What brought you to wearing a kilt?

[1MUNK3]

For me, since a very young age (in fact has far back has I can remember) I was brought up surrounded by my families ancestry. I was taught from my father about our family tree and he was always proud of our strong ties with Scotland. We had an entire room dedicated to our family and Scotland. He would talk of his father and his father etc.. telling me stories that were passed down from our relatives in the Highlands. The good times and bad. Days of prosper and joy, days of battles and sorrows. The strength our family had to succedd through it all. Has he told me of my brave and courageous family he would hand me pictures and heirlooms that have been passed down through the generations, I actually had artifacts in my hands, history, my families history, in front of me. I could touch it, feel it, see it. I was overwhelmed with amazement. Old pictures of my family, proudly in their kilts. From that day, I naturally wanted to wear a kilt. On weekends you could always hear bagpipes playing from that room. I would well up with a great sense of pride. At times I felt has if I would burst with the energy that was accumulating from within. My heart would pound , my hair would stand on end, goose bumps all over, you know the feeling. This was the blood of my ancestors pumping throughout my body. This is the blood of a proud people that has never been kept down. I still to this day get that way. When it's in your blood you just can't shake it. I've been into many things in my years on this planet. Some things come and some things are now gone, but one thing that's always stayed with me is my great sense of pride I have in being of Scottish stock. "The blood is strong , the heart is Highland"! I now have two young Lads and like my father, I teach them about our family tree, I pass the stories on to them and share the heirlooms I've been given. I see in them that very same twinkle, the goosebumps, the chest sticking out a wee bit more. That same sense of pride, the love of the bagpipes and all things Scottish. In fact the day I was appointed Representative for Clan Cameron my Lads and family were extremely proud. My kids can't get enough and they tell their friends at school and share our families stories and the stories of a proud nation, Scotland. Now don't get me wrong in anyway. My Lads and I are very proud Americans and would do anything for the United States. We are also very proud of our family and where we came from and we should be. So without going on any further, cuz I feel you get the general gist, that's what brought me and my Lads to wearing a kilt. Do I feel anyone should or could wear a kilt regardless if they are Scottish, have Scottish ancestry, or not. The answer, ABSOLUTELY !!!. Anyone can and should wear a kilt. For a man and a wee lad it's one of the greatest articles of clothing you will ever have and one of the most manly tae boot . So if you've been thinking about getting one and you have not yet, do yourself and those around you a favor, GET ONE. You'll never regret it, you only will if you don't. To those who give us grief, git oot of the damn sandbox and quit being so jealous and git yourself one. Cheers and up the Scots !!! Kilt on brothers and sisters.

[Macman]

For me, since a very young age (in fact has far back has I can remember) I was brought up surrounded by my families ancestry. I was taught from my father about our family tree and he was always proud of our strong ties with Scotland.

This is similar to my upbringing. I first wore a kilt when I joined the local kilted reserve regiment, and then bought my first kilt a couple of years later. It's now been almost forty years.

[piperdown]

This is similar to my upbringing. I first wore a kilt when I joined the local kilted reserve regiment, and then bought my first kilt a couple of years later. It's now been almost forty years.

As I've always looked up to my big brother (Macman) I have to say that it was him that got me interested in our heritage.
I wanted to learn about our roots and I thank him for opening my eyes.
It took awhile to actually have the confidence to wear a kilt but I now wear one with pride!!!!
Thanks Brother

[TheBlueCow]

I saw a Utilikilt on TV (on Patrick Norton, co-host of The ScreenSavers on TechTV, sadly no longer an existing station). I thought it was pretty cool. I had never thought about wearing a kilt before that. The kilts that I'd seen pipers wear just didn't spark that idea in me for some reason (I think my brain had just designated the whole ensemble to be exclusive to pipers).
Anyways, I then wanted one for a couple years. Finally asked myself "Why not?" and ordered one just in time for my 21st birthday as a present to myself. I had taken the whole week off of work for my birthday and my girlfriend's birthday, which was the day after mine, so I wore my UK almost all week (guess which day I didn't wear it ). At the end of the week, I didn't want to go back to pants, but didn't know how it would be received at work. Of course, after they changed the dress code so that I couldn't wear shorts during the summer, I stopped caring and started wearing it to work too. And for some reason last year was just a bad year for me and I didn't wear the kilt much at all, even after acquiring several more UK's . But this year, I'm itching to get back into my kilts and I plan to wear kilts as much as possible.

As for my advice to any lurkers or those new to kilting? This quote from the Utilikilt's "100 Reasons to wear a Utilikilt" sums it up for me pretty well:
"Wearing a Utilikilt reflects my attitude of freedom to be who I am; a sexy, self assured, man who enjoys self expression, comfort and freedom to the hilt."
I'm not Scottish, and you don't have to be in order to wear a kilt, IMO (but the kilt police you encounter may disagree. Just remind them that the kilt is about Freedom, and that you are a Free man). The reason I wear the kilt is because it is comfortable, and I think it looks good. It is also a matter of freedom, and my decision to wear anything I choose to. When I wear the kilt, I know I'm wearing a garment that suits me and my personality, and I feel good wearing it. And that's all the reason you need to wear a kilt yourself.

[Ugly Bear]

I saw a Utilikilt on TV (on Patrick Norton, co-host of The ScreenSavers on TechTV, sadly no longer an existing station). I thought it was pretty cool. I had never thought about wearing a kilt before that.

That, exactly, is my experience as well. Patrick Norton really started something that day.

[KiltedSurveyor]

I told my wife early in our marriage that if it was socially acceptable, I would wear a kilt, because it made sense and would be comfortable. Nothing more was said about it until she stumbled over some kilt sites while doing some research on things celtic. She was intrigued, made me one, I was hooked, and the rest was (my) history!