The Kilt that started it all.

[Sir Didymous]

What was your first kilt. Usually there is a story that goes along with it, so come on and share it.

My first one was a big old heavy blue and black belted plaid that I made for a lecture and demo at a local Boy Scout Highland days. I have since touched it up a bit and use it mostly in the winter for Scottish historical events. Although I do occasionally wear it in a dressier fashion for church services.

[kiltedrennie]

My first is my renaissance fair great kilt. I readily admit it's a costume. With it I wear handmade tartan hose, drop yoke shirt, hand sewn doublet with cloth buttons, pouch style sporran, and leather Pampootie/Drumacoon Bog style shoes that I made.

It barely fits within the Renaissance period, but the Ren-faire I attend isn't really all that hung up on historical accuracy when it comes to playtrons. My wife put together a kirtle style dress and tartan arisaid outfit. It was a blast! Can't wait for the faire to start.

I'm afraid I'll have to give up the bog shoes. Suffered from plantar fasciitis last year. So it'll be ankle high leather boots this year.

[Green Dragon]

First kilt was bought at Austin Celtic Fest on a whim. A light weight acrylic in Scottish National . It has held up fairly well and I still wear it around the house. Of all my kilts, my kids think it is the one that looks best (so why did I spend all that money on a really nice heavy weight wool in our family tartan).

[Nik]

My first kilt is still my best and most worn. A blackwatch economy wool from SWK. Save for it for a couple months to get it. I wear it most every Saturday.

-Nick

[unixken]

My first was an 8yd Buchanan Modern, in 16oz Locharron Strome, from Scotweb.

As for the story...

When I was about 6 or so, I saw my first kilts at the Changing Of The Guard ceremony, at the Parliament Building on Parliament Hill, in Ottawa, Canada. I've never forgotten that parade.

Fast-forward 40-some years. Thanks to the dedication of local EMS and my Cardiologists, and the miracle of modern medicine, I survived a heart attack in September of 2011, a month before my 50th birthday. With the realization that there are fewer days ahead than behind, I put together my "bucket list", and item #1 on that list was to explore my Scottish heritage. I wanted a kilt just like those that I remembered at Parliament Hill!

My grandfather was born in Scotland, and came to America at age 4, at the turn of the 20th century. He died before my dad turned 12, so I never got to meet him, and Dad's recollection of family stories was limited. With Dad now gone, my aunt (his younger sister) less sure of stories than my dad was, and my siblings apparently less than interested, I felt it appropriate that I pick up the torch and learn a bit about my family's heritage. I knew that I was a Buchanan, so that drove my selection of that tartan.

Today I own 12 kilts, with another being woven now, by D.C. Dalgliesh, in a tartan of my own design. But this Buchanan will always remain among my favorites.

[Kilted cabin boy]

My first and only kilt,so far, is a semi-trad Blackwatch made by Rocky himself at USA Kilts.I followed that up with a belt and sporran made by Donnie at Wyvern leather works. I've decided to go for quality over quantity.
It all started approx. two years ago at a NASCAR race in Charlotte NC.In the crowd of thousands I saw a man with his wife (girlfriend) wearing a SWK with hose and boots.I was impressed with the stones it would take to wear a kilt to a race. Before that I had only seen kilts worn at Highland Games and by pipers in paraids.I started researching and found XMTS and the rest is history. My wife thinks I crazy but I could not be happier. As I get older I've enjoyed tweaking people and I enjoy their reaction.

[Dale Seago]

The first kilt I wore was not the first I owned. The occasion was a wedding out in a redwood forest, and I was officiating courtesy of the Universal Life Church. The groom was a former Marine and active martial artist, and the couple wanted it to have a "warrior feeling": Groomsmen in tuxes wearing edged sidearms, me in a kilt, the couple solemnizing their vows by kissing the blade of my biodag. But I didn't own a kilt! Fortunately one of my students, Roman Gibbs, offered me the use of his, in Buchanan Hunting tartan.

The moment I put it on I knew the kilt was for me!

Aha! You can see Roman in a couple of (much later!) pics in the article linked below. In the first one he's at my right, wearing a belted plaid in Buchanan Hunting, while I'm wearing a belted plaid in Douglas Modern. I have much to thank him for:

http://www.swordforum.com/forums/con...eago-Fall-1999

[flyrod6057]

My first kilt was a 13oz MacLean Hunting (modern) kilt I ordered from Scottish Treasures in San Diego. The date: mid-90's. I wandered into the shop out of curiosity with no intent of buying a kilt. However, once I got to looking around, I decided I wanted to take the plunge. The proprietor and I spent some time going through swatches. I chose the MacLean Hunting for two reasons. First, I like green. Second, The MacLean of Duart is a pretty bold tartan (see my avatar) and as a kilting neophyte, I was self-conscious. Next came the measuring. Once that was finished, I was hooked. The next step was the most important one: I called my wife and told her I was planning on getting a kilt. She laughed and asked if I was serious. The lasses in the shop laughed as they watched the conversation; I suppose they see it often...but I digress. Anyway, the wife gave her blessing. I placed the order, and in a short Scottish minute (or 6 to 8 weeks American time) I had my first kilt. The inaugural wearing was Thanksgiving dinner at my folks' place in Phoenix, and the kilt was a hit.

Man, that was a lot of kilts ago...

[thecompaqguy]

My first was a HoS Black Watch...

Quite a cliche, I know... I had another Black Watch kilt back in 2006, which was a grotty Acrylic thing from a tat shop in Central London... my Mrs was horrified at first but has
gotten used to my Kilt collection now...

[John_Carrick]

I always wanted a kilt as a lad, so when I eventually ended up earning money I took a weekend trip to Edinburgh in 1986 to get one, not realising that they were a bespoke garment. Luckily I got a lovely kilt in Modern Gordon, my tartan, form Geoffrey Taylor and this was my sole kilt for a further 22 years, by which time I was much bigger around the middle.
It was only a five yard kilt (I knew no better) but nevertheless a kiltmaker in Belfast was able to remake it for me and I wear to this day.
John