My birthday came early!!

**Whidbey78** · 26th October 10, 12:18 PM

After waiting some weeks my 2 newest kilts arrived this morning! Both are USAK Casuals, one in American Heritage, the other in Oakliegh.

The pics on the USAK site don't do justice to how vibrant the blue is in the Oakliegh tartan and since I am no photographer they probably won't here either. It looks pretty bland in the pics, but it's really bright...it's kind of like blue painter's tape. I had never even seen a photo of a kilt in this tartan yet. I was surprised by the size of the sett. It's very comparable to the size of my Wallace tartan.

The colors in the American Heritage are a similar surprise. I had never really noticed the blue stripes before. They look like a "cadet blue" and really round out the design. Well done Rocky! I thought it was a few stripes over black but it's a little more complex than that.

Both kilts are VERY well made. The attention to detail and precision in workmanship USAK is known for is not lost in the casual models as it is with some companies. It's amazing to see this quality in a kilt with a base price around $100. I spend at least 90 percent of my kilted time in casual situations, and firmly believe that the kilt can be worn on it's own in place of pants with little to no changes to the rest of the wardrobe. That's how I wear it most of the time, so casual models work well for me...besides, I got 2 for what a traditional kilt would cost.

I just threw this ensemble together and put my camera on a tripod with the timer. Normally, I'd go outside, but it's raining with 30+MPH winds and I KNOW nobody wants to see that!!

This is about as fancy as I get. I think it's okay to take a casual this far...maybe a bit further. Like I said, I wear it like a nice pair of jeans.

Okay, you caught me...no shoes. I didn't even think about it until I had already uploaded it!

**Whidbey78** · 26th October 10, 12:34 PM

Here's the American Heritage. For the record the hose are NOT CREME or WHITE!!! I promise!!! The flash just makes them look like that. They are actually khaki but always show up nearly white.

Oops...only half dressed...no sporran. My wife is making a really cool sporran and pin, with Lakota beading. It's similar in style to a possibles bag. She teaches high school art on the reservation...lucky bonus for Allen!!

Hey, I had shoes on in this one.

This is what I would look like on a daily basis. Yes, that is a Navy baseball cap.

I'll probably burn for that! I'll post up some good pics of the sporran later. The USAK patch is velro'd on, so don't think you're losing it when it suddenly turns into POW/MIA.

All in all I am very very happy with both of these, and was pleasantly surprised by how good Oakliegh looks since I have never seen it "kilted up." I'm glad the jonesing is over, though I'm already thinking about my next one.

I asked Rocky to not sew on the patches and just toss them in with the shipment as I still wanted them...there were three in the box, so that's cool!

Great job on both of these guys! I'm glad that the move to a new shop didn't trip you up at all! And congrat's on the new digs Rocky. Keep putting out a product like this and you'll be moving to an even bigger shop soon!

**Spc. Scott** · 26th October 10, 12:54 PM

Those look great! I have been wanting a blue based tartan for quite a while now. That just kicks the jones in a little more.

Enjoy those new kilts!

**Whidbey78** · 26th October 10, 01:20 PM

Oh, now that I was cleaning up the mess where I tore into the box like a kid going after a happy meal, I found that I missed something on the paperwork! There are always folks behind the scenes...so credit where credit is due.

Both kilts were made by Mac. Well done and thank you!

**piperdbh** · 26th October 10, 03:31 PM

I really like the Oakleigh. Is there a story that goes along with it?

**McClef** · 26th October 10, 03:35 PM

I like the Oakleigh too - there seem so few blue based tartans around!

**Whidbey78** · 26th October 10, 03:48 PM

Originally Posted by McClef

I like the Oakleigh too - there seem so few blue based tartans around!

I agree. I haven't seen many this vibrant. It's easily the brightest article of clothing I own now(including a bright red Wallace).

**Whidbey78** · 26th October 10, 03:44 PM

Originally Posted by piperdbh

I really like the Oakleigh. Is there a story that goes along with it?

For me or from the designer? It's a universal fashion tartan created by the mill according to every source I could find. It was registered last November. I saw it and liked it. It's almost a blue version of Wallace with dual yellow stripes instead of a single one.

Mainly I ordered it because of all the universal tartans in PV it was the one(that I liked) that I couldn't find any pictures of as a kilt. I'm sure I'm not the first to get one, but I haven't seen another one yet.