Your evolution in the kilt

[GMan]

I started in a full blown traditional "tank". Simply loved it as wool is such a great material. Needed more Kilts and needed the variety of them and picked up a couple of Utilikilts. Then I went with the tartans again with at least one of these, Bear, USAKilts, and Stillwater all added to my multiplying and wonderful collection.

I want more, I need more, and I will get more.

Call me a snob, a conosuier, elitest if you like, just remeber I will be proud in them.

[michael steinrok]

I started out with a UK. then bought an off the rack 4 yard Blackwatch,and then simultaneously ordered another in the Irish Nat. Kinda snowballed from there.

[Livingston]

I started with a tank from clansman knitwear (they've gotten the last of my money) and just got a SWK heavyweight. Haven't had the chance to wear it yet, don't have all the proper accessories yet. Would like to get a more casual one later this year.

[Jerry]

No kilt snobs out here in the canyonlands of Arizona. This is jean country for the panted, due to all the blowing dust and sand. A whole different world than the city.

I started out with Utilikilts and SportKilts, then added mostly camo kilts from individual kiltmakers like Jeff and Steve. Added some AmeriKilts for a fancier look....but found I just don't like sporrans much.

Once I started to work went to UK mockers, workman's and survivals. Wear them most of the time. No matter how grubby they get I can just toss them in the wash. I love that "Scottish jeans" line because that's what they're like to me.

Of course you can't hang around the kilt world without hankering for a tartan kilt. My first were SportKilts...the old gathered kind...decided to spring for a hand sewn traditional in my clan tartan and once that arrived I was hooked. Now have four more and then sort of backfilled into USAKilts that let me have both the tartan and the washability.

Don't know how many other guys there are on this board that live in the boonies rather than the city. But think we do need and wear contemporary kilts more.

Ron

Ron, I'm not as far out in the boonies as you, and I do live within 25 miles of some sizable towns, but the closest places to me are too small to even have a stoplight. In fact only one of the two even has a stop sign

[Alan H]

I don't think I'm a kilt snob yet, but I AM finding that I like my more traditional kilts better and better these days.

[Kilted KT]

I don't think I'm a kilt snob yet, but I AM finding that I like my more traditional kilts better and better these days.

there has to be a reason why they have remained in use as-is for so many centuries...

[Wompet]

My first kilt was a wool philabeg/sportkilt hybrid thing from the 2003 Great Lakes Medieval Faire. It was a start, but it was an impulse purchase. (A impulse purchase kilt - where have I heard that before?)
The next kilt was a Locharron casual that I purchased after a lot of online research. And a sporran. And belt. And two buckles. A kilt pin. Clan crest pins. Two pair of hose. Oh, and a sgian dubh too.
So now I had two kilts, one of which was a little iffy for public wear, and the other I didn't want to risk for daily wear. And there was the fact that so many sporrans can't hold much, so some sort of storage option was necessary. So three UKs (and their pockets) were purchased over the period of a year and a half.
Then last summer I met Rob "RKilt" and half the MacHummels at the Fort Erie games, and saw my first PK at the Edinboro Highland Games. So a PK and a Canadian Casual Kilt were added to the wardrobe (an Rkilt is still pending - if only I had known about them before buying my UKs).
Another Locharron casual was purchased before Christmas last year because I had a coupon (25% off is 25% off, after all).
Once the material is delivered, Matt will start my first box-pleated kilt in the XMarks tartan. And once the family tartan is designed, Matt will be making a box-pleated kilt in that as well.

Now, to get to the point of all that rambling. I'm not a kilt snob, but I've moved away from UKs. I barely wore them this winter, but that was mostly due to the fact that wind whipping under those half aprons can get a bit chilly. Full aprons, be they on cotton, PV, or wool kilts, were a must. And wool, cotton, and PV kilts all have a place in the rotation.
Also, I have no 8-yd kilts, and I haven't seriously considered getting one (is this reverse snobbery?). I have two quality 'casual' tartan kilts with good pleating and excellent swing, and they are warm enough for winter wear in the Lake Erie snowbelt. Why pay two to three times the price for another 4 yards? I may get a military style "tank" someday, from What Price Glory or eBay, but its not on my list of "must have" kilts.



I just realized - before joining XMarks, I didn't have a list of "must have" kilts.
Oh, that philabeg - I gave it to my oldest brother as a starter kilt. Should he ever put it on again, it fits him better than it ever did me.

[GlassMan]

Okay, now for a serious response.

After my most recent surgery (March 2005) I needed something to wear that would cover my lower body but not be difficult to put on over my stitches, dressings & cast. I'd always wanted a kilt & it seemed like the perfect solution.

I began with several SportKilts. They weren't that expensive and were light weight. That was important to me because all the stuff on my leg kept me swelteringly hot so a cool garment was a must.

After that I got a Stillwater & was given a no-name BlackWatch as a present. They both felt good but I could immediately tell the difference in quality between the three brands (or should I say 2 brands and one no-brand).

Then came an all-important trip to San Francisco and my introduction to tanks at the Hector Russell shop. I WAS HOOKED! While I have purchased one more Stillwater since then and received another no-name as a present from my mother, all my other kilt purchases have been tanks and I love the feeling of them.

I kept the SportKilts around assuming that I'd use them in the Summer months, but I'm honestly not sure that I will. I love my tanks but we'll see how well I can handle the heat in them.

And now I can't stop buying! I've got XMarks tartan on the way, another USAK premium being made by Rocky, another handsewn in the works with Melville Kilts (still have to decide on the tartan) & I know I'll be getting one of the new Freedom Kilts once I get to, and stick at, a lower weight. And those are just the ones I'm definite on. God help me, but there are so many more tartans I want to get in tank form.

And don't start me on the topic of accessories. I can't stop ordering those either.

[Macman]

I started out with a traditional kilt over 35 years ago. Then a few years ago, I saw UK's at the local highland games. At that point, I could never have pictured myself in anything but a trad. But the seed was planted, and when the local newspaper did an article on Steve at Freedom Kilts a year and a half ago, I went over and ordered one. Since then, I've got a SWK and a USAK, and I'm happy with all of them. I think that maybe I used to be, well, maybe not a snob, but "set in my ways". That has now all changed, and a big part of that has been thanks to this forum.

[Kilted KT]

Okay, now for a serious response.

After my most recent surgery (March 2005) I needed something to wear that would cover my lower body but not be difficult to put on over my stitches, dressings & cast. I'd always wanted a kilt & it seemed like the perfect solution.

I began with several SportKilts. They weren't that expensive and were light weight. That was important to me because all the stuff on my leg kept me swelteringly hot so a cool garment was a must.

After that I got a Stillwater & was given a no-name BlackWatch as a present. They both felt good but I could immediately tell the difference in quality between the three brands (or should I say 2 brands and one no-brand).

Then came an all-important trip to San Francisco and my introduction to tanks at the Hector Russell shop. I WAS HOOKED! While I have purchased one more Stillwater since then and received another no-name as a present from my mother, all my other kilt purchases have been tanks and I love the feeling of them.

I kept the SportKilts around assuming that I'd use them in the Summer months, but I'm honestly not sure that I will. I love my tanks but we'll see how well I can handle the heat in them.

And now I can't stop buying! I've got XMarks tartan on the way, another USAK premium being made by Rocky, another handsewn in the works with Melville Kilts (still have to decide on the tartan) & I know I'll be getting one of the new Freedom Kilts once I get to, and stick at, a lower weight. And those are just the ones I'm definite on. God help me, but there are so many more tartans I want to get in tank form.

And don't start me on the topic of accessories. I can't stop ordering those either.

if you ever get bored of opening cool kilted packages, there is a growing army of drooling readers who wish they had your purchasing problem!