Mesa 05 - Pipes, Cabers, Kilts and more.

[Galant]

My first highland festival and a good time was had by all. It also ended up with my owning my first kilt - a UK survival. Along the way I managed to persuade my brother and a friend to try them also - and both of them walked off having bought a kilt too!

So here are my first pics of me kilted - albeit with pants around my ankles. Also pics of other in highland/historical attire and the caber toss.

More to follow when other rolls are developed.

All in my gallery.

[Andrew Breecher]

Looking good - but your brother's kilt is waaaaay too long! It goes to his mid-shins! You should be able to see at least a little bit of knee, if not the whole thing; most kilts are measured to fall to the top of the knee or halfway down the kneecap. But hey, if he's happy that's great - it's better than wearing pants!

Andrew.

[dana]

Great pictures Galant. Congrats on the new Utilikilt, it looks great. I agree with Andrew, I couldn't believe how long your brother's kilt was. I guess he's happy with it like that

Can't wait to see the rest of your pictures.

[Galant]

He knows, he just likes it that way he hates showing any of his knees at all.

If there weren't any kilt wearing punks there are now!

[bubba]

Tell your brother the girls go nuts over mens knees. He'll shorten that kilt fast enough.

[Galant]

I doubt it. Our being British helps and the fact he's wearing one at all should be enough!

His shorts were always long, he just hates the style of showing knee. It's something of a style no-no with the youth these days...except the girls who seem to show as much as possible.

[Colin]

Come on guys must Utilikilts I have seen are worn way too long. While I agree it is too long, if he wants to wear it that length, all the power to him. At least he is in a kilt, and as Hamish has said it's an American kilt, not a Scottish one. Pictures look good Galant, how are you enjoying your kilt so far?

[GMan]

Galant,

Great pictures and CONGRATULATIONS on getting yourself and others kilted, well done

[Galant]

I'm actually enjoying it a lot.

Wear it when I get the chance at home, taking the dogs for walks etc. Basically any place I think I can get away with it - ie. not work or in choir.

I had a baptism of fire when, after the games, I, with my brother an friend, realised I had to go to the Arizona Mills Mall to pick up some shoes I'd ordered. My brother got most of the questions/comments - Three "Nice Skirt!", a couple of times people actually asked why he was wearing it, and then on the way out I got a couple, "Wow, I like those, those are cool!" , and my own "I like your skirt". Those business cards come in really handy!

Beyond that I've had a few stares. I'm hoping I wont cause any car accidents, since I've had a lot of people drive by not watching the road at all as I stand in medians.

My own kilt tends to come down to the knee, and I have thought that I might like it more at the knee. It also took some getting used to having a garment which hangs lower towards the hip than higher up. I know that's normally the reverse of how one wears a kilt, but apparently I have a little more in the way of his than the average guy and the kilt just hangs better lower on me - or so says Dave from UK. What's more as described above with my brother - I might take a little less flack from my friends if I'm not showing much knee.

I have a trad. on the way now from Mr. Newsome and will be getting a 2" belt for it, so I'm thinking the wider belt will help since the kilt right now is hanging down on the thinner belt.

All in all I've been getting to used to wearing it and do enjoy it.

It also helps that a certain lady loves the way it looks. When I asked her what she really thought, she told me that it just fit me perfectly, it seemed like 'me', and it looked really good.

[Hamish]

Galant,

I'll add my congratulations to those already expressed. It looks like you persuaded more guys to get into kilts in a day than I have (knowingly) been able to do in a year.

It is strange that the majority of Utilikilt wearers, especially those in the USA, select the just-below-the-knee length - just look at the pages of photos on the UK website to see what I mean. Personally, I think that length looks absolutely dreadful, but maybe that is because I've worn traditional kilts for over fifty years and am set in my ways! The important thing is that the wearer is comfortable, something I could never be in a kilt of such a length. It's just as well we all have different ideas as to what 'comfort' is.

Again: "Well done!"