How were you introduced to kiltdom?

[Chris@southerncelt.com]

I thought this would be a fun and interesting topic. How did your life in a kilt begin? In all fairness, I posted this, I'll start.

About 5-6 years ago, a friend of mine was hired into a group that was to stage live-steel coreographed swordfights for a local renaissance faire around a script about the sword in the stone. A couple weeks in, one of the english knights quit, and my friend suggested me because of my martial arts training, I might pick up the fight coreography fast enough to make the performance dates. In the end I ended up a celt instead and made fast friends with our fight coreographer Tom, who was also our celtic chieftain. As many of you know, these renaissance festivals have some pretty kickin parties if you stick around after the day ends. Well, I wanted something nice, yet still in the spirit of the faire to wear for the festivities, and Tom suggested lending me one of his ancient kilts. I thought it was a grand idea and immediately tried it on for size. I loved it, and wore it proudly to the party where I showed of my Irish heritage by drinking everyone there under the table. In a kilt no less. Ah, the days of yore. I drank way too much in those days. I've since layed off the heavy drinking, but still love the kilts.

[bubba]

That's a good question Chris. I've liked the looks of kilts since I was a kid. I really didn't know anyone was actually wearing them until I started looking at family history sites on the web recently. Even then it looked like only for special occasions. I decided that would be a neat alternative to a suit so I started looking for kilts on the web. Then, by accident I came across Bravehearts and I was sold on it.
Mike

[Macwizzard]

My experience is similar to that of bubba. I've always liked the Kilt, and have wanted one as long as I knew they existed. I've got some good Scottish Family ties as well. The only trouble lie in convincing my folks-mainly my father-that I could still be a respectable young man if I wore a kilt. So, being the web-savvy lad I was, I started looking what I could get.

I started with a Mountain Hardwear Mountain Kilt-which is more of a skirt than anything else. I took it backpacking in the Wind Rivers for a week-with the whole family-and was sold from then on. About two weeks after I got home, I finally convinced my dad I needed a kilt-and his financial backing in the endeavor. So, I found a deal for a full outfit-including hand-sewn custom made 8 yard tartan kilt, so, I placed the order and 6 weeks later had my kilt.

Thus far, it's my only one, and my dad is still warming up to the idea of me not wearing pants(I still live at home-but then again i'm also under 21 and still in school). I was delighted to find the Bravehearts community during my kilt search and have been an advodate of the kilted manly man ever since.

--Macwizzard

[Kilted_John]

The first time I really showed interest in being kilted was probably at the age of 9 or 10, when I was looking in our World Book Encyclopedias and saw a photo of an SCD event. That's what first really peaked my interest. I had earlier seen some images and actually had been to a highland games event back in '82, but really didn't pay a whole lot of attention to the kilted guys there.

Fast forward to summer '01... I was looking on eBay and saw a MacKenzie kilt being offered up for sale. Figured I could lose 12" in my waist and get down to size. So, I bid on it. Got it. But, never slimmed down to that size. So, it hung, with the sporran that I also got off eBay in my closet. Wound up selling it in '02 for $100 to another member of the Bravehearts forum (Well_Plaid).

About 3 months later, I got my first kilt that actually fit. A Lennox District kilt for $150. 9 yard, 13 oz wool, made by North Channel Kilts in Seattle. In December of that same year, on my birthday, nonetheless, I took delivery of my military summer-weight (18 oz wool - made by House of Edgar) MacKenzie kilt. That's the one that I have pictured in both my Avatar, and my mugshot that I posted when I first joined. Last December, I picked up another kilt. An Armstrong mod tartan 16 oz 9-yarder made by J Higgins. I rarely wear pants or even shorts nowadays. I have to have a reason to do such. Otherwise, I'm in a kilt.
-J

[shillelaghbruises]

I always thought they looked good, and my dad would make me go to scottish festivals every once in a while. Then I started getting into Celtic music and Celtic punk and I voluteered at the Virginia Scottish Games (shagging, where you pick up the rocks the athletes throw) and saw people my age wearing kilts. This made me realize just how cool they are, so I asked my mom for one for my birthday.

[Graham]

My entry into the world of things celtic has always been thru music.
last year I arranged a Hogmanay celebration, and for authenticity I wore a second hand kilt, later i pondered on how comfortable it was and how good it made me feel.
The rest is history.

[Celt]

Welllll.....
Those of you who opened the URL in my post on the "do you have a tattoo" thread know I occasionally compete in tattoo contests. There was one coming up, and I had a work in progress I wanted to enter. The problem was, it would be on my upper thigh; so how would I show it to the judges? Stroll up on the stage and drop my pants? Not unheard of, but not very classy, either. What to do....hmmm.... what if I wore a kilt........?

[elijah]

For modesty reasons, I felt I needed to wear an unbifurcated garment. (There's stuff on my website about it)

I tried a sarong and although, I did pretty good in it, but I couldn't imagine wearing anywhere public. I had the heritage for the kilt and wanted to get one. (The Sarong I bought only cost $27.)

I saved my money and purchased a budget kilt from the Shetland Piper and within six months, I was wearing kilts full time.

[Blu (Ontario)]

Like quite a few others, I've liked the look since I was a kid. It was in the millenium year that I decided to make it a personal project to celebrate family heritage. I bought a full 8yard heavyweight in the "Henderson" o/c. It pretty much stayed in the closet for several years (you know the drill..."dear, its for special occasions only"...) About a year and a half ago, I stumbled onto the bravehearts website, read all of the essays, and started the soft conditioning process. I started actively posting and wearing my kilt about 9 months ago. The kilt population of my closet is currently 3 and I'm working on #4. I'm now seriously thinking about building one for myself after that. With rare exception, its been a fun and positive experience. I'm hooked.:mrgreen:

[John in Texas]

I mentioned on another thread that I got in by the Formal to casual route. Bought the formal because of my heritage, and I like standing out in a crowd. Plus, the kilt can do double duty for me, being able to wear it to formal civilian as well as formal military events,,sure is a lot smarter than buying full formal Dress Blues for the military AND a nice tux (which I believe are the most uncomfortable thing on the planet,,,,,well,,, maybe except for a gorrilla suit).

I was so amazed at the comfort , that I was hooked and started looking into it more closely, found the Bravehearts site, and now I'm getting my first casual kilt so I dont ruin my good one.

I will add that I am very lucky that my girlfriend, being celtic, absolutely LOVES my kilt wearing. In fact , it seems that she & her best friend from childhood had a sort of friendly rivalry going as to who would land a man in a kilt first.

After the Military Ball we attended in December, she called her friend long-distance, at 3 AM, to gloat "I just got home from a night out with a guy in a kilt" (gotta love that). I couldnt stop laughing. Now she wants to give a try making kilts for me, as she is a very good seemstress. Did I mention how lucky I am already??,,,,,,


Take care all, John