I always joke that the biggest newbie mistake occurs when you are wearing a kilt for the first time and you drop something in a public place. Learning how to pick the thing you dropped up without excessive exposure is important.
Or just wear underwear under your kilt if you’re concerned and who cares if anyone cares; there’s no such thing as the tartan police, only self-righteous bullies.
@@stonemarten1400 local law. Where I live you are not allowed to wear (or not wear) clothes with the intention to provoke or disturb the public. And it is up to the police officers that comes down to investigate where the line is drawn. Try arguing to the police why mooning people every time you bend over is not disruptive to those around you.
@@MrEmiosk Understandable, however the wording is "intention to provoke...". It will be much harder for the police to determine (and consequently press charges) about your intention(s).
My wife and I got married at a Ren Faire. She was having her hair done at a First Come First Serve hair dresser. My best man and I RAN in kilts and sporans. We had ro be funny looking as we held our sporans out in front of us like a cafeteria tray as we ran. We WERE the first ones there though! :-)
The point of not needing everything at once is great. I started with the kilt this last year and have added a belt. I'll continue to pick up other pieces as time goes on.
I am glad there are so many things on the internet where you can learn from and not making any mistake when you are a newbie. You guys were a big help !
This year a our local Renaissance festival I had to talk to five gentlemen who where wearing their kilt pleats in the front and gently explain that the pleats go in back. Seems something I've seen more of the last couple of years.
Also reviving a now somewhat zombie thread... I go a more practical route - I wear ballistic nylon MOLLE pouches on the belt. Small ones, one on the side, a wallet replacement, for phone, ID, etc, and, when needed, a slightly larger one, at the lower back, for more random stuff. Instead of hose and shoes, a pair of dark grey boot / work socks, overlaid with slightly longer, thinner dark grey dress socks (with which I wear the flashes), and a pair of zippered jump boots, shined to a high polish. This goes well with all my kilts (especially with matching flashes). I also wear a small to medium dive knife, and a folding pocket tool, in a single, two-pocket sheath, on the belt, instead of a sgian dubh in the sock (hose). Together, it looks sharp, is a bit more modern, and is very practical.
As an Irish/Scot, I've worn kilts for over 50 years, and I wear both cream and coloured hose (not at the same time obviously)! Cream hose doesn't make my outfits look cheap, or is this an American thing?
It used to be the proper style to wear your pants up above the naval too, but men figured out that that was uncomfortable and silly. Still kilt "aficionados" have locked into the style as it was decades ago and refuse to allow the kilt to evolve beyond that point.
Sorry to necro this, One thing I didn't see in the comments; My first kilt was a Utilikilts "Mocker". That kilt has stupid deep pockets. (I was a firearms instructor at the time) The pockets would make a full size hand gun "vanish". I went to a Ren Faire with a small steel object in one of the pockets.... Passing some Scottish dancers, I was pulled in to dance. My wife was howling after I had been jumping around for about 30 seconds. The pockets are much like a sporran gents... and every bit as dangerous.
The Mocker was also one of my first kilts, I still have it (can't stand the exterior "flappy" pockets on ANY of the utility kilts), and you're spot on - one could disappear all sorts of things in those pockets.
When I got my first kilt later in life, some of my Scot friends had told me you just had to go "commando" (No underclothes) to be true. I did that and quickly found that I needed to put rocks in my sporran to keep certain matters down, so I was wearing it a bit low.
Spot on regarding white/cream hose, although plenty in Scotland like them for dress/dance occasions. Wear either a waistcoat (vest) OR a belt, not both at the same time (see 6.34). Don't jump straight into a Prince Charlie jacket - for one, an Argyle or Crail style is much more versatile (can be worn with or without a vest, for example), and for two, a PC jacket is *very* formal, so everything else needs to be just right or you look like a rental. And don't over-Scot every accessory - you're wearing a kilt(!) so you don't need lots of Celtic this or saltire that or clan crest the other. Lastly, there is nothing "true Scotsman" about going commando, wear what you like under the kilt, but I'd suggest a dark colour!
I purchased a kilt pkg from USA Kilt. I have two comments: 1) I am delighted with the pkg. 2) I never had any qualms about wearing it in public. I was 100% comfortable in public.
My first "good" kilt was too big (not from USA Kilts) and self measured. I added some size for the beerfest bloat, and was always too large. I'm getting professionally measured for my first wool kilt and as all my others have been too short, or so I feel. I also agree the non-cream hose. I've always went charcoal or try to contrast my shoes...I tend to shoot for oxblood color shoes. Thank you for the recommendation on not jumping...and running. I've been fortunate to not to that and plan on remembering that.
Thanks for the great pointers. Wore a kilt to my grandson’s baptism two weekends ago and promptly ordered a package from USA Kilts the next day. Made one or two errors (cream hose and kilt pinning, not the running or jumping😱) Looking forward to getting it all in and starting my journey of kilt wearing.
Hello guys. Now I have a question and it has nothing to do with the premise of this video ok? Have you done any videos on the great kilt? I can imagine that it would add a significant amount to the cost but as you say, that can be another piece that you add later. But I am thinking you'd want it made at the same time the kilt is made so there aren't differences in colors or whatever. I have just never seen anyone do a video on the great kilt. Is it a separate piece? How do you wear it? Any reason a person may" NOT", want it? Thank you for any info before hand.
Okay, surprised at the advice about not putting the kilt pin through both layers. I thought a pin was intended to help keep your kilt closed and not flapping around. Please help me understand better so I can do better.
Waited a long time for my kilt as I am not very well to do. Your advice is spot on, I purchased just what I thought was necessary . I was told to think of highland dress as fashion not costume,and as I was always considered a snappy dresser this worked out . Some advice, a nice sport coat is fine and unless you are going to a ball a prince Charlie is overdress. Ghillie brogues were originally a working shoe, although today they are all the rage. My dress brogues(which I already owned) look wonderful, although they did not fit with the super thick cream coloured kilt hose that came with my outfit, I purchased some charcoal hose in the right weight and they look fine. As a final note just remember, are you going to the games .Church, or a dress ball and you will be fine.
Yes and no. A kilt is an article of clothing which people use for everything but in reality it's the equivalent of a pair of suit trousers. Would you go out in woolen suit trousers and a t-shirt with hiking boots? As for your situation, you could also look at getting tartan socks, there is no reason they have to be thick, I suspect most guys go for thick socks because they're subconsciously concerned that thinner socks will look too much like female attire, same for the guys that wear boots instead of shoes/brogues but it sounds like you've got that covered.
If you want to wear cream hose there is nothing wrong with it. You may feel that contrast is required when your wearing a dark Prince Charlie and a dark navy blue clan pattern kilt! Finally another thing is to wear your sporran over the right hip when seated. There is nothing worse when dis-embarking from the wedding car with your sporran hampering you or even tearing your precious investment. This is standard highland regiment practice!
One warning from my pipe major years ago now - and he would be wearing a kilt 3 days out of 7, sometimes more, each week. Don't use a chain with your sporran but use a leather strap instead. The chain wears through the kilt and it becomes very very expensive. Which was why the majority of the pipe bands in our area used leather straps rather than a chain for our sporrans. So did any of the dancers [highland and country] as well for exactly the same reason [they are a real pain to darn invisibly, speaking from bitter experience].
Measurements,whenever practical, are always better done by the kiltmaker. If you are on a limited budget, sports socks (soccer) make ideal stop gaps for kilt hose until your budget allows you to get better. No-one will notice the difference unless you are at a Clan meeting or gathering, but it's rare that anyone will comment. Never, and I mean never, get the bright blue Saltire buckle even that it's the last one in the shop.
Got my second kilt ever. When I didn't like any Sgian Dubh's I found for less than $70, So I'm spending $100 to start making knives. and spending large amounts of time carving the coin for the handle in the shape of a Claddagh.
I've heard you guys mention the basting stitches a few times now. I got my first kilt ever and was all set to take them out, and there are no basting stiches. I've been paranoid ever since that they're somehow on it somewhere that I can't see or don't notice and I look like a fool. ^^;;;
Not all kilts come with them but you'd know if you have them, they hold the pleats together so instead of the cool swish effect it's more restrained like a pencil skirt lol. I braved a smaller kilt recently and almost thought I'd overestimated my workout results until I saw the bastes, snipped them off and phew, Cinderella moment haha!
I agree with most of the comments.. I sort of disagree with the no white or off white colored hose.. I do pipe and wearing a light colored pair of hose Is somewhat expected. And it doesn't look bad either (ope, I know I know it's cheesy, but what da hey). Also, my spell checker did eventually change hoes back to hose.
I have a utility type kilt. I measured IAW the directions. I'm 72, 6'4", 275#. Yes I have a bit of a beer belly. I find I can't keep the kilt from falling to the position of belted pants, that is low in front and high in back. How do you keep a kilt from riding down with a build like mine? Thanks, David
How about thinking you need a sword? I go to Highland games in the US, this doesn’t happen in Canada, and lots of people seem to feel they need a cheap fantasy sword to look the part. It really changes an outfit into a costume which is a bad look in my opinion. Kilts aren’t costumes in the Halloween sense.
A dirk would be the thing that should be worn to such events, this was of singular importance to men back then. I think a sword would be pretentious unless you were forming an honour guard or were going for an earlier style dress. Arguably it could be appropriate for formal occasions but would require the appropriate white tie equivalent shirt, jacket etc. A quality basket hilt too with scabbard and baldric, not some cheap fantasy tack and certainly not a giant two handed sword.
@@Catubrannos you talk of “back then”. When you wear a kilt you aren’t a recreating a look from three hundred years ago (unless you are a reenactor), kilts are modern, just like trousers. We don’t walk around in top hats because it was important to men “back then.”
@@kiltymacbagpipe I'm referring to those who wear swords to things like Highland Games. If they're trying to evoke some martial image of the past then all they need is a dirk rather than a sword as the dirk was more important than a sword. I say this because I've seen men with swords at events but no dirk. For a more formal occasion I would regard a dirk as more appropriate than a sgian dubh which I think is a silly accessory. As for wearing the kilt as normal attire then wearing it with t-shirts is akin to wearing woolen suit trousers with a t-shirt. Also please don't pretend that it's the equivalent of shorts, it really isn't and it's image will always be grounded in the martial image of the Highlanders which is why it has such appeal and why there are rules around wearing it - rules which are really just those set down by the British Army in the 19th century.
I’m sort of responding more for anyone reading this to see than to you directly but; in Scottish Highland games you are extremely unlikely to see anyone wearing a dirk, unless they are in some form of military parade / exhibition, or a high clansman or chieftain, especially if they are the host. A large majority of people will wear a sguindubh, but if they don’t it’s likely because they know it can be pretty impractical to wear while moving around a lot, even with good garters to hold it in place. Whilst sure, you could wear a dirk, I feel it would largely still feed into a fantastical idealisation of the outfit, rather than simply the style and tradition of the outfit. I’ve got two lovely dirks, one ceremonial and one more practical, and I’ve rarely worn one to a games, largely because no one else does, and a fair part of fashion is trying to fit in well, the same way I’d never go wearing white socks. If I saw someone with a dirk, sure I wouldn’t judge them, but they’re pretty uncommon now in Scotland, so that may come across..
I bought my kilt many years ago now & got professionally measured by the maker to avoid any girth or length disasters. However I have found a problem is that the natural wool has a tendency to shrink over time & it now fits much more snugly than when originally made 30 years ago.
My Dad's is a Ferguson Tartan, my brother has possession of that. My grandmother was a McCartney out of Glasgow and apparently Sir Paul's former wife won't let that be available to other members of the Clan. Or at least that's the way I heard it.
I am not Scottish, so I do not wear my kilt a lot- in fact, I've been away from playing the pipes for almost a decade and so have only worn it a few times since. Between disuse, weight fluctuation, and kids taking and losing stuff, I'm almost starting over. The boys are now old enough to head to somewhere else when I'm playing (if it's too loud) so I'm getting back to it finally. Thanks for the tips- and in case the range has widened, is it ok for me to wear other things than the Black Watch or Royal Stewart these days?
I'm Asian, and not relate any caucasian races or never set foot on any western countries, but fascinated in kilt and like to wear it, I had 5 yards black watch tartan kilt with black kilt sock + cheap pvc sporran, and wear it when I had the opportunity. do you have any tartan that's recommend to me and suit for me? royal stewart also good but too flashy in my opinion.
I live in Canada and the kilt makers I go to are Scottish but I also have a four yard box pleated kilt made by a woman trained by Mat Newsom in the USA , a kilt maker in Vancouver ,Canada and she also went to Scotland to learn more of her trade . The kilt she made is absolutely 1st class . I hate when Europeans think they are the only ones with skill . That is absolute rubbish .
Talking about sporran to buckle distance: I've worn the kilt regularly for years. As a man of some girth, I find the sporran belt tends to hang too low no matter what I do, and it accentuates the curve of my belly in an unflattering way. The only way I've found to combat this is to move the little leather loops on the kilt belt so they're 3-4 inches on either side of the buckle and pass the sporran belt through them. That keeps my sporran up where it's supposed to be ... a few inches from the buckle. Is this a faux pas? Any other ideas for fixing the problem?
I'm 6 foot, and I thought 24 inches is good but I don't think 25 inches would hurt. Running with a sporran on I noticed isn't a good idea, unless you wear a kilt all the way up then the sporran sits slightly higher.
I was called a couple of times since I'm 6' 1" and specified a 26" length. But I'm just old and the you tend to lose height in the torso more than the legs.
I was told my casual kilt size would be 2 sizes up from my pants size. So I bought it without being measured. It turned out in reality to be 3 sizes from my pant size. Had to go back and be measured. He still insists it is only 2 sizes up, but it did not work that way for me.
My wife measured me and bought me my first kilt. She measured my pants waist not natural waist. I found out about this mistake, but I would feel it would be weird to make the transition now. Plus, what would I do with the kilts I already have?
No offense, but I brought my tartan no expense spared. I played bagpipes for my ex-girlfriend’s son wedding. I chose the New York City tartan because I’m not Scottish or Irish. Even my sgian dubhs had to look cool too. Nothing plastic…!!! I went to a custom knife shop and commissioned one to be made with an elk antler handle. Everything was the best, right down to my ghillie brogues. I was the best dressed at the wedding and I’m glad I went all out. It’s something that I truly cherish and remember for the rest of my life. Jim ( in heaven ) from Long Island Bagpipes did all the measurements and my kilt came from Scotland in just 2 weeks flat. I plan to buy a couple more kilts to change my look .
1:05 Ah, America. Only in a culture where the waist is usually packaged and smothered in a belly + love handles, would one's jeans size be smaller. And yes, I´m conscious of my generalization. Now get me a size 30 instead of a jeans 32. Also 3:15 I´m on social security, so I´m looking to buy a second hand one, probably viscose / polyester, with velcro closure. Why not replace it later with a woollen one with leather straps & buckles later?
Isn’t the “mini-kilt” the traditional legnth that British officers used to wear befote they changed it? Read that it was to help avoid getting snagged in brambles, and as a side effedt they weren’t allowed to climb tram stairs.
I'm 6 feet 1 inch tall and 205 lbs, my kilts all have a 26 inch drop because of my height. All of my kilts go down to just above my knees which, for me, is preferable. Anything less than a 26 inch drop and I would possibly have a Marilyn Monroe moment if it was windy.
What happens if you ordered your kilt, then lost some weight and the waist isnt the same? Do you just tighten the belt or do you need to pull it together?
You missed the most important faux pasas a piper bever get so drunk you attempt to do a handstand. He has still never lived it down almost 30 years later
Hose colour is dictated by fashion. Everyone wore cream hose, from the time I was first aware of it in the 1960s, up until very recently. No doubt one day it'll come full circle ...
Buy 4m (ish) of fabric and learn to make the great kilt, I have folded mine in half and pinned so its the correct length for me (Also means no excess/fly to mess about with and it's pretty much ready to put on in a few minutes.
@@bertiesaurus I'm not sure why Op says kilts aren't available in their region but I'm working on the added assumption that they also don't have local kiltmakers to call on, plaids a simple option in my mind.
@@OldNavajoTricks I just don’t see it as a simple option though, they’re vastly different clothing in terms of fashion and people rarely wear plaids anymore, it’s not the same identity as a kilt.
@@bertiesaurus Kilts are just sewn plaids to me lol, and If Amy can't get a sewn kilt, going oldschool is the way, As I say I fold mine in half first before pleating and no-one, not even a Scottish guy I was speaking to (Until I pointed it out) knows the difference. Sure us 'kilters' have a bit more knowledge but to a glance, and for Amys purposes and situation, it seems the only option bar going somewhere she CAN get a sewn garment /Shrug. Do what we can wi what we have.