Not real kilts?

[Blu (Ontario)]

How cold is cold, Graham

blu

[Kiltedfirepiper]

I will be honest, the first "kilt" I ever wore was actually a wool kilted skirt that hung right. I also had a few great kilts I wore for SCA events ( but you cant wear those out to a bar w/o some serious wierd looks ) so browsing E bay I found a Gordon Highlanders kilt military weight (56 yrs old when i got it ) with a prince charlie jacket, a glengarry w/ badge, plain sporran, diced hose, spats, and pipers gillies all for $500 at the time I lived in Tucson Az and I wore it whenever I could. it got warm sometimes, but it wasnt unbarable (sp) if I spilled something on it, it got handwashed in cold water with woolite and hung wet. I would then use my fingers to squeegee the pleats ( hold the pleat inbetween two fingers at the base of the stich and pull down) the pleats come out very nice, and the kilt is clean.... I know some will say " you HAVE to dry clean a "traditional" kilt.....but I say sheep got wet in the rain and their coats didnt shrink! 6 years later I still have the gordon kilt ( in great shape BTW), and now I am buying a Cameron of erecht(sp) kilt (made 1952) for 183.78 USD
from an Aussie gentleman which should be here in about 2 weeks!

alls I need is 5 more and I got one for everyday of the week

I respect the "new/ non trad." kilts their just not for me. no matter the weather I will wear my big heavy bulky beasts and love every second of it!!

I've worn it in temps from -5 F. to +118 and nary a problem!

I dont know where I was going with this post ......my train of thought must have derailed a wahile back...
oh well

yours aye,
Scott

[Graham]

Boy, you dragged up an ancient post here! ;-)

[James]

Wow-this is getting very near 'thin ice' time, and areas I'd prefer not to enter, such as what defines a kilt.

Whilst such arguments as 8 v 4 yards are really non arguments-for the amount of material can depend on such things as the girth of the wearer, and say box v the more accepted pleating.

Could I suggest that the real test is of a maker regardless of location with certain skills:-

To make a well fitting masculine garment, that enhances the wearer.

To work with the wearer to select the right weight of material for the use to which the kilt is to be put: top illustrate this I have both lightweight and heavy kilts-to suit say wandering about town in summer-or being out and about in the country in possibly bad weather.

The same applies to the actual tartan-again I have dress for formal and more fun occasions; and I also have more sombre hunting variants for day to day more rough wear.

Too a maker that will advise as to how to get the best, in respect of the amount of money that can be afforded. Here again I've found that makers without reducing their price/standards will help in respect of say the weight-maybe a cheaper lighter weight being adequate for the use to which the kilt will be put. Or to quite rightly advise that my bright ideas will not work if I want a decent kilt.

So it really comes down to working with the maker so as to get the right kilt, that looks good. Sadly too a decent kilt is expensive.

James