I've yet to work out (it's usually concealed by my belt, and I tried to hide it with the flashes in the pic below, but my waistbands always come out crooked ).

And allow me to thank you again, as your advice is the reason my PV kilts came out as well as they did. And I can't believe I forgot to mention this in my first post, but perhaps the greatest improvement I made over my utility kilts (aside from using better fabric) was inspired by watching your measurement guide video. I looked in the mirror, and sure enough, my purchased kilts ride slightly high in the back. So when I made that first one out of denim, I made a point of adding a slope to the waistband to compensate for inheriting both the Murray belly and the DiMattia backside...

Well done, sir! Great choice in tartan, I say.

Why, thank you. While my surname is Murray, I'm also descended from Malcolm/MacCallum via my paternal grandmother. Incidentally, it was my first asymmetrical tartan, but rather than flip the fabric and have to give it a hem when it had a perfectly good selvage, I instead just relied on my preference for reverse-Kingussie pleating so that at least the yellow and azure switch places in the exact center (and made the flashes and belt loops to match):

[Mael Coluim]

Very impressive tailoring of the asymmetric tartan.

[Terry Searl]

Funny. Though it goes without saying that your modernized "tanks" are far more impressive than my somewhere-between-MUG-and-casual creations. And of course there's the fact that you make them for other people; whenever someone suggests I make kilts to sell, I'm quick to point out that it's a lot easier to get a proper fit when I have my own body as reference throughout the process...not to mention that there are still some flaws I've yet to work out (it's usually concealed by my belt, and I tried to hide it with the flashes in the pic below, but my waistbands always come out crooked ).

And allow me to thank you again, as your advice is the reason my PV kilts came out as well as they did. And I can't believe I forgot to mention this in my first post, but perhaps the greatest improvement I made over my utility kilts (aside from using better fabric) was inspired by watching your measurement guide video. I looked in the mirror, and sure enough, my purchased kilts ride slightly high in the back. So when I made that first one out of denim, I made a point of adding a slope to the waistband to compensate for inheriting both the Murray belly and the DiMattia backside...


Why, thank you. While my surname is Murray, I'm also descended from Malcolm/MacCallum via my paternal grandmother. Incidentally, it was my first asymmetrical tartan, but rather than flip the fabric and have to give it a hem when it had a perfectly good selvage, I instead just relied on my preference for reverse-Kingussie pleating so that at least the yellow and azure switch places in the exact center (and made the flashes and belt loops to match):

I enjoyed your post and although I would never have the patience to build a kilt for my self I like how your post may inspire others to do so ! Well done!

[pushka]

I absolutely love walking in a kilt, I just want to hike and climb mountains ~ it's strange and great ~