soooo.......I am a bit vexed lately and I'm hoping that you lot might be able to help me out.

For those that don't know me, I'm one of only a handful of female kilt wearers on board here.
Now I know there are those that oppose women wearing kilts and some that don't. I'd prefer if we don't open up the whole "should women/shouldn't women" debate and instead open up the "should I or shouldn't I" debate with regards to a tank instead.

Let me better explain. In the begining I was surfing the internet and somehow stumbled across the UK website. I've never ever been a girlie girl (some might say I'm a rather butch lesbian...but I digress) and I've always hated wearing skirts. Too flimsy, too femme and just not me. However a UK, now there's an unbifurcated garmet I could handle. I immediately ordered a chocolate workmans and I wear it ALOT. I work retail in a cd store and It has pockets for pens, a utility knife etc. I can get it dirty, crush boxes, move store fixtures and have no worries about ruining it. It takes a beating and looks good with either a rock band t-shirt (my usual work attire) or it can be made slightly more spiffy with a nice button shirt. Very versatile. Nothing complicated about that.

So after reading the UK yahoo group stuff I eventually found AK's and learned about the difference between symmetrical pleats versus regular knife pleats and whatnot. I saw that AK had a few kilts up for auction on ebay and eventually got a denim AK for a very good deal. It was a bit dressier than my UK and it became a kilt that I wore out to dinner and to slightly more formal occasions.

After that I got a Tripp kilt from Hottopic. Not a very versatile garment but it's very goth, which suits me fine, and is awesome for clubbing.

So you see, all of my kilts thus far have been contemporary and because of that, alot more unisex. Up until reading posts about "women shouldn't wear kilts" it never really occurred to me I shouldn't. The thing is I've always pursued a lifestyle that is typicaly not very female. I've taken alot more slack about being a girl drummer (i've played drums since 7th grade). More slack for practicing martial arts. More slack for riding a skateboard. More slack for being gay......and the list goes on.

Here's the quandry part....thanks for reading this far. In the begining I was such a kilt newbie. I bought them just cause I thought they were cool. Looking back, I feel I was almost a poseur. But now having found xmarks, I've learned so much. About kilt history. About my gang *nods at Ron*. About alot of the posters on board here. I've come to really respect the things you guys do and say. Sort of like an online extended family.
Let's not forget about all of the craftsmen as well. Really good quality stuff handmade by a whole handful of board members. I feel a certain kinship.
Now more than ever I want a tank and I want to collect the accessories that go with it........but.....I'm a girl.

While I can justify the contemporary kilts, because they do their job. I'm not sure I can say the same thing about a tank. Damnit! After having spent all of this time and energy on xmarks, I think i've developed a sense of commeraderie with you guys and I really want to be a part of that. I want to get a tank and all the stuff.... not just to wear, but to have some real artwork made by people I know! In other words...I wanna play too.

Since i've been going against the grain for most of my life as stated above, to just roll over and let it go seems very unlike me and that's what's giving me pause......
However, will I wear a 400 dollar tank clubbing? Not likely
Will I wear a 400 dollar tank to work? Possibly, but not as often as I should to get the mileage out of the money spent.
Will I wear it out to a formal dinner? Maybe, but with what? There's no way in hell I'll wear a Prince Charlie outfit or even an Argyle jacket....I mean sheesh, I may be butch, but not THAT butch. hahaha

what do I do? I had my heart set on a "real" kilt, but I'm guessing it's prolly not in the cards. Thoughts? Opinions? And if you think I should anyway...tell me when I'll wear it, and give me suggestions as to what I might wear with it.

thanks for you help.