my currant quandry.......tank?

[The Supreme Canuck]

Well, really, who cares what others think? If you want to wear a tank, go for it. That said, a traditional kilt is most certainly a man's garment. If you're comfortable with that, then there's no problem. You will have to deal with people walking up and telling you that to your face, especially if you go with a sporran and hose. Again, if you can deal with it, no problem. It's up to you.

By way of example...

I feel very strongly that a kilt is a man's garment, pure and simple. The female option is the kilted skirt. But then, I wouldn't tell you not to wear one. Who am I to tell you what to wear, and what not to? My reaction would be "Oh. A woman in men's clothing. Okay. Interesting choice." Be warned that you will get traditionalists flying off at you, though. But - and this is important - who cares what I, or anyone else thinks?

So my vote is to go for it if you feel like it after considering exactly what you're dealing with.

As a note, to stop some of the criticism, you might want to get the tank made with the apron opening on the other side. Same way that women's and men's shirts have buttons on different sides. Just a thought.

[Hachiman]

Well, really, who cares what others think? ... (snip)...But then, I wouldn't tell you not to wear one. Who am I to tell you what to wear, and what not to? My reaction would be "Oh. A woman in men's clothing. Okay. Interesting choice."

Hiya Cloves

I have to agree with The Supreme Canuck. One of the many reasons I want to wear a kilt is, for want of a better term, "gender equity". Therefore, if I want to wear what is essentially a man's skirt, who am I to question what a woman wants to wear?

I also like TSC's suggestion of altering the way the kilt wraps around the body - it's subtle difference, but those who know will spot it. Another idea would be to get a solid coloured kilt, such as those offered by SWK...just because it might be a little less likely to be perceived as a male's garment.

And, if you want the sporran, but are reluctant to wear it in the same fashion as it's "traditionally" worn by men, perhaps wear your sporran on your hip (as it was once worn in the 'old days')?

When it comes down to it, it's your choice and I (for one) would support your right to have the freedom to choose what you wear and how you choose to wear it.

cheers!

Hachiman

[possingk]

First my apologies to Hamish and other traditionalist as I will use the term tank throughout this e-mail it is easier to type than traditional eight yard kilt.

I have the material in my closet for my US Bic kilt in my closet and no money to get it made, so I certainly know the desire to get a tank. I have gone through all the thoughts that you have mentioned for many of the same reasons, will I wear it and et all. I have gone about my kilts in much the same way you did, I have one stillwater economy that I sewed the pleats down and added a Buffalo Sabres patch to, and wear it on all game nights, I have three USA Casual Kilts hand made and works of art. I have a SWK standard that I wear for my pipe band gigs, and I have a 5 yard wool xmarks kilt made by Rocky again a work of art, not a tank, but as close as I have right now. Do I wear my Xmarks kilt out when I drink and such yes, am I really comfortable doing so, not really. I wear it to church on Sundays and going out if it is really cold, but if I am going to be sitting for a long period of time, it gets wrinkled and out of shape not exactly the garmet I would wear out for a long happy hour. My other kilts fit that bill perfectly though. I love the way the way my USA Kilts fit me they were made for me, I am six foot four so my SWK are a little short, but the weight is great on them.

If you came up to me on the street with the same dilema I would recommend a USA Semi Traditional ($220), Canadian Casual Kilts also sell PV tradtional kilts as I recall check them out or depending on how it would fit you a SWK standard ($89), wear them for a while treat them as you would a tank and see how often you would wear them, but also know that whichever one you choose that if something does happen to the kilt it can be washed, just make sure that you realize if it were a tank that it would be more difficult.

With a semi-traditional you will have a hand made work of art wrapped around you that is designed to fit you and only you, that is a wonderful feeling, with a SWK if you just use it as a test case for getting a real tank down the line, you will not spend as much to test the tank theory. I mean no offense to SWK here, but it will not fit as well as the USA Kilt, but it is not meant to, have the fits like it was made for you feel, of course the cost is much lower as well.

When I went through this the recommendation was to get the tank and you won´t regret it and I am sure I won´t, I just wanted to throw in another option. If you are looking for the craftmanship an not necessarily a tartan don´t forget RKilts and Freedom kilts, they are after all the tank of contemporary kilts.

Thanks for reading this far I hope it all made sense and was not too far off topic. The Sabres did play tonight so I have had a few, I did drink less beer than the Sabres scored goals though (9-1)

[Alan H]

There is much screaming and shouting about women not wearing kilts and yet nobody bats an eye when a girl or a woman straps on a kilt for a highland dance competition.

So.....'nuff said, there.

Cloves, I'm going to go to town here...dream wild, right? and suggest that you consider making your own kilt.

PM Barb, and ask her about the differences between a dancers kilt and a guys kilt. Yeah, yeah, the tartan will be a dancing tartan, meaning that it will have a lot of white in it, and it'll be lighter weight. yup...but what I REALLY mean is, what's the difference, STRUCTURALLY. I don't know the answer to that, but I'd bet dollars to doughnuts that you could make a "dancers kilt" out of 13 ounce cloth in a non-dancers tartan and have something that fit you well and looked sharp. IF you wanted to stick with 11 ounce, well, no problem, huh?

....and you could make it yourself. All it takes is patience and care.

If you're not ready to take the plunge in terms of materials and hours of labor, then I agree with the other folks that have written so far. Try a Stillwater Heavyweight or a USA Kilt and see how you like it. If you dig the whole tartan kilt thing, THEN save your nickels for that tank.

The other low-cost option is to cruise ebay for tartan skirts. I bought my lady a beautiful wool tartan skirt in Dress Blue Stewart for...get this...ten bucks. It cost ten more to ship it from Florida, and twelve bucks to gt it dry-cleaned. It's flippin' gorgeous. There are kilt skirts on ebay all the time at ridiculous prices. You might think about getting one or two of those and seeing how you like them. There's much ballyhoo about the difference between kilts and kilt skirts, but you know what? Nuh-uh. Yeah, theyr'e different; the length is usually different ( you could shorten a long skirt) and the cut around the hips is different, and the waistband is different and the straps/buckles are smaller and so on, but STILL...they're not THAT much different. They're both still tartan, and they both wrap-around.

Anyway, yes I can see a contemporary use of a kilt for wear by a woman who thinks a little bit differently; you bet I can.

Sporran? I, personally dont thing that's a good idead, but how about this?....A hip purse...

https://www.bisadora.com/t-hip_purses.aspx

OK, that hip-purse is advertised as pretty hip-girly, but think of the CONCEPT, not that actual item, itself. A clever leatherworker could make you something remarkably cool with a celtic motif that would work much like that hip purse. In fact, I see things like that all the time at Ren Faire leatherworkers booths...basically belt-pouches. One of those would work, eh?

Team that up with a wide-ish, but not a "real kilt belt" sort of belt with a celtic motif buckle and you're stylin'.

Kilt pins? I bought a really gorgeous silver thistle at the Ben Lomond Games, and I also have a round celtic knot kilt pin. The X-marks kilt pin is nice, and there are many other options, like Celtic Crosses. Find one of those that look good to you and go with it.

Footwear? OK, I'm gonna freak you out. Knee socks. Yup, I'd say regular old grade-school girl cotton knee sox like what you can buy at www.sockdreams.com, and forget the flashes. I'd go with bright white if I were you and get ones that really look like knee socks and not like "kilt hose". Team those up with a nice pair of black flat uniform pumps, Or maybe black ballet pumps, if that isn't too girly-girl for you...
[

Then again, the whole "knee socks and black shoes" thing may just make you lose your breakfast, eh? I have to admit, it DOES sound kind of kinky. LOL. Whatever the case, IMHO, keep the shoes simple. Aim for "classic" rather than something "out there".

Perhaps a preferable option is calf-high or knee-high womens boots. Those would likely look *great*. Well, not the fuzzy, shearskin ones....

Above the waist I'd get the simplest, most classic white button-down blouse I could find, because the knee socks/pumps are going to tend to look "little girly" and you want to put some effort upstairs into making the look "sophisticated". Go classic, but FEMALE up here, don't use a button-down mens dress shirt. Add a nice silver or gold necklace, perhaps with a celtic motif pendant and you'd look great, I'll bet!

To top it off for a formal occasion, I would just throw on a black short-waisted jacket, perhaps something like a bolero cut, but without the Spanish motifs..

Look at this page: http://www.bushwackerwestern.com/jackets-w.html

...and check out the bolero jacket. Now, if that piping were removed so that it was plain plack, and the collar were a bit different..... Or maybe some tartan ribbon in the tartan of your kilt were creatively used....See, they custom-make them I bet you could e-mail 'em and....

I think it'd look GREAT.

Actually, the more I think about it, the more I'd forget the white sox and black pumps, and go for the boots. Well, unless you WANT to look kinky.

Anyway, those are my thoughts. GO for it, Cloves. If you want a really nice kilt, then don't let anybody stop you.

[Canuck]

I say go for it. Get the tartan you want , get a traditional kilt. Wear it with a bulky sweater... Heck you have your own fashion sense. Don't worry about which way it closes. That's for a time when women had dressers and it was convenient for the dresser to dress you.
I think, once you have one you will find occassions to wear it. If it get's dirty it can be cleaned.
Wear it with pride.
Cheers
Robert

[raindog]

Hi Cloves,
Have to agree with everyone so far. I didn't even associate kilts with a male only garment
Most of the world (everyone who doesn't wear a kilt!) probably wouldn't see it as a men only thing either.
Go for it and enjoy it


Jeff.

[Gil Prothero]

hey cloves..interesting..
i like your independence..
get whatever you want dear..
you do have a gender advantage..
you may wear what you want, in any way, who's going to say otherwise?
you can do the tall boot thing, ( 20 eyelet martens)
or ghillies..
i knew a very assertive woman who wore ghillies witha cape..everyone stopped to watch her just walk down the street..she's a top radio personality now..
every highland game i go to, women wear kilts..the band members don't wear anything diff than the guys..
it's a new FREE and great world. life is too short, do what you want.
i have gotten flack from people asking me if i have permission to wear certain plaids..
i tell them i always have written permits on me..just for the clan cops..
i'll bet you look GREAT !
and EVERYONE wants a TANK..

[Gil Prothero]

OMG!!! Cloves,
THANK YOU, for talking about the Tripp Kilt..
i just looked it up

neat site..

i love Goth.

i got a pair of very high top doc martens..this would be great.

any ways, thanks again..