Contemporary vs Traditional

[The Wizard of BC]

I'm not going to vote on this one because of my conflict of interest.

But let me be a traitor and say I would prefer if people had a Traditional Kilt as their first.

Once you have worn a Traditional you know how a Kilt should fit, feel and swish.
If you then wish to expand your wardrobe with a Casual,Contemporary or even a MUG you can do it for the right reasons. Because it's fun, it's practical, or it's reasonably priced.

If, however, you start with a Gold Bros. Kilt, or a MUG, you will think that that is how a Kilt should fit and feel. I feel that is somehow not going to give you a good sense of the wonder of a Traditional.
If all you know is a Kilt that is designed to be worn at jeans waist or all you know is 6oz Acrylic then you are truly missing out.

[Eujeankilt]

Since nobody spoke for the opposite view, I thought I'd do that.

I started with a contemporary kilt and that's what I recommend. I wasn't sure if kilting was for me. I'd always admired kilts (and MUGS), but wasn't sure if it was the right thing for me. My first was a Utilikilt. It is a well made, (relatively) inexpensive garment and the guys I saw wearing them looked good and were accepted for their choice. It was my gateway kilt.

I probably feel this way because I have no strong connection to Scotland via heritage. Ironically, the kilt connected me with Scotland and things Scottish. I've not been the same since

Dale

[NancyMan]

I'm going to cheat just a little and recommend a semi-trad from Rocky. You really couldn't do better than that for a first kilt. It gives you a taste for just how fine a custom made kilt can feel, you get a classic traditional look and nearly traditional feel in the swing of it, and you get all that for a price right in the middle of the contemporary price range. Yah, I started with a Utilikilt and now own 40 kilts. But if I were to advise someone starting out, USAK would be my recommendation.

[Nighthawk]

I'm going to cheat just a little and recommend a semi-trad from Rocky. You really couldn't do better than that for a first kilt. It gives you a taste for just how fine a custom made kilt can feel, you get a classic traditional look and nearly traditional feel in the swing of it, and you get all that for a price right in the middle of the contemporary price range. Yah, I started with a Utilikilt and now own 40 kilts. But if I were to advise someone starting out, USAK would be my recommendation.

You, sir, said exactly what I as thinking. This post is the exact reason I didn't register a vote. USA Kilt's semi trads are incredible.

[NewKilt]

I voted traditional, but what I really mean is traditional style which could be a USAK casual or semi-trad, a Stillwater 8 yd acyrlic, a Sport Kilt, etc., in tartan.

My thought is that this makes it a bit easier (in general) for most men to step out in public that very first time because most folks will recognize it as being a kilt. However with that said, I regularly run into people for the first time while I'm wearing a camouflage or solid Alpha Kilt with cargo pockets and no sporran and get "nice kilt" compliments.

Pure speculation on my part, but there may be more public awareness of the contemporary (what I call modern) kilts. So I'm saying traditional with tongue in cheek.

Darrell