My own kilt story in brief

Greg, you are wearing kilts on a regular basis, despite you are not Scottish and don’t live in Scotland. When and how did it start?

It started in the mid-nineties during a vacation in Scotland with my wife and our, by then, teenage daughter. One afternoon, in Edinburgh, they wanted to go to the Waverly shopping mall, whereas I would rather stroll around for an hour or two and take some pictures. To make it short, in a corner house in High Street I noticed a shop selling highland wear. At lot of shops in Edinburg are, so no big deal about that. Out of curiosity I went inside.

I happened to be the only customer and I was persuaded to try on a kilt. Just a few steps around and looking into a mirror gave me the feeling that a kilt was something extremely comfortable to wear and that there was nothing female about it. I got hooked, so to say.

Did you buy the kilt?

No. It was quite expensive and what should I use it for, even if the sales assistant or owner claimed that he had non-Scottish customers from all over the world? But when I left, I had in my hand his business card with my measures written on it, 36”, 43” 23”, referring to length, hip, and length, just in case.

But when did you get your first kilt, then?

It might have been about two years later, after I had got access to the rather new internet. During my surfing around I found out that there were “message boards” for men wearing or wanting to wear kilts and/or skirts. At that time the difference between kilt- and skirt wearers was not big. Everyone was striving for a manly appearance. And then you could actually order a kilt on the internet. On a website I happened to find a good looking “affordable casual kilt.”

Should, should not? It wouldn’t ruin the family economy in any way, but…
End of story: A few weeks later I was the owner of that kilt plus some accessories.

The quality was not quite up to that of the kilt I had tried on in Edinburgh. But how could it, being almost seven times cheaper? The fabric was not wool but polyester and only four yards, but being a non-Scot with absolutely no possibilities to wear a kilt at dress up situations it gave me all I needed.

Shortly after, when passing by a store named Scotch House I in their window saw what looked like a very nice kilt. I went inside and pretending it was to be a gift for my wife, I took a closer look.

It was made by probably the most renowned kilt maker in the world, Kinloch Anderson in Edinburgh. The waist size seemed to be right, only it was somewhat too long. I could see, but that was no problem; if needed they could shorten it. Or they could take it back, if it did not fit or my wife didn't like it.
I bought it, tried it on at home, liked it, had it shortened, and I had kilt number 2.

The main difference:
Tiny straps and buckles compared to my "real" kilt. Otherwise, it was a 3-yard kilt in a much better fabric, approximately 8 oz. pure new wool (lightweight). And it closed to the right, as shall a man's kilt.
It is no longer available, but the Kinlock Anderson 'kilted skirt' which comes closest is over 300 British pounds. Their, by far cheapest, kilt for men is £475 and is meant for casual wear.
Fortunately this is not what you must pay for a nice kilt.

Did you then start to wear it out right away?

No. My wife thought wearing a kilt in public might be somewhat problematic and, in fact, so did I. But when on holidays abroad I would sometimes wear it. And inside home, of course and in the garden and when emptying the letterbox - after having convinced myself that nobody could see me.

When did it change?

It was in 2005. We had been on holiday in Italy, where I had been wearing the kilt for some hours every day and had got quite many compliments from the local people. And as I then a few months later at a garden party with our neighbours realized that in fact they all knew that I would wear a “real kilt with a purse”, there was no reason trying to keep it a secret any longer. And I didn’t.

I had not been able to keep it a secret. You cannot. And you should not.

In the open.

View from a hill.

Ona red bench.

In a kilt on a bus.

On holiday, Caledonia tartan.

In a car.

What happened afterwards?

Nothing really. Surroundings saw me in kilts and got used to it, inclusive my dear wife. At first I would only wear a kilt when on my own. Later when we were far from home, she joined me and since several years also when we are shopping grocery in the local supermarkets.

How are the reactions to your kilt when out and about?

They are few, almost like when in jeans or shorts. When any, they are always positive. Well, I live in a nice environment where people are well educated and open-minded, but also when around in other areas or countries where less understanding might be to expect and where more prejudices might exist, I never have problems. Wearing a kilt is something different, extremely comfortable - and a non-event.

How often do you wear a kilt?

When you have as many kilts as I have you almost are obliged to wear them, aren't you? After my retirement some years ago, I'll wear a kilt almost every day. Sometimes not all day - I also wear jeans and shorts, of course - but there are many periods where i will be in a kilt from early morning to bead time. Therefore it is not about kilt or not, but which kilt today?

How about a kilt?

Have you ever been thinking of wearing a kilt? You must not be Scottish. You can be of any nationality, any colour, and any belief. Only you must be man enough. The objective of the Dress2Kilt site is making you wear a kilt whenever YOU feel like it and appropriate. Without needing a special event. It is about causal-first kilt wearing.

Men in kilts - Q & A

Who will wear a kilt? Why wearing a kilt? Where and when to wear it? What’s the difference between being Scottish and not, related to kilt wearing? What about surroundings? Is it true? These and many more questions are answered here.

Webmaster's kilt story

How come that the webmaster started wearing kilts? When was it? How was it, wearing a kilt for the first time? How were reactions from his wife, his family, neighbours, and other people?

You in a kilt?

When seeing you in a kilt, what should people say? And especially your significant other? And the ‘Kilt Police’? Shall people think you are Scottish? How about prejudices? Should you tell people you know that you have started wearing kilts or are about to do it? How do you tell them? What should your reasons be? See answers to these and many other questions here?

Is the kilt a skirt?

Scotsmen will say NO. To them and very many kilt wearers the kilt is a kilt, not a skirt. It is a garment of its very own, they say, and exclusively for men.
Calling the kilt a skirt is accordingly considered an almost unforgivable insult. But is it nevertheless a skirt?

What makes a kilt?

Are 8 yards of fabric a must? Or will less do? How is a kilt constructed? Learn about straps and buckles, fell, rise, pleats, length, drop.

Must a kilt be expensive?

Yes, purists will say, because no less than a 16 oz. 8-yard wool kilt, sewn by hand by a skilled kilt maker in Scotland or equivalent place will do. But are they right? Read why they are probably not.

A cheap kilt

Probably most kilts today are no longer sewn in Scotland, but in Pakistan. In common these "imported" kilts have that they are affordable. Some shall give you real value for your money, others little - or worse - no value. Read about where to find good, nevertheless cheap kilts.

A moderate priced kilt

Some established Scottish and American kiltmakers know that affordable kilts are the condition for having men start wearing kilts, especially those having no Scottish roots. They therefore offer some very good kilts which they will position as casual kilts, probably for not hurting the rest of their business. For casual wear they might be all you need.

A premium priced kilt

You'll hardly get an 8-yard kilt in pure new wool for under £300 or the equivalent. It shall be much easier to find one costing twice or three times as much. Not all premium priced kilts are sewn in Scotland. Examples are USA, Canada, England, France, and Austria.

Get the measures right

Buying your first kilt is something quite unusual. Most likely you shall buy it online, and often it shall be made to your measures. Buying a kilt is not difficult, however, and with a kilt there is some give and take. Read on, and you'll know how to make it right.

Kilt accessories

Don't get ripped off on things you don't need. Find out, which accessories are must-haves, which are nice to have, and which you shouldn't consider at all for casual and smart casual wear, and some not even for dress-up events.

Kilt on!

Let’s assume you have just received and unpacked your first kilt, and the accessories you ordered. How to handle and wear all the unfamiliar things, the sporran, the belt, the socks, the flashes etc.?
What else to wear with your kilt?

To mind when in a kilt

Now being ready for taking your kilt out into public for the first time, is there anything you should mind? Something to worry about or calling for your attention? After all a kilt is something very different, just the way it looks and especially, how it feels, wearing it.