The kilt arrived yesterday...#51 for me - I think...that's not a careful count. I didn't strap it on until today. Wow!! What a feeling it is to strap on a Leatherneck tartan!! Semper Fi! OoooRAH!
I wanted my Leatherneck tartan to be top of the line. I finally broke down and ordered one, mostly in memory of my late little brother Rory Macdonald who was a USMC Staff Sergeant and Drill Instructor for many years...and also for my brief Cold War service in '65 and '66.
Material is 13 oz from Strathmore Mills. Kathy Lare of Kathy's Kilts is the kiltmaker - the 8th kilt she's sewn for me. Quality is perfect.
I added the USMC Kilt pin and black USMC SSgt collar insignia by the kilt pin in Rory's honor. Not sure I'll keep that, there's only one pin and the insignia twists around too easily...and, its hard to see against the tartan.
And, now my mini KaBar Skein Dubh has a kilt to go with it.
The Leatherneck Tartan goes with a lot of different colored accessories. Took some pics of the various looks using t-shirts, but wanted to see what works. Didn't have any royal blue hose, but there's royal blue in the tartan too.
Here's a close up of Kathy Lare's PERFECT pleatwork. It was a bit windy out and the wind is teasing the edges of the kilt.
Here's with red trim. Just ordered some Red Lewis kilt hose from Matt, I think the "red look" works okay.
Here's with the gold trim.
With black accessories.
With Olive Drab.
And with Khaki.
Pics are from a tourist overlook with a 360 degree view of the area. As I was finishing up - wearing the gold - a young couple from Israel drove up and the very attractive lady said ever so politely, "I see you're wearing your traditional garments, are you from Scotland?" I explained I did have Scottish ancestry but was just a local kilt junkie. Then she asked to take my photo. And of course I let her. When she asked "why?" I wore kilts I told her, "If I wanted to dress like a woman I'd wear pants." She was wearing pants and cracked up.
Anyhow, I'm VERY pleased with this kilt. Happy I finally broke down and bought it. And, that because of its importance to me, that I went ahead and did it "top of the line."
That's eight kilts from Kathy Lare now
www.kathyskilts.com and she's never failed me. Perfection every time.
And thanks to all you Jarheads out there that egged me into ordering this kilt. You were right!
Semper Fi!
Ron
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