Hello from Chicago (plus some questions)!

**carlb** · 29th May 09, 02:41 PM

Greetings! My name is Carl (hence the very original screen name), and I recently found this place while researching the possibility of getting my first kilt. I'm a house-husband (formerly a mechanical engineer) who recently discovered that I have a Carr in my not-too-distant family tree.

So, I think I'm about to pull the trigger on my first kilt. I've got my eye on a USA Kilts casual. I'm thinking that for now I would be wearing a kilt at festivals, Highland Games, pub crawls and the like, so I think the casual would be a good starter. I think I've settled on a tartan, but would welcome input.

See, the problem I have is that I cannot find kilts in any Kerr tartan unless I want to go for a full-on 5- or 8-yard wool kilt, and I just can't justify the expense. My first inclination was to just go for a Black Watch or other "generic" tartan, but then I remembered that a very good friend of mine is a MacLeod. He doesn't mind me wearing it, so I was thinking of getting the MacLeod hunting tartan (I'm not bold enough to go "Loud MacLeod"). I gather that people are pretty easy-going about such things, but I just wondered if I would get grief from anyone for wearing a tartan I don't "belong" to. Thoughts?

Second, any recommendations on hose color? Assuming that I go with the MacLeod hunting tartan, and a blue or black polo shirt (maybe red), I was thinking that navy hose would be most appropriate. I don't really want to be too monochrome, but it still seems like the best choice to me. Navy flashes to go with them?

Guess that's all for now. Any unasked-for suggestions for my first kilt are more than welcome. Thanks in advance.

**McMurdo** · 29th May 09, 02:54 PM

Carl Firstly

From Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Secondly with the MacLeod Hunting I'd say you could go for the Navy Blue hose but to throw some colour into the outfit I'd say that red flashes would work, you would then bring some of the secondary colour from your tartan into the outfit.

**carlb** · 30th May 09, 05:50 AM

Originally Posted by McMurdo

Secondly with the MacLeod Hunting I'd say you could go for the Navy Blue hose but to throw some colour into the outfit I'd say that red flashes would work, you would then bring some of the secondary colour from your tartan into the outfit.

I don't know why this didn't occur to me, but it's a great idea. Thanks for the help, and thanks for the welcome, everyone.

**BEEDEE** · 29th May 09, 03:17 PM

from coastal North Carolina. McLeod Hunting would be a good choice, or one of the universal tartans that USA Kilts have.

Brian

**Boy's war** · 29th May 09, 03:21 PM

Welcome to the forum

**Bugbear** · 29th May 09, 03:36 PM

Welcome.

**Brewboy** · 29th May 09, 03:45 PM

Welcome to XMarks, from Chicago! I think the outfit you have described (MacLeaod) would work fine, and you won't go wrong following McMurdo's suggestions either.

The trick to wearing someone else's tartan is to wear it with respect. There will be those who don't like it, but there are also those who think me wearing my UK, or any kilt at all, is horrendous. They're merely opinions, and as long as you wear the tartan with respect, I doubt you'll find anyone on here who will fault you for it.

Hope to see you at the Highland Games in Oak Brook (also a great place to pick up a kilt)!