Ah yesss - that macho thing - says she sitting comfortably in her polyester cotton, crease resisting, 17 ounces of kilt.
It is 7 yards of fabric, 28 inches in length - a remake of one of my first kilts worn last summer and suitably sun bleached, a large plaid in tan, yellow, red, blue, purple and a fine black grid - real beach colours. With a 24 inch repeat I have pleated it ad lib into a reverse Kinguisse style, 11 pleats each side of a central inverted box pleat, and large pleats under the aprons.
It is so cool to wear - the pleats are not sewn down, the fabric was folded and sewn along the upper edge, then a thin strip of the fabric was sewn over the raw edge to make a half inch band. The lower edge has a 1 inch hem. All hand sewn.
I usually wear it with a 1 and 1/2 inch tan leather belt, just wrapped with no fastenings. Because tonight is hot and sticky I have discarded the belt and used a couple of safety pins to hold the waist band. With a blue polo shirt and the assistance of a bottle of ginger beer, I don't even need to take off my sand coloured suede trainers to cool down.
All that thick black cotton with studs rivets and attitude - or hulking great wodges of tartan - yes, maybe they have a time and place - but when the heat is on, you got to chill, man.
When I've sewn enough clothes for myself to have a good selection all year round then I can maybe test the market for good quality, smart but fairly lightweight kilts.
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