Took the plunge, bought a kilt

[BigNick]

I've wanted one of these for a while now. Found out that the store (in Seattle) had the model and colour I wanted in stock, in my size. So I asked a friend to buy it and bring it over to Europe when she comes next month. Here she is displaying it. (The waist is 40" and the length is 24.5". She's quite small. Either that, or she's got bigger since I last saw here, in which case I've acquired a poncho.)

Dare I wear it to the office?

 

[Sarah in SC]

Absolutely! In Charleston, one of my favorite things about dress-up occasions is the propensity for kilt wearing in male attendees. But you have to have the whole gig--the knife and the little man-purse thing--I'm sure you know the accessories already!

But very cool! I had a bagpiper from the Citadel play for our wedding and he was one of several kilt wearers in attendance!

 

[BigNick]

Absolutely! In Charleston, one of my favorite things about dress-up occasions is the propensity for kilt wearing in male attendees. But you have to have the whole gig--the knife and the little man-purse thing--I'm sure you know the accessories already!

You mean a sporran... but this is not a Scottish kilt. My only vaguely celtic ancestry is a great-grandfather who was some kind of rabid anti-Catholic Orangeman in Northern Ireland. I have no family tartan or anything like that.

I'm really just going for the philosophy of the manufacturers, who are here - it's a pretty cool site considering that they're selling quite expensive items of clothing (I've already found two of George Carlin's 7 words on there).

 

[Sarah in SC]

Quite a website!
Okay, revised to say that you have to have an angry menacing look on your face and some very visible tattoos to wear it to work. And maybe a hunting dog and (still) a large scary knife. If you've got that covered--then go to it!

I'm *very* Scots and more than a bit Irish (hence the drinking) but I don't think we have tartan or any of that.

 

[73ss454]

Now I know why they call you BigNick.

I wore a Kilt a few years back while visiting Scottland. Felt a little odd and boys thought it was a bit breezy.

 

[Bestwifeever]

Very nice, BigNick!

This obituary last week for Bill Millin, who apparently wore a kilt as he played the bagpipes at the Normandy landing on D-Day, gave me chills: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/20/world/europe/20millin.html?src=mv&ref=world

After wading ashore in waist-high water that he said caused his kilt to float, Private Millin reached the beach, then marched up and down, unarmed, playing the tunes Lord Lovat had requested, including “Highland Laddie” and “Road to the Isles.”

 

[bbbamI]

Dare I wear it to the office?

Sure, but if the wind is blowin'...well, you get my drift (no pun intended).

 

[haha]

You mean a sporran... but this is not a Scottish kilt. My only vaguely celtic ancestry is a great-grandfather who was some kind of rabid anti-Catholic Orangeman in Northern Ireland. I have no family tartan or anything like that.

I'm really just going for the philosophy of the manufacturers, who are here - it's a pretty cool site considering that they're selling quite expensive items of clothing (I've already found two of George Carlin's 7 words on there).

I see these on the street from time to time, but mostly at gatherings like Folklife that bring out the elements.

Two guys wearing the tan ones put on the most amazing show of pain infliction and pain tolerance that I have ever seen, or could ever bear to watch. Once only.

Ha

 

[braumeister]

I have a friend who often wears one of those utilikilts. He really likes it, but personally I think he looks dorky in it.

My advice is to get the opinions of several people as to how you look in it. If most think you look fine, you're golden. But if you turn out to look like my friend, you might want to reconsider.

 

[Ronstar]

You gotta wear it - if anyone gives you any sh*t at work, tell them its part of a new diversity program.

 

[Nords]

You gotta wear it - if anyone gives you any sh*t at work, tell them its part of a new diversity program.

Hunh... no one around here, and I mean no one, makes fun of any of the local Samoans wearing their lavalava...

 

[clifp]

Hunh... no one around here, and I mean no one, makes fun of any of the local Samoans wearing their lavalava...

Well maybe would if they weren't all at least 6' 3 and 250 lb and look like they eat you for lunch if you pissed them off. Although the Somoans I know are some of the nice folks. (I am not saying that just because they maybe reading the forums. )

 

[yakers]

If you want to wear it and just fit in unobtrusively try wearing it at Burning Man. One fellow wore one last year and the only reason anyone remembered is he was a short Asian fellow who was also carrying a hockey stick, turns out he was actually a Canadian Mountie.

 

[BigNick]

If you want to wear it and just fit in unobtrusively try wearing it at Burning Man. One fellow wore one last year and the only reason anyone remembered is he was a short Asian fellow who was also carrying a hockey stick, turns out he was actually a Canadian Mountie.

I'm some way from Burning Man, but from what I've read, I get the impression that a kilt would be regarded as a highly conservative form of dress by their standards.

 

[okapi]

Dont forget the haggis and Skullsplitter ale from the Orkney Isles.After a few of those you wont care what you wear or what anyone thinks.

 

[BigNick]

I took delivery this weekend. Went to a meet-up in a pub with some friends, including one lady who claimed "I love a man in a skirt, I must have a picture of this".

 

[Purron]

I love it!!!!!!!

 

[W2R]

I don't usually like kilts, being of Scottish descent; I don't like bagpipes either. But this one looks terrific on you.

 

[73ss454]

I don't know Nick, seems the ladies like you in a skirt. I sorta think you look like you should be pushing a shopping cart. (heh)

 

[Purron]

I don't know Nick, seems the ladies like you in a skirt. I sorta think you look like you should be pushing a shopping cart. (heh)

Good looking guy, living in France, secure enough to wear a kilt....what's not to like?

 

[bbbamI]

Good looking guy, living in France, secure enough to wear a kilt....what's not to like?

Yes indeed!

Thanks for posting the photo Nick...

 

[73ss454]

Good looking guys don't do a thing for me. To me the Kilt doesn't enhance the look.

 

[Leonidas]

To each his own. For me, I figure that my relatives knew what they were doing if they found kilts stylish and useful when they were running around warring with the english and irish and whatnot, but left it behind after they came to this country to fight indians and frenchmen.

Besides that, around here I'd be afeared that a Texas red-bomber wasp might decide to fly up near things I prefer not to get stung.

 

[Meadbh]

BigNick, I think you look kinda cute in your kilt!

Obviously a hit with les dames.

I would like to know if it's all a void underneath, or is it like a pair of really baggy shorts.

The FAQ on that website is hilarious!

What is normal wear and tear?

After much deliberation and several whiskey sours, we were able to come up with some things you probably shouldn’t do to your kilt. In fact, consider this your Official Warning. Should you choose to ignore our advice, don’t pull similar shite and then ring Krash to complain, because he’ll probably just tell you “I told you so.” So here goes:
• your cat just had a litter of kittens in your left cargo pocket…
• you forgot to take the two boxes of Sharpies our of your cargo pockets before washing… • your girlfriend thought your kilt needed some rhinestones…
• the repairs you made yourself with dental floss start to fray…
• in a colossal case of misjudgment, you decide to wear your tie dyed Utilikilt* to Big Earl’s Tractor Pull in Jemison, Alabama, while wearing your **** BUSH t-shirt…
• you found your way into a bleach factory after hours and decided to have a quick game of Ultimate Frisbee…
• you were stupid enough to try and jump the burning embers of the Burning Man…
• you decided to hit on the cute girlfriend of the Shanghai Muay Thai Kickboxing Champion…
• you had freaky-deaky carnival sex in it and it is no longer right in the eyes of… Okay, really….Just don’t. He doesn’t want to hear that.​

Frequently Asked Questions - UTILIKILTS

 

[Moemg]

BigNick, I think you look kinda cute in your kilt!

Me too !