Want to buy husband his first kilt- Help!11

[Pat Bowen]

Greetings! I am new to this site and wanted to say hello before I asked for help! I belong to Clan Anderson. I want to buy my husband his first kilt, but I have several questions.

For his first kilt, should I buy him (he is Welsh) my family Tartan? Or should it be one that he would like to wear. I plan to put the money into a nice one, but I want it to be special for him, not me.

Second, we live in Georgia where the heat can get pretty darn hot in the summer. We do a lot of events and family outings during the hottest part of the summer. Which fabric/wool weight is the best for this kind of heat? I am afraid if it is to hot and the kilt is to heavy he may find it to hot.

This will be a big investment for us and we have been thinking about it for over a year. We just cant make our minds up. He is very excited about getting one and finally being able to wear it. I just want to try and get it right the first time.

Thanks for any help! (Working on getting a pic for this site)

[sharpdressedscot]

Well, you can check out Stillwaters, those guys have some inexpesive kilts.
There's Sportkilts, great for casual and a hot day. I live in North Carolina, not too far off from Georgia, and the Sportkilt does great in hot weather.

Also, check out Newsome's Gift Shop for his museum. He offers a wide range of tartans and weights. I'd suggest a lighter weight like 11 oz for a hot day.

I'm sure others on here can help you out better than I.

[James MacMillan]

First off - from Sunny Southern California!

The myth that wool kilts are hot is highly over-rated. But since this is his first kilt, you may want to consider a "casual" 5 yard kilt for your first purchase. Many of our advertisers offer these.

A casual kilt will cost a bit less, be lighter weight, and will look pretty much the same as a full tank.

[Standard]

Greetings! I am new to this site and wanted to say hello before I asked for help! I belong to Clan Anderson. I want to buy my husband his first kilt, but I have several questions.

For his first kilt, should I buy him (he is Welsh) my family Tartan? Or should it be one that he would like to wear. I plan to put the money into a nice one, but I want it to be special for him, not me.

Second, we live in Georgia where the heat can get pretty darn hot in the summer. We do a lot of events and family outings during the hottest part of the summer. Which fabric/wool weight is the best for this kind of heat? I am afraid if it is to hot and the kilt is to heavy he may find it to hot.

This will be a big investment for us and we have been thinking about it for over a year. We just cant make our minds up. He is very excited about getting one and finally being able to wear it. I just want to try and get it right the first time.

Thanks for any help! (Working on getting a pic for this site)

Well first off to the rabble, the folks on this site are very knowledgable and nice.
It's nice to hear that you are interested in the kilt along with your husband. My wife supports my wearing of the kilt, and that means a lot to me. Also made my first venture out of the house kilted much less stressful.

As for the first question I'd look at some of the Welsh tartans. While they might not (as far my limited knowledge goes anyhoo) be as ancient as the Scottish tartans it might mean more to your husband to have a cilt more closely linked to his family ancestory. You are correct that it can be a big investment, and one which, in my opinion, should be taken with care as the kilt can be an investment that lasts a lifetime when properly made. That being said you definately want to get a tartan that he will be happy wearing whether it is from his family or yours.

As I have had no experience (yet) wearing a kilt in a hot climate I'll pass on commenting on which weight would be more appropriate, but there are several members on Xmarks who are from Georgia, I'm sure they can help you better than I on that matter. I will say however that the heavier the fabric is the better it will hold a pleat, and the better 'swing' and overall appearance it will have.

Good luck to you both, and remember we expect to see pitures here!

[McMurdo]

Firstly

I would say you should get him a tartan that he will wear, there are Welsh tartans by the way.
I would say a tartan in about 13oz wool should work well, 16 oz may be a little too much, remember that the kilt insulates and keeps you warm when it is cold out but it also keeps you cool in the summer. As far as kilt makers go there are many fine kilt makers out there , if it were me I would go to either Matt Newsome at the Scottish Tartan Museum in Franklin NC, or Barb Tewksbury they are both members of the forum and you could get in touch with them here.
Have you asked him if he likes your family tartan? You say you do a lot of events so do those include things that he would like to be kilted for, such as Highland Games?
If so than if he likes your tartan why not get it for him.

You could also look around your area to see if there is a tartan shop nearby as this may be the best way to get the kilt as it will be measured for you and you will be able to see everything on site.

[Alan H]

It sounds to me like you are ready to dive in and get a real wool "tank" of a kilt. If that's the case then you are correct, that will be a significant investment of between $350 - $600. Since you're thinking of spending that sort of money, I would ask him which tartan he wants.

Are you familiar with the Anderson Tartan? Moreimportant is HE familiar with the Anderson tartan?

The Welsh tartans are very nice, but then they are also very new, say 30 years or so. If that bothers him, then perhaps the Anderson would be better, or perhaps he would like a kilt in an "anybody can wear it" tartan like the Black Watch or the Scottish National or Holyrood tartans.

Look at it this way, if he's going to wear the kilt primarily to Clan functions, then maybe the Anderson would be better. If he's going to wear it "around"....to dinners out, to events where he wants to dress up a bit and look nice generally, then perhaps one of the Welsh tartans would be better.

There IS another option, you know?

You can get him two kilts, one is a 13 ounce wool "tank" in the tartan that he will wear the most often, and the other in plyester-viscose, like for example a USA Kilts semi-traditional.

Here's a scenario: let's say that you guys think he will wear the Anderson kilt to the Highland Games, which are mostly during the summer when it is quite warm. For other events like concerts, dinners out, or possibly Burns Night (in the winter) he would be more likely to want to wear his Welsh kilt. If that were the case then it would make sense to purchase him a really nice 13 ounce wool Welsh tartan kilt, and then team that up with a USA kilts semi-traditional Anderson kilt in polyester viscose.


To the uninitiated "polyester-viscose" sounds dreadful and artificial. It's not, it's a very comfortable, stain-resistant easy-to wear fabric. I wear my MacNaughton polyester-viscose 5 yard kilt to the Games around here, and many of them are over 100 degrees outside. I love it. But for occasions where I dress up more, I like to wear one of my heavier-weight wool kilts.

Only you guys will know what works for you.

[Prester John]

Welcome aboard!

Get whatever makes you and him happy!

Stillwater or USAkilts are great ways to begin without spending $400+ on a tank (hvywt, handsewn wool kilt).

You'll make him happy either way. Of that you can be sure!

[RobertParker]

As far as tartan, get him whatever he connects with or likes the most. I've got kilts in the three most popular weights (11, 13, and 16 oz.) and grew up in Nashville, which is also quite hot during the summer. I found that the 11 oz was nice in the summer, but not necessarily because of the weight. Instead, it is the lightest color tartan I've got (it's an "ancient" hunting, which means it's just not as dark). If I were buying my kilts over, I'd try to get one in a medium weight (13 oz.), 4 or 5 yard kilt (check out Matt Newsome's stuff), that is a light colored tartan. That way it will hold pleats well, hang well, and will still light enough to be cool in the summer and plenty warm for most Georgia winters.

[Canuck]

Rumor has it that it's bad luck to wear your wife's tartan. That's the only one I stick too, anything else is fair game in my book.
Wool kilts are great, might consider a lighter weight ,13oz and under. The air flow with a kilt is great especially when you are moving.
My first kilt was a hand sewn made to measure. Though expensive at first ,it is , by far the best way to go. Very few here will share that opinion. Allow about 8 weeks from when you place your order till you receive it. Accessories like sporrans and hose are another thing to consider. While you are waiting for the kilt, you will have a chance to check out vendors. I'm sure you will have a good time doing it. All the best

[auld argonian]

Well,

http://welshtartans.bpweb.net/owenbo...tan-p-227.html

...s'no bad, is it? I'm assuming that Bowen is your husaband's surname...

Best

AA