Hello from the Toronto, Ontario, Canada

**BjornBsrkr** · 3rd August 16, 04:18 AM

Hello All!

I have just joined after finding this forum a wealth of information as I bought and starting wearing my first kilt. Although I have some Scottish roots (Sutherlands, Blacks, and Muirs), my first purchase was an off-the-rack medium brown utility from DNKE.

The utility style appealed to me (I was a camo pants kind of guy when not at work) plus the name reminded me a a very bad joke that my father told over and over and over again. Besides, I rather dip a toe in the water with something inexpensive before taking the plunge on a big dollar 8-yard wool!

I have been wearing that first one pretty much non-stop in my non-working hours for the last couple of months with some rather amusing reactions from people. The woman at the farmer's market on the weekend gave me a huge smile and when I returned it, blurted out, "Well, is it true?" She then proceeded to turn multiple shades of scarlet and exclaimed, "I don't want to know! I don't know why I asked that! I don't want to know!"

After enjoying the first kilt so much, a package just arrived from Brice at UT Kilts yesterday with two more utilities, one in black (a touch more towards business-casual to wear to work) as well as a really beautiful Black Watch in pv.

Thanks for all the wisdom!

Paul

**ASinclair** · 3rd August 16, 06:33 AM

Hello Paul!

**Father Bill** · 3rd August 16, 07:04 AM

Welcome to the "Great Rabble!"

**Tarheel** · 3rd August 16, 07:32 AM

Well met Paul. It seems you have gone from a "toe test" to a nose dive into the deep end. Glad you are finding good results. Some folks take to kilts like ducks to water. Welcome to the rabble.

**MinusHD** · 3rd August 16, 07:48 AM

Welcome from North Texas!

**tripleblessed** · 3rd August 16, 08:06 AM

Welcome. Good to hear you're enjoying both the forum and the kilts. A quick peruse of the UT Kilts site (if that is indeed where you got yours) shows that their traditional kilts are wool or acrylic. Acrylic is not PV. Doesn't look the same, doesn't wear the same, and more importantly, has different reaction to heat. Crucial difference. It can melt, and will often stick to the skin, compounding the problem. While PV may be a little more money, it is less than wool. The advantages are better wearability, durability, and looks, and when bought from the custom makers advertising above, is made to your specific measurements. A necessity for me, as off the rack kilts haven't enough differential between waist and hips for my non-standard body. Big difference in hang and looks. Plus, more adjustment. My semi-traditional from USA Kilts allows a four inch swing in waist size, greatly affecting fitting and allowing me to wear wherever my body is in its mood swings. Well worth the money. Added benefit is you can dress it up with greater result than acrylic.

**BjornBsrkr** · 3rd August 16, 08:33 AM

Hi Tripleblessed!

Thanks for the information.

Actually, if you have a careful look at the UT Kilts website, you will find that the utility kilt in Black Watch is an unique animal in Brice's offerings. It is made from polyviscose not acrylic. You are correct that most of the UT "traditional" offerings are either wool or acrylic, but not this particular one.

I will likely jump into a wool one sooner than later, but the price is rather daunting, especially when adding in all the extra exchange, duty, taxes, freight getting it into Canada from elsewhere. US advertised prices are generally doubled by the time an item is here.

I agree about the sizing situation. Luckily, although I am "portly", my waist to hip ration is about average, so off-the-rack clothing isn't too much of a issue for me. The hemline is another thing all together. I am 6 ft, but have a 29 inch inseam (yes, think gorilla) plus with the belly bulge, I wear the kilt higher at the back then the front. Consequently, I need a 22 hem in the front and a 25 in the rear!

My seamstress does a great job of tapering the hemline so that it appears horizontal even though the waist isn't!

Paul