Seeking "Kilted at the Beach" Experience?

[Pleater]

I took the little grandson down to the beach this Summer, chosing cloudy days, and he soon had me covered in sand and then wet from hanging onto him to prevent drowning. The sand fell off on the walk back to the car and I hung the kilts over the bath and sprayed lightly for several minutes to remove the salt as when it dried it left a white line. The kilts seem none the worse for the experience.

If I was going to the beach every day I might feel a bit worried about abraision from the sand, but unless it is going to be a really memorable wedding I'd not worry about anything but being comfortable out in the open - the weather on a beach always tends to be full on, good or bad, due to the lack of shelter.

Anne the Pleater :ootd:

[CDNSushi]

Hmm... Well, if I were invited to a beach wedding, with the groom in shorts, I would most assuredly forgo the kilt and opt instead to go "polynesian." Barefoot, lavalava (sarong), and my finest, well pressed aloha shirt. As an accent I would also consider a Kukui nut lei.

[Jaggy thistle]

Like Jock and Anne I always wear a kilt to the beach have never seen any ill effects even after playing with children wrestling ect Iwish I could post pictures!!

[MacMillans son]

I have never been to a beach wedding, but I used to take my children, many years ago, to the beach often. I wore a traditional wool kilt and had no problem with a dry kilt and dry sand a quick brush down and that was that. A wet kilt and dry sand was not too bad either, as the wool dried the sand just fell off. Salt water and wool was not so good and the trick there was to stand in fresh water wearing the kilt and then hang the kilt to dry naturally from the nearest tree. Failing that, dunk the kilt in cold water in the bath and hang the kilt up in a suitably airy space.

I don't have any personal experience to add, but Jock, I truly appreciate your periodic reminders of how damn durable these things are!! Although I have no intention of abusing a nice kilt, being reminded that they are quite tolerant of serious use, from someone who knows, is always good for me to hear.

"...stand in fresh water wearing the kilt and then hang the kilt to dry naturally from the nearest tree." I LOVE IT!!


Cheers,
Brooke

[Antonio]

It's windy in Florida right now... there will be sand blowing all over the place. I live on Indian Harbour Beach and go down there often. I would never wear a wool kilt there... I do wear my Utilikilts and ElKommando though...

[MacBubba45]

Here's two extremes for you. A long time ago I wanted a kilt for my "District" name (my last name), didn't have a lot of cash, and went for a very cheaply made Glasgow District kilt. I've been told since the best thing to do with this kilt is to take it apart and use the wool for something else; the weight was not right, etc. So used it to do the Polar Bear Plunge kilted on Tybee Island, GA one year!



About six Labor Days ago I was asked by a friend to pipe at her wedding. She got married on Fort Lauderdale Beach. I wore a linen shirt for comfort. It didn't feel comfortable being out in the sand in those hose and I never sat down. I'd go for something practical on you feet and legs.



I've still got that Glasgow kilt. Just washed it out in the motel tub with Woolite and cold water. I may Plunge again this year at Tybee or Pensacola. You never know!

[Jock Scot]

I don't have any personal experience to add, but Jock, I truly appreciate your periodic reminders of how damn durable these things are!! Although I have no intention of abusing a nice kilt, being reminded that they are quite tolerant of serious use, from someone who knows, is always good for me to hear.

"...stand in fresh water wearing the kilt and then hang the kilt to dry naturally from the nearest tree." I LOVE IT!!


Cheers,
Brooke

If we take out the expense of the kilt and just look at where the kilt was worn during the First World War(from sand to mud and everything in between) then a trip to the beach is a mere nothing. The only thing that wool kilts are not so good with are barbed wire, brambles, bullets and washing machines!

[Deil the Yin]

Well, the results are in, and after a day of recovery I'm pleased to report that my moralal was greatly bolstered by your practical input and piccies, too, sending me forth KILTED to tread the shifting sands of Mexico Beach! After a long, hot, humid South Georgia summer it was quite cathartic to get out in the kilt for nearly a full days worth (two days actually). I really appreciate all those who weighed in with their experiences and photos- thank you. Jock is right: the beach is no match for a well made kilt!

For those with enquiring minds... here's how it all came together: because we got down a day early, I wore my kilt on Friday hanging around as well as Saturday for the main event. It wasn't as cold as I thought, but VERY windy on Friday! Both days I wore my Matt Newsome 4yd Box Pleat in weathered MacGregor with Ferguson-Britt sporran (oh what a lovely piece of leather that is...) and, breaking in for the first time kilted, a pair of Clarks Chukka boots. It was a pretty casual affair all the way round, being a redneck wedding at the beach and all, so I topped off Friday's ensemble with a heavy Carhart button up and my Tune Up cotton vest from Territory Ahead, to wit:



As a piece of useless but mildly interesting information, the oatmeal hose I'm wearing are actually from my Dad's Bavarian Lederhosen (sp?) kit that he bought in Germany about 40 years ago (so they're older than me!). They are thick and warm and look great with everything (or so goes my opinion).

For Saturday's ensemble, I kitted out for the first time with a "hunting" sweater in British wool (mmmm... British wool) with a blue tattersal oxford underneath [no spread collars for me, thanks]. I think it worked pretty well, especially for a casual outing. Again, it didn't seem that cold even down on the beach, but then again I was toe to chin in lovely British wool. I don't think the bride's maids with their spaghetti strap dresses would be in agreement, however. And other than being a little nervous about affronting somebody when the wind picked up, there was nothing untoward to be concerned about...

(Photo forthcoming; waiting on grandparents to send as we forgot our camera- which was the time zones' fault).

To be continued?

[Riverkilt]

A slick turnout for sure! Glad you were kilted for the gig.

Did any of the locals hollar out, "William Wallace!" to you??

[Deil the Yin]

A slick turnout for sure! Glad you were kilted for the gig.

Did any of the locals hollar out, "William Wallace!" to you??

Hey, thanks. No- didn't get any shout outs. Funny enough the officiant was a Burns who had various piper siblings, parent and in-laws... Also met a couple who had just gotten back from Scotland (and loved it of course). The irony of course is that I usually get more flack from the erudite crowd than the good ol' boys. Whatever...