As a follow on ...

[pdcorlis]

I'm blaming it all on Duncan.

He was the tipping point for me too. Now, I have always loved the look of a kilt - and the sight and sound of bagpipers marching down the street has always brought a lump to my throat. Then two things converged in my life. To honor my dad I decided to do our family genealogy and discovered most of it lead back to Scotland, Ireland, and Wales (surprise!!!!) AND I discovered MOTG on our local PBS station. The stars came into alignment and I realized that a kilt could be worn at any time. Finding XMarks gave me the courage to say "why not me?" and links to resourses like SWK and USAK made the whole thing economically possible. Like many here, I want have the wardrobe that would allow me to wear a kilt every day of the week...

Patience Phil Patience...

[Valencian Kilted]

In my case, no scottish heritage has to be proudly remembered on badges or family trees, no cultural connection seems to be close by far to my homeland and also my family influences (my grandfather used to sing flamenco and we are mediterraneans after all),.... but from my kid's years I felt attracted much more by the sound of a bagpipe, and the astounding vision of a highlander in full dress....

At the tender age of 32 I made one of my dreams true and I went to Alba for last year easter's holidays. I knew from some friends that kilts were expensive for my wages level, but my brother told me to buy him one, even when he's not at all connected with scotland in any sense, even affective,...

In Glasgow I stopped in front of all the kiltmakers shops I found,... and I thought that it was an impossible dream... until I found a 2x1 offer ...
A Royal Stuart for my brother, and a black tartan patterned one for me,... for 180 pounds for both.

Of course after coming back (kilted) to Spain, I found this superb clan of good people that taught me so many things..., and I noticed that my wanderful kilt is just a casual 4 yards lightweight kilt... but I love it anyway! I also learnt that a black belt doesn't match at all with a brown leather sporran! :rolleyes: ... I'll keep learning,... be sure of it!

¡Salud!

T O N O

[flairball]

As long as I can remember my favorite part of any parade was the kilted pipers. I've always thought that the kilt looked like the most comfortable thing a man could wear.

Having been brought up in a broken family, I didn't know any of my paternal relative. Well, a couple of years ago we had a reunion of sorts. Wouldn't you know that branch of the family tree streches to Scotland. That pretty much put me over the edge, and I started researching kilts. Then I found Xmarks, and it was game over.I bought my first kilt last week, and wore it three times that weeks. I expect to be in it either tomorrow or the day after too.

[angerli]

Well...life disruptions can do strange things...

While getting through an unwanted divorce three years ago, one thing that was nagging at me was my mom's Scottish heritage. Her father, my namesake grandfather, was a Nicoll so I had the link. Then I got curious this past Fall on the Internet. eBay yielded me to date three Harris Tweed day jackets, a Lovat green wool day jacket, a black Argyll and several antique claw kilt pins. I have my MacNicol Hunting Modern tank in the closet (ScottishKilts.net) and my MacNicol Dress Red is on the way (Scotweb). Ghillies are also en route. Odds Bodikins, I'm all set for the Summer Games season...

Then there's this thing called X Marks The Scot...what a dandy group!!

Sandy

[Tartan Hiker]

My story is almost exactly what pdcolis said. I always knew that my father's family was from Scotland. My Great Grandfather to be exact. My dad was in France during WWII and wanted to get to Scotland to visit the home town (Leith) while his father was still alive, but never made it. In his later years he talked frequently about going, but health and vision went bad before he could make the trip. I was always fascinated by all things Scottish, and, like so many others never really considered expressing my heritage due to the prohibitive cost involved.
My 15-year-old son has wanted to play the pipes since he was about 5. He's on the practice chanter now and doing very well. At Christmas, after ordering his chanter, I thought it might be fun to try to find a kilt for him. eBay searches led to various web sites, the realization that modestly-priced kilts are available, and, finally, to this group. After reading the posts on X-Marks for about 3 minutes I realized that I had to join in the fun, too. My son loves his SWK, and I now have two kilts and am looking forward to the delivery of number three.

[NewKilt]

What got me started is my physical disabilites. I was having problems overheating because the sweat glands in my feet and legs no longer work. Plus I have degenerative disc disease requiring me to change positions frequently. I thought that a kilt could help because of the ventilation and the freedom of movement. Well it certainly did help! I was amazed! This was last August and I've been wearing kilts full-time ever since.

I wondered if anyone else wore kilts freqently, so started doing searches on the internet. Needless to say, it has developed into much more than just a garment that helps me feel more comfortable. I started reading about the history of the kilt, and investigating my ties to Scotland and Ireland. Finding XMarks has been a great experience in learning about the different types of kilts, fellow kilt wearers, and kilted experiences. So today, I own 16 kilts - traditional and comtemporary, solids and tartans, wool kilts, cotton twill kilts, and canvas kilts.

I wear them confidently and with pride. The kilt has literally changed my life for the better - physically and socially.

Darrell

[NancyMan]

For many years I've trolled the thrift shops for my clothing, rarely paying more than 10 or 15 dollars for trousers, shirts or jackets, and I'd built up a very large wardrobe of the same. I had a vague inclination to try out the kilt but had never encountered one in my travels and was disinclined to search through the ladies skirt section. Then last year at the Vancouver Pride parade I spotted a couple wearing what I thought were smashing "skirts." When I asked where they got them, they directed me to the Utilikilt booth. Despite what I thought was an astronomical price tag, I bought a black denim UK and I haven't worn pants at home or in public since.

13 Kilts now and counting............

[Rigged]

Burning Man is what did it for me. Seeing some my fellow Black Rock Rangers in the hard-wearing, comfortable, practical Utilikilts got me into buying one and then six more.

Then I pick up a lined denim Pittsburgh kilt and a Bear kilt to round out my collection.

That was maybe six years ago when I got my first and I only wear trousers now when I have to.

[Riverkilt]

I was seeped in Scottish heritage by my grandfather Murdoch. I wore tartan neckties and bought tartan blankets and bathrobes in our clan tartans. Even after attending many highland games and watching pipers parade I never once considered wearing a kilt myself.

Then, like Southern Breeze, two years ago I was a the Arizona Ren Faire and saw a guy in a Utilikilts workman's and had to have one. I got the name of the company off the logo on the back pocket. Found them on line, and ordered a UK Camo original. The jones time was like three months so I bought a SportKilt in the meantime.

They came in about the same time and I wore them to a professional conference. Was such a joy to sit kilted and to wander around kilted, and get such positive comments from the ladies I just kept buying more. Wore them to work a lot. Went full time over seven months ago. Now own 34 kilts...

I actually went from contemporary kilts back up the line to the traditional kilts. Five of my kilts are hand sewn tanks. Have two tartan USA kilts, three tartan Sport Kilts...about seven camo kilts...and the rest plain.

I'm hooked and lovin it. Keep wondering what would have happened if I'd not gone to that Ren Faire....or the guy in the workman's hadn't gone...

Ron

[beverlonian]

Having worked most of my life either in Scotland or for Scottish companies, my wife and I have attended many Christmas Dinner-Dances where Scottish colleagues wore kilts. This prompted my wife to suggest I also should wear a kilt to these events to which I readily complied. I found I could not believe how incredibly comfortable wearing a kilt was and the next step of wearing a kilt at home was not far away.
Browsing the internet I came accross Tom's Cafe (sadly not the same forum it used to be) and later X-Marks were I found that wearing a kilt casually was more widespread than I thought and I soon gained encouragement to wear kilts out and about and especially when hiking.
Unfortunately, as I have mentioned in prevous posts, this has not been with the blessing of my wife, which I do not understand given it was she who kindled my first interest.