First-and-a-Half Kilt: Advice Needed

[arrScott]

Not really my first kilt; I've been wearing a greatkilt to certain events for years. But the Washington Post's feature on the Kilted Nation store in Manassas has me thinking of getting off my bum and finally buying a wee kilt.

Here's my problem: My thoughts on the matter used to be, "Those Utilikilts look interesting. One of these days I'll have to try one." Then I started reading all the excellent reviews here of other North American kiltmakers. Now I have complete brain-lock over the many great choices that seem to be available.

I really like the features of the modern casual kilts from places like UK, SK, and FK. Lightweight or non-wool: Perfect for a city built on a malarial swamp where it can be beastly hot and humid nine months of the year and never cold the other three. Pockets: Pockets rock. Price: At about a hundred bucks, give or take, the purchase is what I'd spend on a night at the ballpark.

What I'm looking for is a kilt to wear around the house and the yard, around the neighborhood or to the store on weekends, maybe out to the pub of an evening or to the ballgame. That last is the complicating factor: If I'm going to wear a kilt with the custom Nationals jersey I usually wear to the ballpark, it pretty much has to be a tartan, not the solid-color of most contemporary casual kilts with their pockets.

The obvious solution is to order a tartan kilt with pockets from FK, but even in the $400 range that's too rich for me to spend on a first-and-a-half kilt. Plus, I'm not sure how comfortable I'd feel wearing a $400 kilt to a place where visiting Phillies fans regularly throw beer at the locals.

I'm willing to consider a tartan kilt, whether a basic SK model (love Hawaii's recently adopted tartan!) or SW or CC, but I'm hesitant to give up on the pockets thing.

So, with my not-entirely-compatible kilt-wishes in mind, where would you steer this wee-kilt newbie?

Many thanks for any advice.

[Ozman1944]

Try a Stillwater Thriftyl great for just knocking around in, and can be dressed up with a belt & Sporran for the pub. Very inexpensive, so if you hate it, or slop BBQ sauce on it, Get cigarette burns etc. you can toss it. Only about $28.00 total. They're great!

[McMurdo]

Well in your case I would get in touch with some of the fine kilt makers that are on this board and bounce your ideas off of them, let them know what features you are looking for and see if they can do it. If I were you I would start with USAKilts Freedom Kilts and Canadian Casual Kilts I am sure that one of these would be able to help you out.

[Moosedog]

Since you are in Alexandria, nip on over to the store and try some on. That might help answer some of your questions. It's a rare opportunity to have several makers available on the spot to try and compare. I'd say the biggest complaint I hear about Utilikilts is the long wait and difficulties sizing and ordering, so a store that stocks them is a gem!

Moosedog

[The Wizard of BC]

My advice is to give Rocky at USA Kilts a call or visit his site. (see link above)
Second, if you have a day, jump in the car and go visit him. You won't regret it when you see the reception you get.

[arrScott]

OK, so I went to Kilted Nation in Manassas over my lunchbreak. Great store! There I tried on several models from what seems to be Brad's depleted stock thanks to the newspaper coverage of his store's opening. Great attention to customers, though, and a nice shop. I will be back.

As to the trying-on, it was very informative. The utilikilts I tried, several models, felt great and looked good. Sat on my waist like a pair of khakis or shorts, perfect mid-knee length. Felt very rugged but also comfortable, if a little warmer than I expected. I wasn't a fan of the outside cargo pocket. The Amerikilt I tried on looked great on the hanger, but not on me. For whatever reason I seemed to create a skirt-like A profile with that one.

Then I tried on a size-L SK. Loved the fabric; a perfect light weight for the Washington climate, and very vibrant colors in the tartan. But when they designed the SK, they didn't seem to have men of my, erm, rear endowments in mind. Made the back of the kilt -- a "Works" model -- bunch up all puffy atop my bum. When I tried on the store's only remaining size-XL SK, it was perfect from the hips down. But only by pulling the kilt to the extreme edge of plausibility, which is to say two inches past the end of the velcro, could I make it fit my waist.

After trying the SK, I think that's what I really want for my first non-greatkilt kilt, and I've sent Seamus an email asking whether it's possible to have a SK made that would fit me. If not, then it looks like I'll be going back to Kilted Nation next month when an expected shipment of UK Mockers comes in. I'm also toying with a USA Kilt casual, since it's at least somewhat tailored and it seems my hindquarters require tailoring in a kilt.

That said, it has now become my personal mission to find a supply of the beautiful Hawaiian state tartan in order to have a pocketed Freedom Kilt made to my measure before the next time I return to the islands.

[pdcorlis]

Off the peg kilts are ok - but nothing beats a kilt made to your measurements.

And while I'm at it...

Welcome to XMarks from the hills and streams of Idaho!

[Monkey@Arms]

There's nothing like getting to handle the merchandise, especially when it comes to off-the-rack kilts. Now at least you know what size UK works for you. Though it wouldn't solve your pocket problem, a USAK really is made to measure, and I've noted that some people don't like the elastic waist band found in all the SK models. Happy hunting.

Best regards,

Jake