First Kilt

[Melenn]

I am looking to buy my first kilt, but I have a few questions.

1) I don't have a clan color or know what color I should get. I don't want to pick a color that I think looks good and have it belong to a family that I maybe shouldn't be wearing (I don't know why it would). I have a family color ( I think it is what it is called), but it is an awful burnt orange color and that is not what I am looking for.

2) Where should I buy my kilt from? I have a few friends that have bought from Sport Kilts. They are about $100 and that is what I am looking to spend, less if possible, I know good quality is going to be more.

3) What about hose, I have a pair of black ones do I need to get a pair with every kilt? Do I need to wear hose with a kilt? I don't already, but is it frowned upon by other kilt enthusiasts.

These are my questions for now, any other advise would be great.

I am looking for more of a casual kilt to hang out in run errands when I work up the courage to.

[billmcc]

I've not heard of a clan color or a family color. There are clan tartans and family tartans, which basicly are plaid patterns. There are several universal tartans that can be worn by anyone.

I don't recommend a Sport Kilt for general use. For around $100, I suggest a USA Kilts Casual Kilt or Stillwater Kilts Standard Kilt. The USAK kilt is made of polyviscous which is much more durable than the acrylic fabric the Stillwater is made of. Either of these two kilts will look much nicer than a Sport Kilt.

USA Kilts website is here: http://www.usakilts.com/store/cas_kiltpage.php

Stillwater kilts' website is here: http://stores.channeladvisor.com/Sti...ndard%20Kilts/

[Melenn]

sorry, I knew I didn't mean color, but I couldn't think of the right word while I was typing

[billmcc]

sorry, I knew I didn't mean color, but I couldn't think of the right word while I was typing

No problem. Take a look at the websites I recommended and feel free to ask more questions.

[billmcc]

Skye Highland Outfitters also makes a Casual Kilt made of polyviscous.
See here: http://www.skyehighlandoutfitters.co...Kilt_Page.html

[AKScott]

Many clans have more than one tartan pattern to choose from, plus the various mills are likely to produce each of the tartans in each of modern, muted and weathered palletes.

So even if your clan has only one registered tartan there are likely to be three variations to choose from.

I agree that burnt orange doesn't work with many possible skin tones. If you really just can't abide any of you own clan tartans, consider the univeral setts. Your state or province or county probably likely has a tartan of its own, Black Watch can work with almost any skin tone, and there are a ton of variations on the Stewart tartan as well.

I would encourage you to look for your clan here before you delve into the district and universal setts:

http://www.lochcarron.com/stromesw.htm

[lethearen]

Welcome

For around 100$ (higher for gents of substenance), I agree that a USA Casual Kilt would be a good place to start. Made to measure, durable, and a large selection of tartans. I think these are around 5 yds at 11 oz? Very nice if you live in a warm clime.

The Scotland Kilt Company has some 8 yd 16 oz poly-acetate (they claim it's poly-viscose, but I believe consensus is that it's not) kilt in a handful of tartans, costing about 65$ shipped. Mine's lasted for a couple years of rough wear. For a budget kilt, I think they fit the bill. Stock waist sizes, 24" length.

As for hose... well, you're going for a casual look... when I'm dressing down in a T-shirt with my kilt, I don't wear hose. Just regular socks (not white!!! ) scrunched down over the top of my Doc Marten's. Get plenty of complements. Some guys here have worn their kilt with sandals, sockless altogether. Don't think I could swing that, personally... but hey whatever you want You don't need a different pair of hose for each kilt, the one pair of black would work fine. And of course it all depends on the look you're going for.

[auld argonian]

The recommendations that you're already received here are pretty sound.

I'd suggest that one thing that you should do is take it slow. Go through the forum and look at as many posts as you can...you'll soon get a very good idea of how to proceed...this place is a serious repository of knowledge (not to be confused with a suppository of knowledge, which is another thing all together!). A lot of folks have come here asking the same questions as you and you can learn from their experience. Taking your time and considering several options can help you get something that'll work best for you...you may possibly find that you want to spend a few more bucks and get something that's a higher quality and will work well for both casual and dressy, for example. When you go kiltie, it's the whole garbanzo: the kilt, a sporran, some hose, etc.

I just met up with McNulty, one of the other forum members, the other evening and his story was similar to mine and typical of a lot of Xmarksers: you start thinking about getting a kilt and when you look on the internet, you get some serious sticker shock but then you find Xmarks and find the way to get yourself a kit that's within your budget. One thing that comes to the fore here is where you can find the best value for your dollar...sometimes a kilt or a sporran that's a couple of notches up from bargain level may not be that much more expensive and you can decide if you want to spend the extra $$'s and have something a bit nicer than "entry level".

So lurk a bit and profit from the collective experience here...

And as far as selecting a color or a tartan...believe me, that discussion goes on and on and on here.

Best

AA

[Spartan Tartan]

The recommendations that you're already received here are pretty sound.

I'd suggest that one thing that you should do is take it slow. Go through the forum and look at as many posts as you can...you'll soon get a very good idea of how to proceed...this place is a serious repository of knowledge (not to be confused with a suppository of knowledge, which is another thing all together!). A lot of folks have come here asking the same questions as you and you can learn from their experience. Taking your time and considering several options can help you get something that'll work best for you...you may possibly find that you want to spend a few more bucks and get something that's a higher quality and will work well for both casual ahnd dressy, for example. When you go kiltie, it's the whole garbanzo: the kilt, a sporran, some hose, etc.

I just met up with McNulty, one of the other forum members, the other evening and his story was similar to mine and typical of a lot of Xmarksers: you start thinking about getting a kilt and when you look on the internet, you get some serious sticker shock but then you find Xmarks and find the way to get yourself a kit that's within your budget. One thing that comes to the fore here is where you can find the best value for your dollar...sometimes a kilt or a sporran that's a couple of notches up from bargain level may not be that much more expensive and you can decide if you want to spend the extra $$'s and have something a bit nicer than "entry level".

So lurk a bit and profit from the collective experience here...

And as far as selecting a color or a tartan...believe me, that discussion goes on and on and on here.

Best

AA

***. Great advice.

[Melenn]

I would encourage you to look for your clan here before you delve into the district and universal setts:

http://www.lochcarron.com/stromesw.htm

My last name is Lokken and it isn't there. It is Norwegian, could I possibly wear a Norwegian tartan? And how would I go about finding one? I read in another thread that Sinclair tartans were the same is this true.