Kilts, The Wise Financial Choice

[flyv65]

And, I also believe I've seen a number of men who started with the hand sewn traditional kilts buy themselves some "pretend kilts" for knocking around in.

The point is, I see it as ALL good. "Pretend kilts" help the traditional kilt market, "pretend kilts" offer traditional kilt owners a chance to remain kilted in situations that might soil or ruin a hand sewn traditional kilt.

To quote the stoner kid that lives up the street, "Dood, it happened to me". My first kilt was a 16 oz hand sewn that I liked to wear so much I was worried I'd ruin it...leading to my utilikilt (my avatar shows me flyfishing in Rocky Mountain Nat'l Park in the 'ole UK). There is a tremendous amount to be said in favor of a kilt that you can really "work" in w/out thinking "if I mess my kilt up, I'm gonna be working overtime untill the end of the year to buy a new one". The biggest adjustment for me was getting used to a lower ride (on the hips), and the fact that 16 oz wool feels "different" than the twill when I'm wearing them. Is it the number of pleats? The fabric? The weight of the material? Beats me, but I always feel like I'm entitled to swagger a bit in my MacDonald LotI, whereas the UK (and the Stillwater) just feel like comfy clothes.

Bryan...looking forward to the Bearkilt for comparison (and 'o course pleasure)...

[kiltedpride]

To quote the stoner kid that lives up the street, "Dood, it happened to me". My first kilt was a 16 oz hand sewn that I liked to wear so much I was worried I'd ruin it...leading to my utilikilt (my avatar shows me flyfishing in Rocky Mountain Nat'l Park in the 'ole UK). .

Well I do know what you mean - I use one of my first kilts as a working kilt - it is my Clan Farquharson kilt and is 20 years old - it has a small tear but that gives it character. I wear it round the house and out sometimes to the pub or out shagging and it serves me well. I think one should have an old kilt in the wardrobe - just like you might have smart jeans and jeans for rambling in the country. Now whether the working kilt should be a Utilikilt is another matter. I'd argue no still go trad - it feels better and the swing you get is 'cos it sits higher. Wear it casual with a pullover or polo shirt out over the kilt with no belt - that make the kilt look not so high as it is covered by the shirt. And of course wear it with boots and socks turned down. And before someone says this is too hot for US let me say I have just returned from 14 kilt wearing days in Spain and the kilt was ideal - like a string vest (cool in summer, warm in winter).
Bone chance mon amie
Jaimie.

[flyv65]

Well I do know what you mean - I use one of my first kilts as a working kilt - it is my Clan Farquharson kilt and is 20 years old - it has a small tear but that gives it character. I wear it round the house and out sometimes to the pub or out shagging and it serves me well. I think one should have an old kilt in the wardrobe

Couldn't agree with you more, Jaimie...I'm limited only by finances from having 4 or 5 handsewn wool kilts ( I actually have an order in for my second one right now). Still, I'm not sure that a traditional kilt must be the ultimate goal for all kilt wearers. Some may never feel the need to own one, while others will never own a contemporary kilt. Would you have us differentiate by calling the contemporaries MUG? And if so, that would still include the traditional kilt by definition. In your earlier post you mentioned that your local "market' was flooded with cheap overseas knockoffs, and that the professional kiltmakers were suffuring for it; yet I would argue that people who buy 19 or 29 pound kilts would never be potential customers of a traditional kilt...I agree that such products could certainly foster a very poor impression of kilts in general by the uneducated, though.

Bryan...it always seems to come down to money...