Hello from Portland, Oregon

[Grunthos]

Hello Everyone. I'm Alan, and I'm in the Portland Oregon area.

I'm not new to kilts, but I am new to XMTS and recently new to going kilted on more than just "special occaisions".

My grandparents migrated to the USA from Glasgow in the 1920's, and my father was born here. So I grew up being steeped in "All Things Scottish", which in many ways I enjoyed, but in other ways I resisted as being "my dad's thing". It's only now, in my late 40's, that I feel like I am figuring how how it fits in my whole identity.

My wife and I have taken our kids to the Portland Highland Games every year for our annual dose of Scottish culture. Now they're all grown, so this weekend will be the first time going just the two of us.

Here are some pictures. First one is several years old. That's me second-from-right, with my dad on far right, my wife, 4 kids and one daughter's boyfriend in the mix. The tartan is hunting MacFarlane, our clan. Second picture is me recently at work in my plain black from Stumptown Kilts.

I've worn my traditional kilt to work a number of times for Halloween and St Patrick's Day. But not until recently have I tried wearing a kilt on a regular work day. Funny thing is that I up-and-decided to wear my contemporary kilt for "casual Friday" just a few days before stumbling across the "kilted Friday" thread here.

Portland is known for it's "Keep Portland Weird" reputation, so contemporary kilts are a regular sight here. Less so in the conservative suburbs where I live, but still generally accepted and appreciated. I have yet to see anyone else wear a traditional kilt on any occaision other than a parade or the annual Highland Games.


I find I'm finally at a place in life where I'm forging my own identity unashamedly, shedding baggage and feeling pressure to conform from any number of directions. Part of my anxiety of going kilted in the past was fear of "doing it wrong" and feeling caught between both the "tyrrany of the trousers" and the "tyrrany of the traditionalists" I've found that the contemporary kilt really suits me on a day-to-day basis. Absolutely no offense meant to anyone else-- that's just me; I wholeheartedly endorse anyone else's kilt choices for any situation, and I still wear my traditional kilt, just less often.

For what it's worth, I can't think of a single negative comment I've received when wearing my kilt. At worst, a confused stare. Occaisional friendly questions. Mostly, people act like they don't notice, or just say "nice kilt". I avoided kilt wearing for way too long...

One thing I will say is that I picked the Stumptown Kilt specifically because they are very adjustable across a range of sizes. I've been losing weight in the last few years (260 lbs/118 kg two years ago, down to 220 pounds/100 kg now, and still going). I was pretty happy this last year when I could remove the little belt extensions I had on my MacFarlane. But I didn't want to invest in a decent contemporary kilt, just to have it soon no longer fit me. I bought the Stumptown Kilt a year ago and got the one that fit me at its max at that time; it has reduced with me and still has more adjustment as I progress, so I'm quite thrilled with it. The fact that they are a local company in Portland was just a fortuitous coincidence.

Right now I have a wool Macfarlane and the black Stumptown. Next I think I'll be adding another contemporary, most likely khaki. I'm leaning towards another Stumptown, since I'm still losing weight. I'll see what I find tomorrow at the Portland Highland Games.

[Tomak]

Hello and welcome from Southern California.

[ASinclair]

Hello Alan!

[ratspike]

Howdy from this displaced Portlander presently living across the river in Vantucky! Agreed on all counts regarding Portland, and kilts in Portland. I've actually seen very few in the wild, and never of the tartan variety except for the Games and St. Paddy's Day parade. PDX is an easy place to be a little bit off center though, which is why I love it so much.

There are a few other local xmarkers who are going to the games tomorrow. I believe we even have someone throwing down in the pipe major competition. My wife and I are going to head over around noon I think. I'll send you a PM and see if we can sort out a group meetup.

[Richrail]

from Reno, NV

[Jim Simmons]

Hola Alan !!

from the Highlands of Guatemala.

[GMan]

Hell-o Alan from Denver, CO

[Kiltedjohn]

Welcome from the West Midlands of England.

[rtown]

Hello and Welcome

[MrLion]

Welcome from Salem!
I'll be at the Portland Highland Games with wife and son, Andy (above is a picture of us from last years Games) Hope to meet you there Alan!