My first kilt!

[joshmccl]

Kudos to you for catching on to the kilt at such a young age. I teach high school, so I can appreciate from a bird's eye view the pressures teens face to conform, to fit in, to be accepted by their social group. It is hard to imagine those feelings now, as I have grown into my thirties, and developed a strong sense of who I am and where I am going. You sound like you have a strong identity, forming at a young age.

Whatever you do with confidence, people will respect. You sound like a cool guy...the other kids will see that. Good luck!

[thecompaqguy]

I've only just started wearing kilts myself... I was a little apprehensive @ first, as not many black guys wear them. I found this article

http://metrospirit.com/Portlet/Print...21612083299063

and it made me realise anyone can wear a kilt. I got teased a little by my mates but I think they secretly admire me... ;) One of them actually asked where I could get him one! The mrs is not so keen, but she'll adjust to it soon... I bought a black watch one off eBay for £30. Good value, and it wasnt one of those cheap nasty ones.

21st Century kilts do some excellent kilt suits ( www.21stcenturykilts.co.uk ), though a little pricey.

Go for it!

[billmcc]

I have a SWK standard Black Watch and it is a good kilt for the price. I recommend getting a black sporran, kilt hose and a black belt that is around two inches wide.

If you happen to already have a fanny (waist) pack, you can wear it with your kilt until you get a sporran.

[The Barry]

I second pretty much everything that has already been said.

1) Go ahead and go for the SK Black Watch. It's a universal tartan, looks great, decent weight, etc.

2) By all means get a sporran. They are wicked handy and without one, the kilt can look a bit "man-skirt"-ish.

3) You can skip the kilt pin, they aren't necessary. If you find one that you like, go for it. But beware, they can catch on things and rip your kilt apron. And that's lame.

4) If you're looking to really knock the ladies out, go for some black 8" boots, black or gray hose, black leather belt (as wide as possible, and studded if you have/can get one), and black leather sporran. This really sets off the kilt and just so happens to be wicked comfortable. For casual wear, I almost always pair my kilts with boots, it's a great look.

5) Beware the instant swagger. The kilt will change a man. The kilt is powerful and should be worn with caution. Maybe pack some mace in your sporran in case you get mauled by hoards of young ladies who have never witnessed a man so powerful as one in a kilt.

6) Have fun, be yourself, and always have an answer to the question: "what do you wear underneath your kilt" and all of that question's variants.

[McNulty]

Another High School teacher here (English and Creative Writing) and I admire and congratulate your desire to be yourself. Peer pressure today has gotten exponentially greater than when my sons were growing up.
On a budget? Who isn't? Go with SWK Standard as they are probably the best bang for the buck. Either a BW or the MacKenzie would be fine. Cabellas has large width belts for a super affordable price. I'm picky when it comes to my sporran, so I'd shop around, and brown seems to be a color that goes with most kilts. Hose are on sale at Scottish Kilts/ Tartan Web for $16 and Jas. Townsend has good wool hose for an excellent price.
I wear my kilt to school at least every Friday to celebrate my cultural heritage. Initially the students looked at me like I was nuts and whispered behind my back. I've gotten over that and now they are asking serious questions about my heritage , kilt, culture and I return the favour and ask them about theirs.
Chick magnet, yes! I'm married, and shrug off the attention I sometimes get from the female population at school, but my youngest son wears a kilt, is single, and testifies to the effect that a kilt has on the opposite sex.
Get one, wear it at home to get used to the feeling, and slowly introduce yourself to the rest of the world, one small comfortable step at a time. Your confidence will grow the more you wear one. Enjoy and Merry Christmas!
Nulty

[auld argonian]

I've only just started wearing kilts myself... I was a little apprehensive @ first, as not many black guys wear them.

Hey! Samuel L Jackson was THE tipping point for my getting a kilt. I was watching Monarch of the Glen and thought that Duncan looked cool and why not get a kilt and then I saw Samuel L show up on Jay Leno in his kilt...that was it...I figgered that if he had the cahones (and the sense of style) to wear it, I just HAD to dive in.

Best

AA

[planemaker]

Welcome.

I didn't fit in with any crowd when I was a teen, and I didn't dress as others did. I'm sure if I had been able to get a kilt, I would have worn it from time to time, and I would have been just as much an outsider to my peers.

I do have a standard Stillwater kilt. It is a very light weight kilt. However, I would guess that you will need to upsize kilts at your age, so maybe it's a good option and at least a lower cost way to try it out.

I suggest that you buy a sporran, perhaps the Stillwater Economey Sporran, even if you choose to not wear it often. Also, you will need to buy a pair of kilt hose or socks and probably a few other accessories.

Also, know which tartan your kilt is and if it has a connection to a clan etc, and I think you'll do fine to wear the kilt.

Good luck.

Welcome to the addiction!

Paul

[Southern Breeze]

Welcome to the addiction! Just follow our 12 step program and all will be well.

Step 1. Buy kilts.
Step 2. Buy Hose.
Step 3. Buy flashes.
Step 4. Buy sporrans.
Step 5. Buy kilt pins.
Step 6. Buy fly plaids.
Step 7. Buy jackets.
Step 8. Buy sgian dubhs.
Step 9. Buy shoes.
Step 10. Learn to make kilts.
Step 11. Hang out on X-Marks.
Step 12. Repeat as necessary and have a good time with friends and family.
__________________

[CDNSushi]

On the topic of kilt pins: this also can be done super-cheaply. Unless you want something really nice or really specific, kilt pins can be had for only a few dollars. The cheapest way is to just get a "military safety pin." That's what I did for my first kilt -- Jerry at Stillwater sells those too.

[Phogfan86]

I agree. The military kilt pins at SWK are $3. Just do it.