Collections?

[Mr. MacDougall]

I've read several posts that indicate there's more than one person on this board who wears a kilt most, if not all, of the time. I'm curious what that means in terms of collections of kilts, and money invested. (I'm a starving college student, myself, and $20 jeans vs. $200 kilts generally seems like an obvious decision).

When you choose a second kilt, how do you choose the tartan? I'm presuming most people have a family tartan as their first -- is this a mistaken presumption?

I can see four clear choices for myself -- family from both sides, branch of service, and professional -- but some people have indicated greater collections than this. Do you have multiples in the same tartan?

Thanks for your time.

[Kilted KT]

my first was a family tartan, MacTavish. After that, I bought a few others, and then another MacTavish. So, yes, I do have multiple kilts of the same tartan. They are different weights for different seasons, and various materials for different events, like formal wear or hiking in the woods.

I suggest many kilts of various weights and materials, so you have at last one kilt for every occasion!

[elitekiltedcommando]

Being that there are a good many tartans to choose from, it's easy to have 70+ kilts (*cough* Hamish *cough*) and not have a repeat. Being that my first kilt was a Sportkilt, and they don't carry the MacPherson, I opted for the Loch Ness tartan because I just liked it's look. I'm wearing it right now actually. As for the second Sportkilt, I went for the Black Watch tartan, for the same reason. I merely liked it. My third kilt was a USAKilt Casual. Being that they carry the MacPherson tartan, I chose that, for obvious reasons. For my fourth kilt, I opted for the US Army tartan, because my family has moer soldiers in the Army than any other branch of service. Fourth was the Pacific Trail Hiker kilt from Sportkilt, because I wanted something lightweight, and I preferred the blue over the other two options.

[cessna152towser]

Kilt collecting is addictive. I now have 16 with number 17 in the post to me. My oldest kilt is in my family tartan, but I also have one in my district tartan, the Royal Air Force tartan to honour my late father, together with tartans that anyone can wear such as Black Watch and modern fashion tartans, plus single colour, camo and denim kilts. I wear a kilt most days.

[Fearnest]

My first kilt was a solid contemporary, color to replace uniform p@nts.

Then it was my first two tartans - the first one was clan, the second one professional.

The next? It will likely be another solid contemporary color, to replace another pair of uniform p@nts.

After that? Who knows... perhaps a variation of the clan tartan, perhaps a fashion tartan.

(Oh, and the $20 jeans/$200 kilt issue hasn't gone away for me - and I've been out of college for more than half my life now.) I may not be a student, but I'm still starving (or so it seems).

Sigh...

[turpin]

One solid wool (SWK Saffron), one tartan acryilic (SWK Leatherneck), One K Mocker, three wool tartans (Gordon Modern, Isle of Skye and Buchanan). In process right now a black Renegade Kilt in cotton duck and a Weathered Gordon from Matt Newsome. Always looking for more.

[McMurdo]

My first kilt was a Gunn Modern that was my Fathers, it just did not fit any longer, his Mother was a Gunn, my second kilt is a Graham of Mantieth modern, which is also on my Dad's side of the family, I have two more comming in, one is from my Mother's side of the family and the other is a tartan that I really like. All in all the tartan, or kilt you choose is up to you, i have been thinking lately that I should get a modern kilt to be an addition to the traditional kilt I have now.

The important question is, what do you want, what kilt would make you happy, remember that you will not be able to pass a pair of jeans onto your son or daughter, but a well made kilt will last you the rest of your life and will be a garment you can pass down to your kids, my favourite kilt is 67 yrs old and it still looks great.

It sounds like you have a good idea where to start, so look around at the sponsors here, I am sure you can find something that fits your budget, from what you say being a student and all I would seriously consider Stillwater kilts I just ordered one for my nephew and it is very nice all things considered.

[Arlen]

Some people have plain tartans, tartans in memory of other people, tartans for particular districts. You even get more than one tartan for a particular family name.
Even were I to go solely for macdonald of the isles tartans and not, say, macdonald of glengarry or Clan Ranald, I would still have Macdonald of the isles ancient, ancient muted, modern, dress modern, hunting and red to chose from.

[Roan Carter]

I buy whatever looks and feels good. ^_____^

My first kilt was a Black Watch Sport Kilt. I have no connection to the Black Watch, but isn't it such a handsome tartan?

I do have a connection to the Ulster tartan kilt I wear though, so it does feel special to me.

[GMan]

I too get whatever looks good and my mood. Yet my first was Co Fermanagh.