As usual, Hamish's advice is sound. As someone who has worn both the belted plaid (great kilt, belted plaid, feilidh-mhor, and breacan-an-feilidh all mean the same thing, by the way), and various incarnations of the modern tailored kilt for years, I can agree with his opinion.

Remember, the belted plaid evolved in a culture and climate where men found themselves spending the majority of the day outdoors in rather cold and wet weather. And the belted plaid is perfect for that!

I, however, spend most of my time indoors in perfectly mild weather, and so find the modern tailored kilt much more practical and comfortable.

I have two feilidh-mhors that I wear when attending historical reenactments, or putting on educational programs at Highland Games, schools and libraries and the like. On just about all other occasions, I wear my tailored kilts.

Here is my advice: Remember that, historically speaking, the belted plaid was worn in the period before there was such a thing as a "clan tartan." So, save yourself some dough and keep your eye open for a good heavy weight woolen cloth in a tartan weave that you find attractive (looking for natural colors, of course) at your local fabric outlets. Just buy a few yards of that and you will have a perfectly fine feilidh-mhor for not much money. Then, with the money you saved, buy yourself a nice tailored kilt in your family tartan that you will be able to wear on other occasions.

Just my advice, which of course you are free to ignore. Depending on why you want to wear your kilt, and the occasions you plan on wearing it to, a feilidh-mhor in your clan tartan may be just what you are looking for.

Aye,
Matt