As a follow on ...

[flyv65]

My wife and I attended our first Celtic and highland games festival several years ago. Of course I was wearing my usual jeans and tee shirt. There were all of these guys walking around in kilts, so many that I was pretty sure they weren't all competotors or vendors. I was starting to feel jealous of how comfortable they looked and how I noticed the women (my wife included) staring at them.

Pretty similar to my own story.

Bryan...unbifurcated whenever possible...

[John M.]

I've always thought kilts looked awesome since I was very young. Then after taking my other half to the local Scottish festival, she told me that I'd look good in one.

Well, after a couple years & more encouragement from my wonderful woman I tried one and was hooked on the spot.

[GMan]

My first real interest came about by attending some Highland Games and talking to those Kilted. Seed planted to get Kilt, which I did. (House of Edgar Co Fermanagh). About six months later I saw a gentleman in the mall donned in a Kilt. Looked great, then it all started and I started wearing my "tank" more frequently, and became an every day Kilt wearer.

[angerli]

Well...life disruptions can do strange things...

While getting through an unwanted divorce three years ago, one thing that was nagging at me was my mom's Scottish heritage. Her father, my namesake grandfather, was a Nicoll so I had the link. Then I got curious this past Fall on the Internet. eBay yielded me to date three Harris Tweed day jackets, a Lovat green wool day jacket, a black Argyll and several antique claw kilt pins. I have my MacNicol Hunting Modern tank in the closet (ScottishKilts.net) and my MacNicol Dress Red is on the way (Scotweb). Ghillies are also en route. Odds Bodikins, I'm all set for the Summer Games season...

Then there's this thing called X Marks The Scot...what a dandy group!!

Sandy

[Tartan Hiker]

My story is almost exactly what pdcolis said. I always knew that my father's family was from Scotland. My Great Grandfather to be exact. My dad was in France during WWII and wanted to get to Scotland to visit the home town (Leith) while his father was still alive, but never made it. In his later years he talked frequently about going, but health and vision went bad before he could make the trip. I was always fascinated by all things Scottish, and, like so many others never really considered expressing my heritage due to the prohibitive cost involved.
My 15-year-old son has wanted to play the pipes since he was about 5. He's on the practice chanter now and doing very well. At Christmas, after ordering his chanter, I thought it might be fun to try to find a kilt for him. eBay searches led to various web sites, the realization that modestly-priced kilts are available, and, finally, to this group. After reading the posts on X-Marks for about 3 minutes I realized that I had to join in the fun, too. My son loves his SWK, and I now have two kilts and am looking forward to the delivery of number three.

[NewKilt]

What got me started is my physical disabilites. I was having problems overheating because the sweat glands in my feet and legs no longer work. Plus I have degenerative disc disease requiring me to change positions frequently. I thought that a kilt could help because of the ventilation and the freedom of movement. Well it certainly did help! I was amazed! This was last August and I've been wearing kilts full-time ever since.

I wondered if anyone else wore kilts freqently, so started doing searches on the internet. Needless to say, it has developed into much more than just a garment that helps me feel more comfortable. I started reading about the history of the kilt, and investigating my ties to Scotland and Ireland. Finding XMarks has been a great experience in learning about the different types of kilts, fellow kilt wearers, and kilted experiences. So today, I own 16 kilts - traditional and comtemporary, solids and tartans, wool kilts, cotton twill kilts, and canvas kilts.

I wear them confidently and with pride. The kilt has literally changed my life for the better - physically and socially.

Darrell

[Colin]

My late Grandfather used to take me to the Remembrance Day services in Winnipeg. Not sure what regiment, but the glengary he wore (I now have it) looks very similar to this tartan http://www.canadiansoldiers.com/medi...ge:Erskine.gif worn by the Scots Fusiliers of Canada.

For part of the day we would watch the pipebands, the canons, and aeverything else to take in. Both sides of my family have Scottish Roots, but my mom's side still practised alot of the customs. I knew about those roots long before ordering a kilt. For as long as I could remember I had thought of getting a kilt. When my wife and I ended up in Scotland and Ireland I decided to look into getting a kilt. Needles to say the ones I could find were either way out of a backpackers price range, or they were crap.

A few years later I saw an article about a local guy making cheap kilts (Bear) I ordered one up (Black Watch) and have been upgrading for years now. I now have a kilt in my Father's tartan, and I need a traditional Mackenzie to replce the casual one (I am thinking MacKenzie Weathered).

[Oswulf]

I always liked the look of a kilt, but I suppose what tipped me over the edge was a combination of re-watching "On Her Majesty's Secret Service". Probably the worst Bond flick, but George Lazenby did look real good in a kilt. So I thought if Samuel Jackson can wear a kilt I guess I can too, maybe I'll go for it. Then with the wedding coming up it just all seemed to fall in place and here I am.

[Andrew Breecher]

I got a Sport Kilt after hearing rave reviews from other hikers about hiking in a kilt. I tried it out on a short (218 mile) hike, and was blown away at how comfortable it was. Then I got home and put the kilt away, but continued doing research about kilts, found some of the online groups, and realised that other people were wearing them around as regular clothes. So I just said, "Screw it," and did the same - I knew how comfortable it was, so why not wear it all the time? Nearly three years later, here I am. I've only worn trousers a few times - for rock climbing, and once for a Hallowe'en costume - in the meantime.

Andrew.

[jjoseph]

Grew up among several families .. two sets of birth-parents / step-parents, adoptive parents, and god-parents... and each and every family had some kind of major celtic connexion be it Irish, Scottish or Welsh... then my mom was Cajun to boot. I was the one in my generation to inherit an interest in the folk stuff, maybe to feel a bit more connected, but regardless it was my gain! Then came the 80's and the era of the combat-boot-grunge look. Somehow I managed to blend the two even then, so when I bought an Ashley MacIsaac CD a few years back, my first thought was "Damn, I miss kilts." It was the most natural thing in the world for me to find one, buy it, and say, "Ahhhh, home at last." Now I have nine hanging in the wardrobe and one on me most days as well as the stuff to dress them up or dress them down. (I do have to say that although I enjoy formal a LOT, I'm still most at home knocking about in combat boots, a solid T, and a leather jacket.)

Once I started wearing them and getting the "Oh, then you play the bagpipes?" comments, I actually found a group and started to play, so it's been a win / win all around. (Plus I get to chat up this crowd, LOL).

Ah, and the added benefit: admiration from the sig other... and enough comments when we go out to inspire jealousy. Life is good.