[Adalan]

Hey Everyone,

A buddy of mine and I have decided to delve into the world of kilts. It started with the temp that our office building stays at, which tends to be on the high side. We got approval from our employer to wear kilts, so now it's time to buy one. We were both thinking about a UK but after reading through here I'm also entertaining the idea of an Alphakilt. Price is an issue, as I don't think my fiance is up for me spending over $200 on a "man skirt".

What are thoughts on a first time (non-tartan) kilt?

Thanks!
Adam

[McMurdo]

Adam


My thoughts are first don't call it a man skirt, at least not at work . As someone who wore a kilt for 3 years to work on a daily basis, whatever you choose, try to ensure that you are as neat as possible, I almost always wore a traditional tartan kilt to work, there were times like a BBQ at work where I wore a contemporary but for my money buying a traditional kilt would be the way to go, I've found greater acceptance with one as people are more apt to know what a traditional kilt is, as well they are to me anyway easier to dress up or down depending on the situation.

[Adalan]

Originally Posted by McMurdo

Adam


My thoughts are first don't call it a man skirt, at least not at work . As someone who wore a kilt for 3 years to work on a daily basis, whatever you choose, try to ensure that you are as neat as possible, I almost always wore a traditional tartan kilt to work, there were times like a BBQ at work where I wore a contemporary but for my money buying a traditional kilt would be the way to go, I've found greater acceptance with one as people are more apt to know what a traditional kilt is, as well they are to me anyway easier to dress up or down depending on the situation.

She's calling it a "man skirt"

As far as work goes, my usual attire is jeans, flipflops and shirts. Our dress code is very casual, just no shorts. Hence why we asked for a kilt. I'm leaning towards a solid color as I think it will "blend" better.

[MacKay71]

Welcome to X-marks from Atlanta!

[McMurdo]

Fair enough, you might want to look into a Freedom Kilt, or an RKilt, I am familiar with the Alphakilt and have heard good things about them but I've never seen one up close.

[attworth]

I vote Freedom Kilt. Couple different styles to choose from, and with the exchange rate (if you're in the US,) you end up with a great bargain. There's also USAK for inexpensive, yet quality tartan kilts. You can get a casual model for 100$.

[KFCarter]

Originally Posted by attworth

I vote Freedom Kilt. Couple different styles to choose from, and with the exchange rate (if you're in the US,) you end up with a great bargain. There's also USAK for inexpensive, yet quality tartan kilts. You can get a casual model for 100$.

I'd agree with both of the suggestions above... gives you a pretty wide range of styles to choose from, including tartan if you want, and you'll get great products and service from either place.

[Adalan]

I like the look of the Freedom Kilts, they are just a little on the expensive side for what I want to invest in my first kilt. I figure if I can get a nicer inexpensive one to get my feet wet, I can start working up to better quality and expensive ones. I'm leaning towards a Alpha Kilt at this point.

[Old Hippie]

Originally Posted by Adalan

We were both thinking about a UK but after reading through here I'm also entertaining the idea of an Alphakilt.

First:



Second:

Good on you for stepping up to the kilt! Be aware that there are significant differences between the various makers -- price is an indicator (you get what you pay for) but if you're in the midrange you're likely going to get a good product no matter who makes it. I'm guessing you aren't quite ready to go to the top of the scale, and you should avoid the bottom of the price scale like the plague.

A couple of notes on UKs from a long-time wearer: very comfortable; the aprons are a little narrow for my taste; the "Mocker" is a good starter kilt; slash pockets are more dressy than outside cargo pockets.

I started with a black Mocker, which looks very nice dressed up to "work casual" with a nice shirt, matching hose flashes, black hose, a tie and wingtips. You will want a kilt pin of some heft if your area gets more than gentle breezes -- the Mocker is a rather light poly-cotton fabric almost exactly like Dockers (which is where the name comes from).

I also have worn the Mocker out hillwalking, with a T-shirt and hiking boots, and around on market day with a pair of running shoes. You wouldn't expect it to be real durable if you were out fixing fence all day -- but if you're going to do that buy a kilt built to take some more abuse.

Originally Posted by Adalan

Price is an issue, as I don't think my fiance is up for me spending over $200 on a "man skirt". What are thoughts on a first time (non-tartan) kilt?

My least expensive kilt cost me $60 Canadian -- it was a special order that didn't fit the guy who ordered it, so the store manager sold it to me for her cost because it had been sitting on her inventory for about a year. It was an impulse buy -- it's a working kilt that I wear for most farm chores now and it is quite comfortable.

It's hard to tell about what you like and don't until you get into it a little. You can help yourself out a little by reading around in here about various makers. You will probably find -- as I and others in here have -- that once you don the kilt you bring up your standard of dress a little. It's perfectly possible to look sloppy in a kilt, but you'll find yourself starting to think a little about the impression you're making when you're out and about.

Whenever you see someone say, "Here's a pic of me in my new (name that maker) kilt!" Ask them why they like it, and what made them choose it over some other one.

On the other hand, don't do too much research. Look over your options, make a choice, and jump in.

If the fiancee can't handle a man in a skirt, now's the time to find that out. She may be the kind who only wants a man who wears the sissy troosers.

[lucienrau]

I've got a UK original and a Mocker and a tank. Here's my 2c. I like the original and how it flows, but I hate how the cargo pockets feel when they have anything in them. The pocket stays in one place and the kilt moves. It just doesn't have a very natural flow to me.

The mocker is nice, but the apron is narrower than you expect just from pictures and the slash pockets wrap fall to the inside of your thigh. The heathered materials are heavier than the plain ones (heather brown and heather gray) for the mocker. Also the interior pockets make 3-4 layers of cloth on the front. I tend not to wear it in the summer because it's warm.

Unfortunately it's the only kilt that I have that fits right now as I'm shrinking. Luckily I'm shrinking quickly. The first thing you need to decide is where you want to wear the kilt. The wizard's website has a good breakdown of the different rises to help in measuring (freedomkilts.) Low rise is a jeans waist, looks a bit more casual, puts quite a bit of material at your natural bend, so it can be uncomfortable all day. Mid rise is slightly below your bellybutton and puts most of the weight on your hips. High rise is the traditional kilt rise and may not look exactly right with contemporary kilts. I fit my mocker to mid-rise after having the original at a jeans waist. I'm finding it more comfortable to wear all day. I think Stillwater, Alphakilts, UK etc... are all good products from what I've seen but they don't really match the feel of custom made garments.

As I'm quickly shrinking out of my kilts, I'm looking at getting 2-3 new ones this fall. Here's where I've ended up and why.

1. Alphakilts Aberdeen. It looks like a UK original without cargo pockets. I like the simplicity and clean look, plus there's a place for my wallet. I like my UK original very much and if I were staying the same size I'd just take the cargo pockets off. Good for relaxing about, general use.

2. USA Kilts semi-trad. I like my clan tartan, the solid ones look great too, but wool isn't always practical for me. Nothing quite matches the swish of a more traditional kilt. Find a rental shop near you to try one on to help with fitting and see what a traditional kilt feels like. Custom probably isn't where you want to start.

3. Something from freedomkilts. I haven't quite decided yet. His kilts are gorgeous. Also remember, his prices are in Canadian $ so are a bit cheaper after monetary conversions if you're in the US.

Feel free to PM.