searching for answers in the wrong places

[KidKidneys]

I started posting in the athletic section because I want to get involved in that, but perhaps they are not the ones to ask (though I did anyways)

I am confused as to "proper" choice of tartans to be sporting if I were to be wearing a kilt. I have lineage that is documented, stemming from the Duff/MacDuff name. but my actual last name is a derivation of Menzies. however this side of my family is not as documented and I am not 100% certain of the origins.

what is the proper course of action if I'm going to be sporting a kilt?

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

I'd go with one of the Menzies tartans, since your last name is a variant of Menzies. If you are planning on wearing this kilt whilst competing in Highland athletic events, I'd suggest you might want to consider a less expensive alternative in one of the universal tartans-- kilts worn by competitors can take quite a beating.

[Old Hippie]

I am confused as to "proper" choice of tartans to be sporting if I were to be wearing a kilt.

Two answers, one serious and one less serious:

1. You'd better have solid documentation of your lineage, because if you fail the DNA test you're walking home in the rain without a kilt.

OK, now the serious answer:

2. If you have a connection to a particular tartan, feel free to celebrate that connection by ordering a kilt in it. I'm a Hay, so eventually I'll order a kilt in Hay because that's my heritage. My first tartan kilt -- all my others are solid colour contemporaries -- will be the Maple Leaf tartan to celebrate attaining Canadian citizenship this year. After the Hay tartan I'll probably go for something creative, as I don't think Alford has a tartan.

There is no "rule." Most people choose tartans they like -- and also that they have some connection with. There's a person in here who made their father a kilt in a plaid-like patterned cloth from Kenya.

If you are worried about someone saying you're not "entitled" to wear a particular tartan, then choose one of the non-family tartans like the ones for each Canadian province (and many states in the US), or various organizations like US Army or Coast Guard, or your company's tartan if you work for a company that has one like UPS or Harley-Davidson, or choose one from a region of Scotland like Isle of Skye. The options are limitless. There is even a tartan for this website, available through (at least) one of the suppliers at the top of your screen, Freedom Kilts.

If you're planning to compete in Highland Games wearing a kilt, choose fabrics like PV (poly-viscose) that are relatively inexpensive and will take a certain amount of abuse.

Or you could simply bypass the whole thing and start off in a good solid-colour contemporary. We have several excellent makers on this forum, and a wealth of opinions and experience from the members as to their preferences when choosing a kilt. We also have excellent instructions for making your own, if you can drive a sewing machine.

The most important thing is to get one that fits, then to wear it with pride and confidence.

Good on, eh!

:ootd:

[piperdbh]

The Perfesser has said it all. Concisely.

[KidKidneys]

If you're planning to compete in Highland Games wearing a kilt, choose fabrics like PV (poly-viscose) that are relatively inexpensive and will take a certain amount of abuse.

is there a special place to find kilts for athletic purposes? most of the places I've seen online just talk about the wool variety

[Panache]

Sport Kilt www.sportkilt.com got its start making washable simple tartan kilts (velcro fastened) for Highland Athletics

Other good options would be a USA Kilts PV casual model or one of Stillwater Kilts acrylic kilts

Cheers

Jamie :ootd:

[lethearen]

is there a special place to find kilts for athletic purposes? most of the places I've seen online just talk about the wool variety

Try SportKilt.com. Lightweight, and I hear they're popular amongst the athletic crowd. Had one myself before selling it to another member here. I liked it, but I just don't much enough use for something that light, personally.

Edit: dang, Panache beat me to it

[dowofbuchanan]

is the owner of sportkilt on this forum...i wouldnt mind one but they dont offer anything over 22.5 and im over 6 feet not gonna work


btw cruising the website and theyve fgot a 210 sporran with buchanan crest that is sweet .. but can i wear a sporran that costs double or triple my kilt

[lethearen]

Keep in mind that the SportKilt is meant to be worn at the p$nt-waist, not the kilt waist, so you'll probably be needing a shorter length than you might otherwise expect, by a couple inches at least.

At least, I think they're worn at the p$nt-waist

[O'Callaghan]

Keep in mind that the SportKilt is meant to be worn at the p$nt-waist, not the kilt waist, so you'll probably be needing a shorter length than you might otherwise expect, by a couple inches at least.

At least, I think they're worn at the p$nt-waist

I don't wear mine down low. If I did, then 22.5" would be far too long on me! I'm 5'8" with short legs, that is, I have the upper body of someone 6'2" with the legs of someone 5'4", LOL! I'm not sure why it's assumed they are meant to be worn low, as they are tartan and relatively traditional looking, even though the light weight and poly-something fabric is readily apparent by the way they hang.

Seamus will do custom length I believe, but you have to phone in custom orders, and I don't think he will take a return on a custom order.

My true waist measurement makes me an XL according to his site (and most others), but I found his XL to be too big on me. He supplies an extra piece of Velcro with every kilt, and I had to sewn that on so that it would fit without the fringed end (fringes are an optional extra) of the kilt flapping about loose, but now when I line the pockets up (another optional extra) the aprons don't line up right because it is wrapped further around me than intended. I think I will get a Large next time instead of an XL, although I can imagine it may be my luck that it would be on the small side and I would have to fix the extra piece of Velcro in a different place just to do it up!

I wonder if the waist size discrepancy is due to the elastic that he puts in the waist for athletes. I assume that an athlete would wear it looser to take advantage of the elastic, but not too loose or their kilt could fall down in the middle of a competition!