Hi everyone

[Riverkilt]

Welcome,

How old is your husband? Is he a teacher or a student? So very many options out there.

Biggest hang up is gonna be shipping time for most kiltmakers, there's a bit of a fashion boom going on in the kilt world and most are backed up and those with fast shipping aren't necessarily the ones you'd want him to own, but could be.

A good place to start would be to ask what kind of pants he usually wears. If he's a jeans and chinos kind of guy then you're looking at utilikilts, Freedom Kilts, Pittsburgh Kilts.

If he's a slacks kind of guy then you're looking at the polyesther tartan kilts from Stillwater and USA type folks.

If he wears suits, then you may be looking for hand sewn tartan kilts like kathy's kilts. But that may be over your price range.

I think www.kiltmen.com has a comprehensive list of kiltmakers websites for you to look at.

Or check out Ham's gallery at http://albums.imff.net/ham great pics of many different types of kilts.

Main thing, what do you like to see him in? If you surf the websites you'll find something YOU like. A great place to start. Once he has the addiction he can buy what he wants ;)

Ron

[Alan H]

You might want to ask him if he'd prefer a tartan kiltor a non-tartan kilt. Then give him amnesia drugs so he'll forget by the time his birthday rolls around.

First up,disbuse yourself of the idea that tartan patterns are all associated with clans or the Highland Regisments in the British Army. NOT TRUE! Here is a VERY quick list of wool and possibly polyester-viscose tartans that are NOT associated with clans at all

The California State Tartan
The North Carolina State Tartan
The Texas State Tartan
Holyrood
Highland Granite
USA Bicentennial Tartan
New Brunswick, British Columbia..all the Canadian provinces
Caledonia
Flower of Scotland
National Millennium (of Scotland)
The Confederates States tartan
All-Ireland Green, Red andBlue tartans
The County tartans for the counties of Ireland.Cork, Donegal, etc.

and that is just a bare-bones start. So if you want to get a wool kilt, ask your husband a couple of questions...

What color scheme/pattern would he like? Does he want predominantly blue, green, red? Is there anythingin his family history that has a Scottish or Irish connection? Has he ever visited a city in Scotland that he really liked? Those will be clues to what you can buy.

$270 will buy you, just *barely* a nice wool 4 yard kilt from several of the Scottish manufacturers. Check the Kilt Store link at the top of the X Marks page.

USA Kilts makes a super product and their polyester-viscose kilts are machine-washable. A "Traditional" from them is a very nice kilt.

If he wants a "contemporary" kilt, then I have to pipe up and say that while I've never seen one of Steve Ashtons Freedom Kilts (he advertises here at X Marks) every report is that they are First Quality garments. Several guys on the board have them and rave about them. Steve is the greatest guy int he world, is incredibly helpful and supportive,and I would recommend a product from him without hesitating one second. However, Steve has a couple-of-months wait time for one of his kilts, so if that birthday you're aiming for is coming up, e-mail Freedom Kilts ASAP!

Good to see you here!

[Big Paul]

Welcome! You have come to the right place for advise on kilts!

[Flutterby]

Oh wow, so many things to consider! I'm really leaning toward USAKilts' semi-traditional kilt, but I'm still looking. He was looking over my shoulder while I was viewing the website and mentioned that he liked the Black Watch, MacLean Hunt, and Ramsay tartans (of course, he liked all of the others, too - lol). We both have Scottish ancestry and have been working on our family history so that we can find out who exactly we are connected to, so I think that that may make a difference once we find anything out.

He is 24 and is a student... do the younger men have different preferences than the older men? I don't know if it would make a difference anyway since he the anti slave-to-fashion. He'll wear whatever happens to be in front of him at the moment.

I really appreciate all the help and advice, guys. Thanks!

[davedove]

I don't know if it would make a difference anyway since he the anti slave-to-fashion. He'll wear whatever happens to be in front of him at the moment.

That could change once he starts wearing kilts. I'm amazed at how much I pay attention to coordinating my clothes when I wear a kilt.

[Alan H]

Oh wow, so many things to consider! I'm really leaning toward USAKilts' semi-traditional kilt, but I'm still looking. He was looking over my shoulder while I was viewing the website and mentioned that he liked the Black Watch, MacLean Hunt, and Ramsay tartans (of course, he liked all of the others, too - lol). We both have Scottish ancestry and have been working on our family history so that we can find out who exactly we are connected to, so I think that that may make a difference once we find anything out.

I'm not a Ramsay, and I have a Ramsay blue USA Kilt. I'm wearing it in the picture that I use for my avatar, here on XMarks. Notice that Rocky and Kelly keep a number of Ramsay philabegs "in stock" because the tartan is popular. So I'd say that ifyou were going to just plunge in and don't have a tartan in mind just yet, then the Ramsay one is a good choice.

I chose it!!!! LOL

Here's the thing.... if your husband is wearing a tartan kilt, he WILL get questions about the kilt and the tartan. "What clan is that?" will be heard, often. There's no rule saying what anyone can or can not wear, so he's welcome to wear a Ramsay tartan, but it would be good for him to learn a bit about that tartan, and the Ramsay family so that when he's asked, he can show respect for the tartan and it's associations. "Know your tartan" is something we've all learned around here. The thing is, it's not a drag to learn about tartans, it's really fun.

Just look up the Ramsay family on-line, and spend 45 minutes reading through the web site. Just so you know, the Ramsay's have some interesting history to share, including a Nobel Laureate in Chemistry!

If you choose a non-Clan tartan like Holyrood, look up a bit of the history of the tartan. For example, Holyrood is the seat of the new Scottish Parliament. It's also the name of the Royal Castle/House in Edinborough, and it's really quite grand. It's imposing enough and historical enough that there have been china patterns named after it!

The Holyrood Tartan was designed in the late 1970's for the Queen's Silver Jubilee, meaning her 50th birthday.

How about the various Regional tartans for the Irish and Scottish counties? No clan associations there, but there's lots to learn about the different regions in Scotland and Ireland.

Learning little things like that so that you can talk about the tartan you choose shows respect for the history it represents, and it's fun!

[Flutterby]

That could change once he starts wearing kilts. I'm amazed at how much I pay attention to coordinating my clothes when I wear a kilt.

That's true, and I think he might pay attention to style eventually. His problem with clothing is that he can't really tell red from green very well so he doesn't know if what he's wearing matches or not.

Alan, your Ramsay blue kilt looks great! I think it's a good idea, too, for him to learn about the clan who's tartan he wears and have some info ready for people who ask about it. If not, he's liable to give some glib answer like, "Yeah, I stole it from Mel Gibson." Thanks for all the info!

[bubba]

If you choose a non-Clan tartan like Holyrood, look up a bit of the history of the tartan. For example, Holyrood is the seat of the new Scottish Parliament. It's also the name of the Royal Castle/House in Edinborough, and it's really quite grand.

Holyrood House is the traditional Royal residence in Edinborough and the Duke of Hamilton is the hereditary keeper.

[Ugly Bear]

...do the younger men have different preferences than the older men?

The younger guys seem to like kilts that go past the bottom of the kneecap. Please help to resist this trend; it looks kind of stupid. (Top to middle of the kneecap, please.)

Another big trend is that the younger guys are more likely to eschew the traiditional kilt. There are all sorts of trends in contemporary kilting. The materials don't even try to look tartan, or even woollen. Solid colors, camo, canvas, cotton duc, leather ... they're all catching on, with mixed results. Fasteners besides straps 'n' buckles abound, snaps, velcro and hooks being popular alternatives. Contemporaries may have front pockets, cargo pockets, back pockets and detachable sporrans to match.

In a similar vein, younger men are less likely to traditionally accessorize. Brogues and hose are less likely than socks and boots. The kilts are integrated with the existing wardrobe.

Sounds like you're leaning toward USAKilts. Very good choice. It will be your first of many, and there's plenty to choose from out there.

And welcome to the forum.

[Flutterby]

The younger guys seem to like kilts that go past the bottom of the kneecap. Please help to resist this trend; it looks kind of stupid. (Top to middle of the kneecap, please.)

Brogues and hose are less likely than socks and boots. The kilts are integrated with the existing wardrobe.

LOL, you're right! I asked him what length he would prefer and he said just under the knee. He has agreed to bow to my judgement on this, though. I like the way they look at the middle of the knee. And I would *love* to see him in brogues and hose, but he's married to his boots.