Utility Kilt Question

[Mel1721L]

I have a Damn Near Kilt 'Em highlander. It is a bit sloppy, but then so am I. My ravens can perch on my leg and won't stick their talons through the fabric or pull the thread out, heck, they even poop on the kilt and I just wash it off with the hose, it's cool in the day and warm in the night in this high desert. If my pack goats jump up on me I don't worry about their dirt and hooves ruining the fabric. I get it muddy, dirty, can hit it with solvent to get the grease out. This particular kilt is the equivalent of heavy duty cotton work pants.

As for effeminate, who cares? Are you wearing lipstick and stuffing your bra? Thought not. You're raising a family, trusting in God, and paying taxes to Caesar from your hard earned paycheck. No better man than that can be found. Being a man, wear a kilt, it's your God-given right secured by our Scots brothers.

As for your wife, always apologize even if you didn't know what you did wrong. Worked for me for thirty six years so far.

And Steve, I promise I won't mention dogs. Not once.

But you did mention ravens!

I think my wife will have the final say on this matter, I don't think she'll mind as long as Iit isn't worn out doors and no one sees me wearing it!

[Mel1721L]

My first kilt was a Utilikilt. Seeing a Utililt at a Ren Faire is what sparked my kilt addiction. I've owned 18 Utilikilts and they're great for summer with sandals - with or without a shirt - weather depending.

I wear Utilikilts to Pride Festivals. Though I'm not gay I'm supportive and don't really care if anyone thinks I might be gay. So fun to wear a rainbow shirt with a Utilikilt to Pride Festivals...enjoy the FREEDOM!



Kilt is an old Utilikilt Original in denim.

Comments and photo appreciated. Maybe the gay thing as a generational issue, or just how I was brought up. It was illegal back then.

[usonian]

I'm still ambivalent about the look of contemporary/utility kilts, but I think I've come to the conclusion that (for me) the "sloppy" factor has more to do with the rest of the outfit than the kilt itself; I think a modern, solid-color kilt can still look pretty sharp when worn with hose and a button-down shirt, less so with scrunched down white socks, sneakers and a t-shirt.

Of course, wearing calf-length wool socks in hot weather sort of defeats the purpose. These cotton socks make fantastic warm weather hose. And a good poplin (or better yet linen) shirt should be just as comfortable, if not moreso, than a t-shirt on a warm day. I have an x-kilt that I made last fall and hadn't been wearing much because the fabric I used turned out to be wrinkle-prone, but I've been wearing it around the house on particularly hot days this summer and it has been so comfortable that I'm thinking about making another so I can have them in rotation.

As for people who make stupid comments and irrelevant judgements about people who wear kilts, I don't think that a contemporary kilt is going to be looked on any differently than a traditional one.

[Mel1721L]

I'm still ambivalent about the look of contemporary/utility kilts, but I think I've come to the conclusion that (for me) the "sloppy" factor has more to do with the rest of the outfit than the kilt itself; I think a modern, solid-color kilt can still look pretty sharp when worn with hose and a button-down shirt, less so with scrunched down white socks, sneakers and a t-shirt.

Of course, wearing calf-length wool socks in hot weather sort of defeats the purpose. These cotton socks make fantastic warm weather hose. And a good poplin (or better yet linen) shirt should be just as comfortable, if not moreso, than a t-shirt on a warm day. I have an x-kilt that I made last fall and hadn't been wearing much because the fabric I used turned out to be wrinkle-prone, but I've been wearing it around the house on particularly hot days this summer and it has been so comfortable that I'm thinking about making another so I can have them in rotation.

As for people who make stupid comments and irrelevant judgements about people who wear kilts, I don't think that a contemporary kilt is going to be looked on any differently than a traditional one.

Well many thanks for the information on the socks. I ordered a couple of pairs of the natural ones and best of all there was free international shipping.

Any kilt can be worn smartly or sloppily I suppose. I still really haven't found one that's made me think, I really want that though. As they are mostly in America, postage and tax is a major factor, though there are some on ebay, it's hard to tell what they are like.

I suppose I'm viewed as eccentric in any case, so you're right. The only person's view I'm reall concerned with really is my wife's.

[jayhawk]

I can understand wanting to avoid paying US shipping rates, but what do you spend for a traditional kilt? An AmeriKilt is much more traditional looking, in my opinion, than most utility kilts. I get a ton of compliments, from women and men, about how cool it looks, and it has never been mistaken for a skirt. Wrinkles more at first, but after three washings, and simply drying with clothes pins to hold the pleats to shape while air drying, it wrinkles no worse than a well worn pair of blue jeans (e.g., not much at all). Probably run you $200 (including shipping), but that's half the cost of a really good traditional kilt.

Here's the site: http://www.amerikilt.com/

They look much more like a traditional kilt, they are made by the owners to size...nice kilts all around.

Eric

[Mel1721L]

I can understand wanting to avoid paying US shipping rates, but what do you spend for a traditional kilt? An AmeriKilt is much more traditional looking, in my opinion, than most utility kilts. I get a ton of compliments, from women and men, about how cool it looks, and it has never been mistaken for a skirt. Wrinkles more at first, but after three washings, and simply drying with clothes pins to hold the pleats to shape while air drying, it wrinkles no worse than a well worn pair of blue jeans (e.g., not much at all). Probably run you $200 (including shipping), but that's half the cost of a really good traditional kilt.

Here's the site: http://www.amerikilt.com/

They look much more like a traditional kilt, they are made by the owners to size...nice kilts all around.

Eric

I've just bought a Prince of Wales tartan kilt off ebay, I've decided against utility kilts, but may go for a sports kilt for next summer.

[Bo On The Go]

I have two utility kilts from UT Kilts and so far, I love them. Granted, the cotton canvas is a little heavy for hot weather but they're much better than pants or even shorts. The price is fantastic, the materials are good quality and the workmanship and service is outstanding, especially for a $50 USD kilt. I just got my new one in yesterday (Friday) and I had ordered it Wednesday. I'm an outdoorsy kind of guy (very active in the Boy Scout program) and I love wearing them during outdoor activities. As a matter of fact, I'm wearing my new one this weekend while working on a couple of vehicles, remodeling part of our living room and working in the yard. MUCH cooler.

I too have several from UT Kilts. 4 actually. For me I this it was the 'gateway drug' . I have them in several different colors and just through on a rugby type shirt and some boots and head out. For me it is great casual attire and for some reason, quicker to get dressed this way. Also, one of the 4 is exclusive to outside work, you know , mowing, chainsaw, forge work. I don't feel bad about trashing it or having to be careful with it. Please don't misunderstand me, I have 6 other traditional kilts, but the thought of using the chainsaw for the day in my semi-triad, just gives me the willies.... I also think the do take a bit more care as far as I have to iron the pleats every few washes, but not a big deal to me or something I would consider high maintenance.

[Alan H]

Look in the Do It Yourself forum. There's a thread on how to make an X Kilt. It's much like a Utilikilt in that most are made out of solid color cotton/polyester blend, or camouflage fabric.

As for the "gay" issues, I'm not someone to freak out at a word. I know someone else here in California who won't wear a kilt because his wife told him that she heard that kilts were popular in the "gay" community. Yet this same couple happily dons Tibertan prayer robes.

Whatever.

Buy or make one, strap it on and wear it. If you like it, wear it. If you don't like it, then don't wear it.

Regarding the concept of having your wife dictate what you can and can not wear, I'd suggest telling her that she can't wear a dress that you don't like. See how that goes over. Then make the point to her, that if you can't tell her what to wear, then how is it that she can tell you what to wear? There's "being considerate" and there's "being a doormat". There's a difference. Only you know which is which, in your own situation.

[Kiltboy]

I prefer my Utilikilt (Workman's model) for yard work. Heavy, washable, and tough to damage. But this model can be quite warm at times.

A gay bar is highly unlikely, I don't even know if they exist in Spain to be honest. I suppose they must do.

This made me laugh. Just search Yelp. There are plenty, if you are inclined to get a drink.

Kilt on!

[Mel1721L]

Look in the Do It Yourself forum. There's a thread on how to make an X Kilt. It's much like a Utilikilt in that most are made out of solid color cotton/polyester blend, or camouflage fabric.

As for the "gay" issues, I'm not someone to freak out at a word. I know someone else here in California who won't wear a kilt because his wife told him that she heard that kilts were popular in the "gay" community. Yet this same couple happily dons Tibertan prayer robes.

Whatever.

Buy or make one, strap it on and wear it. If you like it, wear it. If you don't like it, then don't wear it.

Regarding the concept of having your wife dictate what you can and can not wear, I'd suggest telling her that she can't wear a dress that you don't like. See how that goes over. Then make the point to her, that if you can't tell her what to wear, then how is it that she can tell you what to wear? There's "being considerate" and there's "being a doormat". There's a difference. Only you know which is which, in your own situation.

My wife doesn't dictate what I wear but I respect her opinion and want her to be comfortable out and about with me. The kilt isn't part of her culture yet she understands what it is and accepts me wearing a traditional kilt. It's a mutual thing, but there are also financial considerations. Also I have never seen a person wearing a utility kilt, either here or in the UK, so that also has some bearing on the issue. Most people know what a traditional kilt is wherever they come from, but not utility kilts.

As for California, it's probably fair to say it's a bit more liberal than here or maybe I'm just not willing to be the only person wearing one.