Questions about a first kilt

[kiltedlady]

Definately go with the Lindsay! lol I'm a tad biased though...

[Leonard (MacGregor)Tinker]

I started to look into my Scotish heritage last year and decided I wanted Highland clothing. I looked at a lot of web sites and finally decided to have a shop here in Des Moines get my kilt, operating from the premise I prefer to support local firms. She ordered the kilt through a company in Canada who ordered the fabric from Lochcarron in Scotland. We then discovered the fabric was held up in Canadian customs and the kilt would not be forthcoming for a number of weeks. As I wanted it for our St. Andrews Day dinner I called Scotweb (they have a US watts line) and ordered a package. After some soul searching I decided on 16 ounce wool from Lochcarron and I have been very happy with the results. I suggest buying the very best you can afford. A few years ago I read a book on backpacking and his advice on sleeping bags was to determine the best you could afford and then buy one grade better. I have never been dissapointed with my sleeping bag either! And with regards to ski bindings I was given the same advice, in that orthopaedic surgeons are so darned expensive.

[dougle]

Welcome

[KiltedDixon]

from Rowlett, Texas.

[Detroitpete]

I would normally say get the best kilt you can afford. However in your case, without knowing if you've wore a kilt before--I'd say go for a SWK Standard first--and not the Heavy. They are a good 'starter' kilt without the price. If you wear this out and about and like it--THEN go for the more expensive kilt in the tartan of your choice. Be a shame to plunk down some hard earned cash on something you might not wear often.

Just my 2 bits worth.

[jason10mm]

If I could be a dissenting opinion, I would recommend a modern kilt like something from Utilikilts. Much cheaper, easier to maintain, not nearly as many accessories and fewer, for lack of a better word, requirements when wearing. They are an excellent casual kilt and can be worn in many situations where a tartan kilt may make you feel more self-conscious or at the very least don't want to get it dirty or worn.

I think that once you experince a kilt you will quickly expand your collection, so no need to get a fancy one right off the bat, they will come in time! Unless of course you have a specific event or occasion in mind and need a certain type of kilt, in which case I agree that the best one you can afford now will save on duplication costs later.

[Zardoz]

I would normally say get the best kilt you can afford. However in your case, without knowing if you've wore a kilt before--I'd say go for a SWK Standard first--and not the Heavy. They are a good 'starter' kilt without the price. If you wear this out and about and like it--THEN go for the more expensive kilt in the tartan of your choice. Be a shame to plunk down some hard earned cash on something you might not wear often.

Just my 2 bits worth.

Good advice Pete, SWK is a good low cost "training kilt" for someone looking at a traditional.

[Danaidh]

I started with the Utilikilts (UK) and for outside work or hiking, will pick it over my tartan kilts every time, because of the abuse it will take and ease of cleaning. I liked all advice here, but pick Jason's as my favorite. Probably because it fits me the best. Anyway, I recently checked the price of UK and geez, they've gone up now to match the tartan kilt. To me, it doesn't make sense to buy a new UK, so I'm now fully committed to the tartans.
DO NOT FEAR! Within the first ten minutes of wearing mine to a store, a woman approached me and asked where she could get one for her husband. The comfort is unbelievable! Yes, it's different, out of the norm, but wear one for a month, then put on pants. Ugh, if you're like me, you'll hate them! ha!
Welcome to the forum. You've a brotherhood here.
Danaidh