What brought you to wearing a kilt?

[KiltedDawg]

I got my first kilt while studying in Scotland. I later returned to the states and was inducted into a social society at my university known as the "Highlanders." Basically, it was a drinking club. Needless to say, all members wore kilts, so I stood out as having the real deal. I also continued playing rugby during college, graduate school, and beyond, in the US as well as England. The kilt would make appearances at the post-match parties quite regularly. After a few years away from kilt wearing I rediscovered it as the result of a homecoming theme last fall at the school where I currently work. Needless to say, I've been hooked every since and many new kilts (probably too many) have been added to the collection!

[Macman]

For me, since a very young age (in fact has far back has I can remember) I was brought up surrounded by my families ancestry. I was taught from my father about our family tree and he was always proud of our strong ties with Scotland.

This is similar to my upbringing. I first wore a kilt when I joined the local kilted reserve regiment, and then bought my first kilt a couple of years later. It's now been almost forty years.

[nab2488]

I saw they at renfest all the time and though they were cool. Eventually I rented one and I really enjoyed it. I was still only 15 at the time so still never could afford one. I thought they were just going to be something for conventions and festivals and stuff like that. I had never seen a UK then I saw one and realized why couldn't I just wear one whenever? So I found sport kilt and have been wearing them ever sense.

[WARPIPER]

When I took up the Bagpipes 25 years a ago, the kilt came with the job. The good thing was I wore a kilt for 20 years with out buying one. But now I am very happy with my own kilt.

[TheBlueCow]

I saw a Utilikilt on TV (on Patrick Norton, co-host of The ScreenSavers on TechTV, sadly no longer an existing station). I thought it was pretty cool. I had never thought about wearing a kilt before that. The kilts that I'd seen pipers wear just didn't spark that idea in me for some reason (I think my brain had just designated the whole ensemble to be exclusive to pipers).
Anyways, I then wanted one for a couple years. Finally asked myself "Why not?" and ordered one just in time for my 21st birthday as a present to myself. I had taken the whole week off of work for my birthday and my girlfriend's birthday, which was the day after mine, so I wore my UK almost all week (guess which day I didn't wear it ). At the end of the week, I didn't want to go back to pants, but didn't know how it would be received at work. Of course, after they changed the dress code so that I couldn't wear shorts during the summer, I stopped caring and started wearing it to work too. And for some reason last year was just a bad year for me and I didn't wear the kilt much at all, even after acquiring several more UK's . But this year, I'm itching to get back into my kilts and I plan to wear kilts as much as possible.

As for my advice to any lurkers or those new to kilting? This quote from the Utilikilt's "100 Reasons to wear a Utilikilt" sums it up for me pretty well:
"Wearing a Utilikilt reflects my attitude of freedom to be who I am; a sexy, self assured, man who enjoys self expression, comfort and freedom to the hilt."
I'm not Scottish, and you don't have to be in order to wear a kilt, IMO (but the kilt police you encounter may disagree. Just remind them that the kilt is about Freedom, and that you are a Free man). The reason I wear the kilt is because it is comfortable, and I think it looks good. It is also a matter of freedom, and my decision to wear anything I choose to. When I wear the kilt, I know I'm wearing a garment that suits me and my personality, and I feel good wearing it. And that's all the reason you need to wear a kilt yourself.

[GDub]

My wife bought me an Amerikilt and a SWK standard in the Irish Nat'l tartan for my birthday last August. I'd never considered wearing a kilt so the birthday gifts were a complete surprise--to say the least! Fast forward 6 months... I now own 13 kilts and am kilted as much as possible. I don't wear one to work (yet), but I do go out and about kilted and I've worn one to every gig my band has played since September.

At the moment, I'm wearing a super comfortable USAK casual.

Kilt on!!

[long_hand]

Well, I've always wanted a kilt but never could afford one because the real deals are just too darn expensive. I finally decided to just go ahead and make a semi-trad kilt. I started doing research online and found affordable and comfort kilts. I'm still going to make an 8 yard trad with some material I have, and a 5 yard comfort with some material I just bought last night, but I am also waiting on my first kilt, an SWK Mackenzie Thrifty. It was affordable, a good intro to kilts, and I have a Mackenzie line in my ancestry. I also have a few other Scottish lines, a few Irish lines, and a couple Welsh, so I am also getting into wearing kilts as a way to celebrate my Celtic ancestry. I would love to eventually own an Irish National and Irish Saffron kilt as well. I am 30 and still pretty young all considering so I certainly plan on having a wide array of kilts and wearing them until the day I go to my ancestors.

~LH~

~Shawn

[puffer]

I started wearing a KILT,about 6 years ago. I was @ Ft.Langley in BC.I was there as a part of a group doing a a presentation on the operation of the NWC/ HBC in the PNW. My "assignment was to give a "brief" overview of the Scottish impact in the PNW.The eve before, I was sharing a Scotch, with one of their "historians" We got talking about the Kilt being worn (BTW IT WAS ) He asked if had ever worn one. I said no & he "SMILED"
The next morning there was a knock on my motel door & there he was, KILTED UP. He then handed me a KILT & told my to "get Dressed" ith: ( he is a retired Can. Seaforth Officer & he borrowed the kilt from one of the "Junior" Officers. I FEEL IN LOVE with the Kilt & the next week ordered one made & have not looked back since. ( as most know I now wear a Kilt as often as it is "practical"

Puffer

[mbhandy]

I lived in England from 66-70 and I went to Scotland one Summer and wanted to buy a kilt but it was way to expensive for me at the time.
Four years ago I was at Fort Bridger Rendezvous and my wife spotted a kilt for sale and it was in my price range and I got it. Since then I have bought 7 more and try to wear a kilt as much as possible.
Going to a Mardi Gras party and will wear a kilt.

MrBill

[Southern Breeze]

I saw a Workmans Utilikilt at a renfaire and looked them up online. I ordered one and it's been downhill ever since.