My first kilt!

[auld argonian]

Seconding what Phogfan86 has said.

...and, yes, do go with the sporran and if I may make a suggestion, if you get only one, get the Nightstalker nylon one while Jerry still has them in stock. They look good and are incredibly practical...I often wear mine when I'm just wearing jeans just so I have the extra capacity for stuff...you can fit a whole lot in it...phone, wallet, keys, a paperback to read in the waiting room or on the bus...it's sort of the Tardis of sporrans; bigger on the inside than it appears on the outside.

A nice wide belt helps considerably as well. It's okay to wear a nice simple "regular" wide belt but those are usually about 1 and a half to 1 and three quarters wide at the max. If you can scare up one in the two to two and a half range, it helps get the "look" just right.

And as to dealing with low temperature...remember that you always have the option to wear something under the kilt...there is no rule on this and it beats being uncomfortable. This is supposed to be fun and not an exercise in endurance.

Best

AA

[Ryan Ross]

I'd really like to see more teenagers getting into kilt wearing. I'm 24, at the moment, but I first started wearing the kilt when I was 17. Pretty much anywhere you could go, I've gone kilted. It's always a big hit on campus- any campus, be it high school or college. It's good for tromping around in the woods. You can go bowling in it. You can wear it to dinner, or to the movies, or to festivals (not just Scottish ones). Pretty much, it's good for anything, save riding a bike/horse (though I've seen it done), playing baseball, swimming (not very hydrodynamic), skydiving, bungee jumping, Mixed Martial Arts (specifically grappling- voice of experience), or shooting pool (also found that one out the hard way). I think that, so long as you feel comfortable, at ease, and proud while wearing it, you'll meet with a great reception. I always did (and still do). The girls will likely find it particularly interesting, if you want to know the real truth. Apparently, from what intel I have, the ladies associate kilt wearing with(among other things) confidence, which they count as highly attractive (if there are any ladies around here who would like to confirm this, please do).

Long and short of the matter- as long as you have a positive attitude about the whole thing, people will love to see you kilted. It'll really brighten up some people's day, just to see you. As a very wise man once said: "When you're kilted, the whole world is your friend." Largely, I find this to hold true. You'll never have a shortage of people coming over to talk to you, and the vast majority will have positive(if not a bit ill-informed) things to say/questions to ask. My advice is just to make sure that you have snappy comments/answers to return with.

Now then- the specifics. Though I've never had a SWK standard, I've always heard it very well reviewed. As for the sporran, aside from really creating the right look, it's a must for functionality. I find it much more efficient and comfortable than carrying a bunch of stuff around in pants pockets. Hose are another item, pretty necessary in the winter, that will just help to make you look right in the kilt. Don't worry about getting some sort of "Scottish" shoe. I've never owned a "Scottish" pair of shoes, and probably never will. Any shoe will be fine with the kilt, but leather shoes tend to look best, I'd say. Also, if you can, spring for a belt that was intended for wear with a kilt (i.e. one that is about 2.5 inches wide). It really sends the masculine look of a kilt right over the top.

Once you get that kilt, start by wearing it around the house. Be especially sure that you practice sitting down in it. The goals of sitting down properly should be that you A: Do not expose anything that shouldn't be exposed, both while you're sitting down and while you're in the process of sitting down. B: That you are not wrinkling the pleats much, when you're sitting down. C: That you can do it in such a way that doesn't look awkward. And D: That you're comfortable. After you get that down, which isn't hard, you'll be ready to tear up any venue of your choosing.

I think the BW was a good choice of tartan, and while we're on that topic, I think it's great that you'll be wearing a kilt, in spite of not having any Scottish in you. The kilt is a piece of very functional, good-looking clothing. It should be worn, for that reason, by any man who has a mind to. Back to tartans- choose what looks good to you. "Universal" tartans are always a safe bet, but if you find a non-universal tartan that you like, wear it, too(just make sure that you know its name and a little bit about it)
!!!

I don't think it a bad idea to let some friends, or what have you, know ahead of time that they will be seeing you in a kilt. That said, don't act like it's a big deal. Be matter-of-fact. Mention it "in passing". I have little doubt that you will be well received.

If you have any questions, or anything else that you'd like to address to a former kilted teenager, please feel free to shoot me a PM.

And so, the moral here is that wearing a kilt is awesome, and you should get on it right away... and let us know how it goes.

EDIT: Oh, and I've personally never been a fan of the kilt pin, but if you like it, wear one. The extra weight on the apron may help keep things down, since the SWK standard is made in light weight material.

[isantop]

Thanks to everyone! I'm glad that the Kilted community is so much more open than the Linux one!

Thanks to this topic, I've noticed a bit of a conversation change around the house:


--BEFORE--
Mom: You would look so handsome in a Kilt Ian!

Me: Mom! I'm italian!

--AFTER--
Me: Mom! When are we ordering my kilt?

Mom: Soon. They're so expensive, you know...



Now this is something I'm eagerly awaiting! Now that I am properly informed!

[Ryan Ross]

If you can win mom over, that's always more than half the battle.

[Finn]

You can't go wrong with an SWK Standard in BW. The tartan IS universal, and is from a truly legendary military organization.
I second the Nightstalker sporran. Its a good place to start and isn't too expensive. I just ordered a brown economy from them until I can afford either a custom Thorfinn or something else.
Women/girls will fall into one of two camps- love it or hate it. Expect both. Jocks will be rough on you, but others will be supportive.
I started with UKs because I also lack Scots heritage. I still love them and other contemporaries. My first tartan was U.S. Army because of my service. My new tartan is the SWK Weathered McKenzie.
I'm a casual wearer, so hose for me are just socks. I wear mostly boots, so the folded/scrunched look works for me.
Good for you! Be proud and wear it well.

[Phogfan86]

Women/girls will fall into one of two camps- love it or hate it. Expect both. Jocks will be rough on you, but others will be supportive.

And the jock response ties into the response that you'll get from, in my opinion, most women.

I've been an occasional kilt wearer for two years now. I'm 45 and while I don't look like three miles of Oklahoma detour, I'm never going to appear on the cover of GQ, either. In that limited amount of time, I have been approached by dozens of strange women of diverse ages, shapes, ethnicities and sizes at events or on the street and been told everything from a very cordial, "You sure do look sharp!" to a throatily-whispered, "God, men in kilts drive me wild." Complete strangers, mind you.

Chicks dig the kilt. Jocks don't. Why? Because chicks do.

[Finn]

Yep.
I've even caught compliments in front of my wife.

[Scully]

I think you should go for it.
and by the way................

[Ian.MacAllan]

Welcome to the forum! You'll surely have great fun being kilted.

There are only two things I can add to the excellent advice in the earlier posts.
1) Use the forum's search function to find members in the Denver area and send them private messages asking about what kilt attire they recommend for the Denver climate.
2) Send Jerry at SWK an email asking his advice about tartan and accessories (his Standards are not all the same weight fabric).

By all means get a sporran; the nylon Nightstalker is an excellent choice.


Best wishes, and again, welcome!

.

[Calixte]

As an 18 yo teen, I think I can help. I have never worn a kilt, but I do wear a traditional "men's skirt" everyday (the sarong is S-E Asian, and easier to wear in tropical weather).
At first, friends used to make fun of me, and one (girl) was affraid to be seen next to me when we went out. Since then, people at school got used to it (actually, when I wear pants, they all ask me whyas if I was a weirdo). It'salways strange outside when people don't know me (being called "lady-boy" 10 times is VERY annoying) but you get used to it.
It may not be the same for you (we live in countries with different cultures and do not/will not wear the same clothing), but frankly, you'll feel much more confortable after a while and find it hard to go back.