Its here!!! *pic heavy*

[mbhandy]

If you don't have the longer hose lose the flashes and the long laces and push your socks down with the Guinness T-shirt, would look great.

MrBill

[Panache]

Good on you lad!

Listen to your Auntie cloves and cousin beloitpiper!

Kilt looks great!! Now get yourself a big belt and taller hose.

Wonderful! You'll be the envy of everyone on St. Patrick's Day (aka Heaven on Earth). If you lost the jacket and wore a rugby shirt or something like that, you'd look great....right after you buy some full-lenght hose. Don't worry, they're not the expensive. My first pair of "kilt hose" were simply baseball socks. I know what it's like to be on a budget.

It is going to be a LOT easier (and cheaper) for you to put together a great casual kilted outfit than a formal one. I suggest in addition to socks pushed down (with hiking boots) you should add a simple pull over sweater to cover up the fact you haven't finished your belt yet. With kilt, sporran, boots voila' -a perfect casual a kilted outfit.

For a first run you did grand (my first picture on X marks made me look like an extra from the cast of Brigadoon )

Cheers

Panache

[IEScotsman]

Quite an adventure for a kilt rookie! Looks as though you did a commendable job with great goals ahead. Well done!

[Rigged]

You look mighty fine!

[Freelander Sporrano]

You made a good start . Follow the advice in this thread and it'll be even better. Remember if you are going to wear casual try for plain colours picking out some colour from your tartan is a good place to start. Boots with pushed down walking hose is always a winner

[Pour1Malt]

well, my long wait is over, I finally was able to get a real kilt. I ordered it Thursday and it arrived today.

it is a Stillwater Irish National Tartan, (thought it would be appropriate with st. pattys and my last name being Ryan...)

it is from their economy line, and I wonder what their standards look like. I love this kilt!!!!






Sorry also for the coat, I think I am going to modify it into a kilt jacket, but I haven't ventured that far yet.

I am also using this post as a way to reveal my "poor man's sporran"

I will post more pictures of it later, but it is all I have in the way of a sporran.

I followed the patterns needed but instead of leather for the pouch portion I used a heavy cotton canvis like material. I am really happy with the way it turned out. and it only cost me a combined total of like 30 cents and 3 hours of labor. like I said close ups of it to come.

I am really excited, its my first non costume kilt. how ever, I am waiting until friday the 16th to reveal it to my school, that date seems the most appropriate to show my craziness off.

~Casey

guid oan ya lad....

some wee notes fur ya;

ya arr richt aboot the jeeket... tae lang, dinnae wear it...

buy proper kilt hose an show a bit less o' yur flashes...

dinnae tie yur laces tae yur leg... that ainly works wi' Ghillie Brogues...

slainte

[Hamish]

Congratulations Casey. Once you have a 'real' kilt you can build on it as far as the accessories go - something you just do not do with a "costume kilt". I agree with everyone else really. Yes, you need a wider belt with a significant buckle and that jacket HAS to go - it is just far too long - but I believe your priority has to be the hose. Ordinary 'trouser' socks do not work with kilts, even if they're scrunched down - they are just not bulky enough to achieve the correct visual 'balance'. Forget tying the laces of your shoes way up your calves. As Robertson says, that style is for Ghillie brogues only and, strictly speaking Ghillie brogues should only be worn formally, or maybe semi-formally. First things first: concentrate on getting together a neat casual outfit ....... the formal, black-tie kit can wait a while.

Meanwhile, enjoy that kilt, which looks fabulous. You are already showing great confidence which is a hurdle that many take some time to leap so, get out there and spread the word. Well done!

[McMurdo]

Casey
I am not sure how you feel about ebay but I found this and thought I would pass it on, I know proper hose can get expensive, and this might be an option for you:
http://stores.ebay.co.uk/CARSE-OF-GO...QQftidZ2QQtZkm

As others have said, dont worry about the jacket and tie for now, rather concentrate on the casual look. The kilt looks great btw, and you are displaying the confidence neccessary to pull it off well. Congratulations on the homemade sporran as well, quite ingenious of you.

[cavscout]

Congratulations on your FIRST kilt!. Follow the guidance of what the others have said.

The best tip I can offer on kilt hose is Hamilton Dry Goods.

Scroll down to the 4th and 5th socks. for $8 plus a couple bucks postage you will not find a better sock to serve as kilt socks. It appears you have fairly large calves so a "standard" kilt sock is going to be a bit tight for you (I deal with this as well). HDG has proven to to be an excellent sock for wear with my kilts. They stay up without the need of flashes, give a thick beefy cuff when doubled over around my 18" calve.

[arrogcow]

Congrats. Also your sporran belt should match your regular belt. Other than that, with everything else that's been mentioned, you're well on the way.

Adam