Your first kilt wearing experience

[Singlemalt]

I can't remember my first kilt wearing I was a very small boy maybe 4 or 5. I do remember the kilt it was Hunting Stewart (my brother had Royal Stewart). I also remember it had little tartan braces (suspenders) to keep it from falling down my little skinny boy, no hips frame. I recall being embarassed by the braces but not the kilt.

I later had others, mostly army surplus or cadet kilts all in the government set. My parents had a family tartan tank made for me for my wedding 31 years ago. I guess that was my most memorable occasion.

I have always had a bit more fun when in the kilt and never had a bad reaction.

I have recently started to wear them more casually and regularly as I have reached the age I dress to please myself not others.

[Cowher]

The decision to wear a kilt. It was the first time playing bagpipes with my band in public
Choice of kilt. It was a MacEwan Modern Sport Kilt
The occasion. Burns Night
Your experience. Horrible!!! I was freezing cold and I felt like I was wearing nothing. It was the dead of winter with whipping winds.
The response. my pipe major said I looked good.
Kilt wearing since then. now I have two kilts. A tank in MacEwan Modern and. Double box pleated kilt in Auld Scotland. I only wear my kilt to kilt or Scottish events, weddings, and very nice nights out. I am slowly working up the guts to wear it out for no reason. But I don't feel a need to force anything. In my fantasy world I would wear a kilt all the time. The comfort and style is quite incredible.

[BLHS209]

The decision to wear a kilt. Always wanted one. Finally was (barely) in the position to purchase one.


First day wearing! (2007)

Choice of kilt. As, at the time, it was going to be my formal wear, 8 yd, Shepherd check

The occasion. At the time, no real occasion but it has been worn at family friends weddings and daughters wedding.


Daughter #2's wedding (2010)

Your experience. Very positive.

The response. If just counting the kilt, at a friends son's wedding, having the brides kids (Elementary school teacher) see the kilt.

Kilt wearing since then. Games, weddings, work (now that I can) and work events. Will be wearing more now #2 is on order.


company Christmas party 2012

Chris Shepherd

[thecompaqguy]

Love the pix, Chris - nice kilt. I might need to use your time machine at some point (saw you went to your Company's Christmas Party -2012 )

I first started wearing the kilt in 2007, my wife at first thought it was disgusting the kilt wasn't the best quality, it was bought in a really grotty Cashmere shop in London's West End - really itchy wool. Her reaction was so adverse, I stopped wearing them for a while, but after visiting this site my interest grew, and I've got over 10 kilts! My wife has downgraded her hatred of the kilt to 'mildly amused' but thinks it's odd as people don't wear kilts in this area.

Been to the shops in my kilt, plenty of looks, but no comments. Trying to get out there more, and my confidence will grow

[Santa Wally]

The decision to wear a kilt. To recognize my family heritage.

Choice of kilt. Wallace

The occasion. Celtic festival where I found a Wallace kilt in my size, bought it, put it on and was hooked.

Your experience. I enjoyed the day, it felt good.

The response. My wife said, "when are you ever going to wear that again?" She thought I had just wasted my money. One week later, I wore it in a parade with the Clan Claus Society. 35 months later, I now own seven kilts, not including the first kilt (I disposed of that acrylic kilt), four are PV and three are wool. The kilt is a conversation starter with strangers, especially out in public away from Scottish events. I have won two "Men in Kilts" contests and am in a Men in Kilts calendar wearing my Wallace tank.

Kilt wearing since then. Besides Celtic and Scottish Festivals/Games, driving our RV, activities in our RV resort, errands in town, out to eat, golf lessons. In other words, any time, any place. I guess I've answered my wife's question.

[wepollard]

Please comment on:

The decision to wear a kilt.
Choice of kilt.
The occasion.
Your experience.
The response.
Kilt wearing since then.

Every time I saw a pipe bank marching I wanted to wear a kilt. My wife always said no way; she wouldn't want to be seen with me in a skirt.
A little more than two years ago I bought a Stillwater economy in the Gordon tartan but kept this secret from the wife.
I walk two hours every day well befor daylight. I put on the kilt and proceeded to the neqarby convenience store that has the best coffee in the area. Usually the place is deserted this early in the morning but that day there were several cars on the lot and about a dozen young men standing around with their coffee and snacks. I was hesitent at first about continuing into the store, but decided to go for it.
They all took a good look but not one comment was made to me and when I got home and the wife saw me in a kilt she just shook her head and said "you are crazy". She still is not happy with me wearing kilts but has given up on trying to talk me out of them .
I have worn a kilt every day since. Right now I don't own a pair of pants that will fit me.

[ForresterModern]

The decision to wear a kilt.
Had been interested for several years after seeing one in a mountain biking article in a magazine, and was very into mountain biking at the time, probably mid-90's. Fast forward to 2007 some genology work by myself and my uncle tracing our family name back to its origins in Scotland from Flemish family settled there as part of the Norman Conquest of 1066, which reignited that not forgotten previous interest and started me doing formal research into what tartan and led me to X where I lurked for months. When I got two presentations accepted to an international scientific congress scheduled for spring 2008 in Edinburgh I ordered my first kilt and a couple jackets and all manner of clan crest accessories (typical newby style) with intent on making my presentations kilted in Scotland.

Choice of kilt.
Forrester Modern 9yd kilt, 13 oz Strathmore tartan (discovered later that the tartan was not historically correct as we were not technically a "clan", and its design was from the 1960's), built handmade by JHiggins.

The occasion.
Arizona February 19, 2008, Phoenix Highland games, approximately one month after recieving my first kilt.

Your experience.
Although I thought everything fit and worked fine when I tried it on at home, I discovered upon arrival at the games after only a few minutes that my belt was too loose and could not be tightened up enough to help hold my kilt onto my prominent gut, but the first vendor inside the gates was a leather worker who immediately recognized my predicament and offered to adjust my belt for proper fit. While waiting my wife noticed the first other person we saw there kilted was also wearing Forrester tartan -- bizarre experience meeting another Foster who was a transplant to AZ like me kilted at my first games. After getting my belt refitted, gratis from a nice vendor who we rewarded with several other purchases. Had fun spending the day with Wife and The
Boy (barely 13 days old) at the games. Only other problem discovered was the sporran chain under the big gut problem that has plagued me ever since to one degree or another.

The response.
Wife, okay. First other Foster, compliments on appropriate wearing of the kilt and outfit choices, compliments from several other strangers and vendors as well as one coworker I ran into at the end of the afternoon, who took this picture:



Retrospectively a bit heavy on the clan crest accessories (cap badge, belt buckle, sporran, and kilt pin) layered on the clan tartan.

Kilt wearing since then.
Onward and upward. Added three kilts before the first Scotland trip and was kilted for both presentations in front of the international congress, as well as the rest of 9 of the 10 days in Scotland that trip. Now up to 18 kilts and a couple more in the offing (tartan already here), wearing as often as I can. Second trip to Scotland in 2009 for the 9 day all-kilted Golf Odyssey (except Royal Troon of course). Still only a part time wearer but after 4+ years here and on other forums know more and dress better because of it. Kilted my boy as an infant, and two more since. Slow but steady accumulation of many quality and interesting accessories. Many great kilted experiences, events, and memories already in the hopper and anticipated for the future.

[Mike_Oettle]

My first time in the kilt in public: July 1969, presentation of the colour parade for First City regiment in Grahamstown, Eastern Cape.
The kilt, in Graham of Montrose tartan, was issued to me three days before the parade and I wore it in practice drills over those three days. The parade itself was described by the officer who presented the new regimental colour, General “Pop” Fraser, as being the smartest he had ever seen.
I kept the regimental kilt for nine years before handing it in.
Bought my first civilian kilt, in Mighty Men tartan (13oz PV) in early 2011. My second, in Botswana tartan (13oz wool) in July last year.
Both are now in need of repair, but today I am wearing the Botswana kilt despite its having one buckle (on the right) unstitched.
I hope to acquire a third this year.
The response has been mainly positive. Sadly, the most negative response has been from my wife and daughter.
Regards,
Mike

[brewerpaul]

The decision to wear a kilt. Was in Scotland on a bike tour with my girlfriend and was in a tourist shop. She said go for the skirt with a sly smile when I picked up an off the rack Hecktor Russell. Actual first time wearing one was my Elkommando I decided to buy in Seattle.




Choice of kilt. Elkommando after looking for a lightweight kilt to do the Mt Baker approach. Beat the heck out of the long pants and shorts I had worn in previous climbs.


The occasion.Taking some client/friends up Mt Baker.

Your experience.I was in bliss. Pants are too hot no matter how high performance the fabric is, shorts are to tight over my big thighs. The Elkommando was comfortable light and easy to hike in.


The response.They were good sports, we had climbed before and the knew me.

Kilt wearing since then. Wear my Elkommando on my walk to work daily, change into scrubs at work. Trail run in ELkommando. Have 6 traditional kilts one being my "Tank" made by Bonnie Heather Greene. Have one light weight breathable nylon kilt pinned ready to sew, the material for another. These will be my first kilts I make and will be for running. Have hemp/organic cotton heavy weight material laid out for a solid color kilt, have enough XMarks PV fabric to make two kilts. When not in a kilt I wear breeks and country socks/garters. One pair of jeans for working in my wood shop and long fleece pants to pad around my house at night, I keep it around 55 in the winter. SO guess I wear kilts most the time.

[ctbuchanan]

The decision to wear a kilt - Mother born in Scotland - family tradition
Choice of kilt - no choice - had to be Buchanan -both Ancient and the Modern.
The occasion - a family event in the early 80's - not my first time to wear the kilt but close to it.
Your experience - ever since I saw my older brothers wearing the kilt I wanted to as well - it was one of the proudest days of my life.
The response - has always been great. I can't ever remember getting any kind of negative response. My wearing the kilt has led to many long lasting friendships.
Kilt wearing since then - all important family events and holidays. Casually whenever the mood strikes as long as my wife feels it will be OK. I am a Clan Convener at numerous highland games and events. All in all I wear the kilt year round several times a month.