Worth the wait - a story

[Stratherrick]

When I was measured for my only kilt, a Hunting Fraser, from Hector Russell's on Prince's Street in Edinburgh (then made in Inverness and posted on to me), I didn't rush to buy it and all the associated accessories. Here's what happened:

First of all, I'd made sure with my wife, Rexie, that we both had three days off, not easy for two Registered Nurses as we don't have 'weekends' as such. We drove the hour and a half to the capital and settled in to our hotel - no expense spared, heck, the outfit was a £1,000+ purchase itself! Mid-afternoon we went along to the shop and found a salesman and I informed him that I wanted to go through the whole rirmarole of talking through what I might or might not want, but I was NOT going to buy on the day, Friday.

The chap, Kevin, now sadly moved on to another company, was fine with all this and we spent over two hours going through discussions about tartans, sporrans, hose etc. I knew some things, like not buying a huge bandsman's sporran like I'd seen some folks wearing, but Kevin kept me right all the way through with little tips, e.g. stating you should tie your brogue laces on the outside above your ankles and not at the front!

I came back on the Saturday and was measured up and took away my other purchases. For me, taking my time over two days was such a memorable experience. I had waited until I was 40 years old to get my kilt, partly because I didn't have the funds until then, partly as my ex-wife had always laughed at my ancestry, constantly pointing out that it was my grandad who was the last one born north of the border.

What's your story of that first purchase?

Bruce

[Splash_4]

Another great thread coming on!

My story starts a little different. The oral family history has always had my Great-Great Grandmother coming over from Scotland pregnant. This did not mean a lot to me until a couple of years ago when the wife and I traveled to Scotland. During our time there, we had a stop at Gretna and, surprise, there was a wedding going on. The wife turned to me and said "I think you would look great in a kilt!"

During our stay in Edinburgh, we walked up and down the royal mile, stopping in various shops and looking at their wares. Still unconvinced that I wanted to be kilted, the wife bought me a book titled "So You're Going to Wear the Kilt! and that was the end of the purchases for that trip.

Fast forward a couple of years and many hours of reading and researching (including joining this site) and I bought a Stillwater standard Black Stewart to see if wearing the kilt was for me. My first outing was to a Christmas party for our church. As the sky did not cave in on me and I got a number of 'interesting' reactions (not to mention how comfortable it was) I got hooked. That same evening, on the drive home, my wife informed me that I was going to purchase a wool kilt in the surname tartan and she was going to pay for it. She said that she really liked the look and that no man looks bad in a kilt..

[Stratherrick]

Splash

That's a great story!

It's funny how we all came to the kilt. I suppose I was about 18 when I first put one on. A visiting elderly cousin brought one with him one time, and I borrowed it for a night on the town. Once bitten 'n' all that...

Like you, I hope we hear some good tales!

Cheers

Bruce

[caig]

We always had holidays in Scotland and as a young child I remember seeing pipe bands marching up and down the street in the summer, and I would feel the hairs on the back of neck stand up and get a great feeling seeing these kilted pipers and drummers. It was not until I took up Scotttish country dancing about 14 years ago at the age of 45 that I actually purchased a kilt.

I was instantly hooked !

I now have 19 kilts ( Im never gonna catch Hamish !). I wear a kilt every minute I am not in the office. I hike in it, drink in it, travel in it etc etc.

[Galb]

My first purchase was an impulse buy. I was at the Dunedin Highland Games in Florida with my wife. We had gone, not just to see the games as it was my first games/festival of this kind, but also because we had some family that was down there at the time. My father wanted to see his old cousins and such, and so we went. Well, we got there and I noticed everyone as kilted. To be honest, I didn't expect it to be in such abundance. The sounds of many pipe bands filled the air and basically set the mood for the entire day. I was already enjoying it and I hadn't even gotten in the gate. Well, we walked in and decided to search for our clan tent. I was told there was one there every year. We found it, and the three people there welcomed us in like family. It was kind of funny. We stopped and said hello, and looked over the booth. We were greeted very warmly, but when I mentioned that we were Galbraith's, we instantly became family. I was educated a bit on my clan's ancient ancestry and were shown pictures of the Culcreuch Castle and the Scottish countryside. When my parents finally arrived I introduced them to our "new family". Shortly after that my father's cousins arrived and we all got a "clan/family" picture. I keep in touch with these clan members throughout the year now through emails and such.

I'm rambling. Anyways, I was admiring the kilts of my clan members at the booth and I decided to wander off and glance over the wares of the vendors at the games. Well, I came across this one who had an insane abundance of stuff. I noticed that there were kilts everywhere. Knowing that I was in the 1% of men that were in pants that day, I quickly began looking for my clan's tartan. I didn't see it anywhere. I saw a ton others, but I didn't want to wear another clan's colors. I wanted mine. I continued to look when I stumbled across a tartan called Scottish National. I thought, "the colors and design are very similar to my clan's. Even better, it seems to not be associated with a clan, meaning it is for all Scots!" I became excited, but couldn't find my size. I was looking for my pants size of course. Hey, I didn't know any better.

I became discouraged until I saw one last Scottish National that was missing the tag. I picked it up and took it to the guy and asked what size it was. "Thirtee-tu" was the reply in a very heavy Scottish Accent. Bingo. Then I sheepishly asked him, "can I try this on, and if it fits, will you help me with everything I need?" A large smile crept across his face as he said "Absolutely lad." Maybe it was because he knew he was about to make a couple hundred dollar sale, or maybe it was because he was about to help a Yank into his first kilt. Either way, he was pleased to help and got me suited up with the kilt, the kilt belt, the sporran, kilt pin, and hose. At this point I stopped to save some wares for future years at these games. As we were finishing getting me ready my mother and wife stumbled across the same vendor to see me all kilted and paying the man. I had finally gotten my kilt. I would come to learn later from here that the kilt was a Gold Bros. and not the greatest, but definitely a great starter kilt. But I don't care. I had a kilt!

This past year I went to the games again, and that same vendor recognized me as I walked in the gate. His wife told me, "when we saw you walk in with your father I nudged my husband and told him 'hey, that's the young man you helped last year!" I was shocked they remembered me but it was a great feeling. At this point I had only worn the kilt twice, once to each games. But after coming home this year, I decided to wear it more often, which has started an addiction. I now own two kilts with another on the way, three sporrans, one belt, a pair of hose with a couple pairs of flashes, and a sgian dubh. At night after coming inside from my gym, I get kilted. On weekends, I am kilted. Going out somewhere, I am now kilted. It's gotten so bad that the last time my mother saw me she asked "Are we ever gonna see you in pants again?" Haha. I told her, "Maybe. Come by my work. I wear pants there."

[Nick the DSM]

well, i think i was about 12 when i wanted my first kilt. i surfed the web for prices and i found sportkilt's price(i didn't know about SWK) and bought a wallace kilt. however i didn't get a sporran or belt till i think a year and a half later. its my one and only kilt for now.

[bigdad1]

I had never given any thought to kilts one way or another. I had seen them many times and I suppose I thought they were kind of neat but the idea of wearing one never crossed my mind. And then I met my girl friend, actually reconnected after 35 years, and she told me her sister and brother-in-law belonged to a clan and had a dinner dance every year. She wanted me to go but told me I would have to wear a kilt. I figured "what the hell" and agreed. She bought some beautiful tartan on e-bay and then spent the next several weeks working her fingers to the bone making me a kilt. It turned out beautiful and with a borrowed PC and sporran I went kilted for the first time. I loved it and had a wonderful time at the dinner dance. And have since gone to a second one. My lady did some research on the tartan and couldn't come up with a name or a clan so we named it after me. Weathered McWerner. I think there might be some Scot on my mothers side but may never know. Since that first kilt I have now just gone to the Vista games in a Union Kilt and plan to go to Ventura. All in all I have enjoyed being kilted and have met some great people who share the same attitude. I will never be in the 10 kilts or more range but do now have 4 kilts and thoroughly enjoy them. And I will be eternally grateful to my wonderful Sydnie for getting me interested and in a kilt. She is the love of my life,

[IrishGodfather]

I don't have a very interesting sotry of going to Scotland and all that, but I have been wanting a kilt since I was 14 or 15 years old, so I bought a Sport Kilt this past April. In May I found this forum, and now I have other kilties to help fuel my obsession, and also I now have an SWK Irish Nat. and I hope to keep the collection growing.

Not a very interesting story, but I did wait 6 years until I finally took the plunge, and I must say, it was well worth it.

[kiltedsawyer]

I say "First Kilt," in the same way that I used to think it funny to introduce my "first wife" as such, but I do plan to have several more, kilts that is. My kilt, a 9 yd MacLaren modern from House of Edgar was a gift from my current wife and many of my friends when I turned 50. I am still blown away knowing that so many of my friends chipped in to purchase this kilt, it will always be the favorite, no matter how many I am able to purchase on my own. I had wanted a kilt for several years but didn't really think I'd ever have the $$ to spend on an article of clothing. It just seems to mean so much more knowing that so many people contributed to it.
Respectfully,
David

[Gingerpose]

Here's my little story.
First experience of the kilt was at the wedding of my Uncle Roderick and Aunt Jennifer. I was about 7, my brother about 5 and we were kitted out (quite smartly) in simple boy's kilts and jackets. No frills. To my chagrin the wedding photographer used a photo of my brother and myself in his store window, to advertise his prowess. Alas, his shop was located on one of the busier street corners in Glasgow city centre, so yuo can imagine my embarrassment every time we passed it on the bus! the photo seemed to be on display for years!


Jump forward some 30 kiltless years, time for my own matrimonials to take place. Now, I had become somewhat anti-kilt in the intervening years, for a few reasons: I felt the kilt (meaning the traditional tartan kilt, for I knew not of the modern versions) was an invented tradition, did not relate to my past, and had some unfortunate associations with boorish behaviour of sports "Fans".

Nevertheless, my wife to be suggested that I try on a kilt, as she thought it might look good for our wedding. Being of sound mind and wishing to remain able-bodied, I agred to try one on, thinking that would be the end of it. To this end we took along our 7yr old daughter for a third opinion, and visited the rental department at Alex Scott kiltmakers, Aberdeen. The shop was rather busy so we had to wait a short while, so I had a look around the shop. finally my turn came, and I was presented with an Prince Charlie outfit to try on. I listened carefully to the instructions as to how to don this fearsome woolen thing, retired to the changing booth and clad myself. I drew back the curtains and Amber (our daughter) said "Daddy you look fantastic" - out of the mouths of babes and childen!

That decided, we arranged the details of which tartan to select for the rental for the actual ceremony, paid and departed. I was now in a more positive frame of mind to wards the kilt, which was crystallised when I wore it on the day, it felt wonderful. Not a moment's discomfort during the whole, long, magical day.

This had started the wheels in motion in my wee heid. I couldn't help but keep thinking how smart I had felt, and oddly, that I had also felt more connected to my family by wearing a traditional garment. I did a lot of research on the kilt, both traditional and modern. Finally I could hesitate no longer and returned once again to Alex Scott Kiltmaker, to discuss ordering an outfit. I was expertly advised and assisted by the excellent staff, and within an hour had placed my order. Now I only had to exercise a little patience, as I would have to wait six weeks until it could be completed.

The days dragged by, became weeks, and finally I had the phone call - your kilt is ready for collection - almost a week early! Joy of joys!

For a few months I wore the kilt obsessively at home, and even out on a few special occasions, shopping trips, taking Amebr to school, but married life was causing my waistline to swell, and soon I outgrew the kilt.

Bear with me as we scroll forward a couple of years to the present. I had not lost my interest in a kilted life in the meantime, rather I had become interested in modern versions, specifically the Utilikilt. At last, a sale, a kilt in my size and the favourable exchange rate combined to permit the purchase of a Workman's. I placed the order which arrived within a week. Under 7 days from Seattle to Scotland, that is impressive, as is the garment.

Having been accustomed to the storage limitations of the trad kilt it has been a revelation to have pockets, belt clips etc - all in all a most practical garment.

So, you may ask yourself, what is my take on the arguments about traditional vs modern, heritage etc? I say wear what you like, how you like and whenever you damn well please - as long as you grant others the same freedom of choice!

Ainslie