Kilt stuff

Erik said I could blog about kilts. He said: "How about a post on selecting a properly sized kilt, and styles of kilt."

This is a good topic since I just bought a new kilt this last weekend. I've been thinking of getting another kilt and I finally broke down and got a new one. Maybe it was the rum... I got to the camp on Friday night at about 10PM and we stopped drinking around 2AM on Sunday (with only a few hours of sleep and a little water). LOL

Well, to take on Erik's suggestion here goes some info on getting a kilt. There are several different types of kilts; a great kilt is 9 yards of wool! One would have to lay out the material and make your own pleats, then lay down on the pleats and tie it around you with a belt. I don't know many people that wear a great kilt.

So, most places that sell kilts have sewn the pleats in. The heavier the wool the more expensive it is. Nowadays they make them from acyclic blends too. It's worn like a wrap skirt; you put a strap through a hole on one side and buckle it up, then you wrap the plain or flat front across and buckle it up on the other side. Most often the extra material is not included for the fly plaid. The fly plaid is the material worn over your shoulder and held in place with the plaid brooch.

The kilt is worn higher than your waist (like you would wear your pants). They say to take your pant size and add 2 inches. The top of the kilt should be at your bellybutton. Also, kilts don't have pockets. One needs a sporran (the leather or fur pouch worn in the front - also known as the "pop-up blocker") hehehe

Footwear could be black dress shoes with wool socks worn up to your knee or boots (army boots or other such boots are acceptable).

But probably the biggest question people have is what tartan should they get. Or should you just get a Utiliklit? A Utilikilt is a good modern choice for those with a fashion forward way of thinking and who doesn't have any desire to be called a "rennie" (a rennie is someone who attends a renaissance faire).

But if you want a traditional kilt one should ideally get a family or clan tartan. There are hundreds of patterns and each is unique to a family name. Search here to see if your family has a tartan. My family tartan is the only one that has 7 colors, the main color being light blue. I don't like that... so I go a little back further in the family tree to see if there is another family or clan tartan that I like. If you have none... then just pick one you like. (I like blues and greens, so my first tartan is a Douglas Green). I wanted a red kilt so my new kilt is a Royal Stewart. It's fitting since I have several kings of Scotland in my family tree.

And finally... here is some history about what is worn under the kilt: "As kilts became part of the uniform in some military regiments underwear was not allowed. Soldiers in these regiments were subject to "Kilt Inspections" to ensure that they were in compliance."

The best part of wearing a kilt is the jokes that you can use when someone asks the inevitable. And maybe you can give an admirer a proper kilt check! LOL