USA Today Blog asks "Would You Join the Cult of the Kilt?"

**Monkey@Arms** · 21st August 07, 04:17 PM

Hmm. The recent article in the Washington Post about The Kilted Nation store (discussed in this thread) has lead to this blog entry at USA Today's website:

Would you join the cult of the kilt?

The Washington Post profiles a kilt shop owner who sees a fashion trend ... wait a minute ... there's such a thing as kilt shop? Yep. The paper says Utilikilt of Seattle sold 14,000 "man skirts" last year. A new store just opened near the capital, giving the paper an excuse to address the popularity of this unusual garment.

"This time of year, it's all about the breeze," Kevin Edwards, a firefighter with a dozen kilts in his closet, tells the paper.

According to the Utilikilt website, buyers have their choice of skirts made out leather and canvas. One is designed to match a tuxedo jacket. Another looks like a pair of tennis shorts. For the "bigger brothers," the company offers what it calls the "beergut cut."

Wearers say they risk being mocked. "I've been wearing them for about five years now, and it's kind of a mixed bag when you wear the kilt," he said. "Either you get no attention or there's some fuss about it."

Would you wear a kilt?
We conducted an unscientific poll in our corner of the newsroom. Only one of six male journalists was willing to join the cult of the kilt. Mark Memmott, the brains behind USA TODAY's On Politics blog, says he would wear one under the right circumstances, say for a Scottish holiday or to do chores around the yard.

The MSRP for his favorite kilt is $131.25. That's cheap. The leather one goes for $625.85. It comes with this sales pitch:

Why are you even here? The Leather is too much Utilikilt for you. Heck it’s too much Utilikilt for men who are twice or perhaps even three times the man you are. The Leather is the warmest, heaviest, most expensive, most amazingly badass, most go-to-a-bar-and-have-women-ask-to-touch-your-Utilikilt garment we offer. This baby isn’t for the meek. The Leather is for real men. Big men. Men who aren’t afraid to wear large swaths of cow around their waists. Men who take secret pleasure in making vegans and bovine activists cry.

Here's what comes up when you search for Utilikilt on Flickr. (Warning: Some of these photos are disturbing.)

Posted by Mike Carney at 11:15 AM/ET, August 21, 2007 in Life | Permalink

The comments posted in response seem to be running to the snarky side.

Perhaps some of the rabble would like to weigh in.

Best regards,

Jake

**Mr. MacDougall** · 21st August 07, 04:25 PM

My opinion of UtiliKilt is a little on the snarky side, so perhaps I won't.

**ccga3359** · 21st August 07, 04:35 PM

Originally Posted by Mr. MacDougall

My opinion of UtiliKilt is a little on the snarky side, so perhaps I won't.

I share Mr MacDougall's thoughts on Utilikilts. Afterall there is more to kilts than just Utilikilts. To ask such a question one must include all kilts, traditional to modern. Otherise the article is too biased to be considered worthwhile

**BruceK** · 21st August 07, 05:04 PM

Originally Posted by ccga3359

I share Mr MacDougall's thoughts on Utilikilts. Afterall there is more to kilts than just Utilikilts. To ask such a question one must include all kilts, traditional to modern. Otherise the article is too biased to be considered worthwhile

This is USA Today we're talking about here... Not exactly the pinnacle of journalism...

**Archangel** · 21st August 07, 08:05 PM

Originally Posted by ccga3359

I share Mr MacDougall's thoughts on Utilikilts. Afterall there is more to kilts than just Utilikilts. To ask such a question one must include all kilts, traditional to modern. Otherise the article is too biased to be considered worthwhile

that's the kind of comment they need to hear....