How Did You Select Your First Kilt?

[Queenslander]

My first kilt was a gift for my 18th birthday in mum's family tartan. Subsequent kilts have been different versions of the same tartan.

[DaveScott]

My first kilt was a clan tartan - Scott weathered green. My mum, now passed away, was delighted to see me wearing it. 10 years later all of my brothers have joined up also in clan tartan variations.

[wboydsp]

I just bought three utility kilts from UT kilts. I chose based on what I could afford and what I liked. I am thinking of getting a tartan, however, that will probably be down the road.
I am a Heinz 57, I basically am descended from about every European nation. My guess is that when my forefathers made it to the USA they loved everybody. So, I know there is Scottish and Irish in my lineage. Yet,, how much I am not sure. I have my eye on the American heritage tartan. Yet, like I said, that will be a bit later.
I have read that if a person truly wanted to be traditional they would choose tartans that they liked. From my understanding, the association of the tartans to the clans and family came about later as a result of romantisizing the clans. I am not sure if that is true.

[MikeC]

Before i bought my first kilt I did 'some' reading. Like the previous poster, I have Scottish roots, but being adopted, I didnt know from what clan, or where (see my newbie post - http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/f...rbor-fl-95638/).

I figured that I needed/could only have one of the "universal" tartans (Black Watch, Stewart, Scotland Forever...). So my first kilt was a Stewart. That was 10-15 years ago. Even then I was surprised at how many people knew to ask me if that was mine, or my clan. As I continued my reading, and found that I could register a tartan, so I did.

https://www.tartanregister.gov.uk/ta...ails?ref=10077

I havent had it made into a kilt yet, but i am hoping to by this Christmas.

In the mean time, I have done a lot more reading on whats appropriate to wear, and come to the conclusion that its ok to wear what you like. I have my original Stewart, a Black Watch, a Pride of Scotland, and an Anderson. I liked them all. I wear the one that fits my mood, or where I am going.

I mostly wear them casually, with a t-shirt, and sneaks. But I have also worn them to weddings, including a black tie wedding this summer.

In the end, life is short, forget the "rules", wear what you want and makes you happy.

*** AND - Out of respect know what tartan you are wearing, so when people ask, you have an answer.

[OC Richard]

Congrats Mike that's a very nice design! In the woven cloth it will be even better.

[Peter Lowe]

Given that I was ten or eleven at the time I did not select it - my Parents did. It was bought from Patrick Thomsons on North Bridge in Edinburgh. There were Douglases in my liniage so it was ancient green Douglas. As I grew up I got a second kilt mid-teens. I was issued a Hunting Stewart by the University OTC and then stopped wearing kilts. Not sure why but I think money was the issue.

Nearly thirty years later (early 90's) I hired a kilt and remembered how comfortable it was. I immediately went out and bought a kilt (same Douglas tartan) and I still wear it very regularly. I also have a heavy weight Gordon tartan kilt which I often wear on non formal occasions. I no longer have a lounge suit as I always have an appropriate outfit.

Peter

[huntgathergrow]

USA Kilts offers a Scott Green Weathered in PV, which made the kilt more affordable for me to try out. I really loved it and was happy that was my first kilt. I have 2 now, looking toward a third. Hopefully I'll make it happen this year, since I've been talking about since last year.

[OC Richard]

I no longer have a lounge suit as I always have an appropriate outfit.

I too don't have a suit, because Highland Dress fills that requirement.

I've not owned a suit for many years. Even in Uni my Highland Dress functioned as my suit and tuxedo.

BTW I keep a bit of an eye on the Kilt Hire industry in Scotland, and Douglas has been one of the more popular hire tartans over the last decade or so.

I think it was "grey Douglas" that was the first of the grey hire-tartans, which have become massive in Kilt Hire. Now many firms have ordinary Douglas for hire.

[Tomo]

Easy - up to a point - as I went down the clan tartan route.

That of course is where it got a bit tricky with about 6 variants to go at. After a lot of thought, I went for ancient hunting MacFarlane - the right choice as it's still my favourite, and go to kilt, after 20 years. In which time I have also acquired 3 other variants of MacFarlane tartan - as well as a pair of trews and vest in another variant - and 2 other misc. tartans.

As I am now doing some tours in Scotland - hiking and driving - I am also thinking to get a lighter weight kilt. I have my eye on weathered Douglas - great looking tartan and my family (on both sides, although about a generation apart) came from Castle Douglas, before heading south.

[Queenslander]

I have my eye on weathered Douglas - great looking tartan and my family (on both sides, although about a generation apart) came from Castle Douglas, before heading south.

I recently had a kit made in the weathered Douglas tartan. I highly recommend it.