Want a wedding kilt? We can provide something special for the groom or a co-ordinated look for the whole wedding party. I really like the way that Chris has pimped his Skilt out with traditional jacket, shoes and pulled up socks to create this more formal look:
Just been interviewed by Pat Sharp for BBC Radio Kent. The first time it has been me doing the talking rather than the Skilts themselves.
To listen on BBC i-player click here. I’m on at 0:25.30. 🙂
Richard
All I can say is fantastic. Fit is great, wife is impressed, daughter likes, the whole thing is brilliant. Was planing for the first outing to be the Army v Navy game in May but now looking for any excuse to be able to wear it.
I will get the wife to take some photos soon, she wants to put them on her Facebook, and I will send them to you. A few colleagues have shown interest, so now I have mine, I will be taking in to work to show them.
Once again thank you and a fantastic job.
Stephen
According to Andrew Bolton’s ‘Bravehearts – Men in Skirts‘ the modern style of kilt known as the ‘little wrap’ (feileadh beag) was invented in the first quarter of the 18th century … by an Englishman! The little wrap was an evolution of the ‘big wrap’ or belted plaid (feileadh beag).
The belted plaid was constructed from a large rectangular piece of material about 5 feet wide and roughly 14-16 feet long and served as garment during the day and blanket at night. In order to put the garment on the man would first pleat the cloth by hand and then secure it in place with a belt. The end of the plaid could be worn in various arrangements over the shoulder(s) to keep the weather off.
For a great pictorial explanation of how to put on a belted plaid check out the website of the Clansman Centre.
How many thousands of man days went into this daily pleating exercise? English highland dress fan Thomas Rawlinson had a bright idea that would make the kilt much easier to wear: to stitch down the tops of the pleats and so form the general style of the kilt we know and love today. How he came to invent the kilt is explained in a letter by Mr Baille of Aberiachan published in the Edinburgh Magazine in March 1785:
‘About 50 years ago, one Thomas Rawlinson, an Englishman, conducted an iron work carried on in the countries of Glengarie and Lochaber; he had a throng of Highlanders employed in the service, and became very fond of the highland dress, and wore it in the neatest form; which I can aver, as I become personally acquainted with him above 40 years ago. He was a man of genius and quick parts, and thought it no great stretch of invention to abridge the dress, and make it handy and convenient for his workmen: and accordingly directed the using of the lower part plaited of what is called the felie or kilt as above, and the upper part was set aside… It was found so handy and convenient that, in the shortest space, the use of it became frequent in all the Highland Countries, and in many of our northern Low Countries also.’
I think it is great that Scotsmen are happy to embrace good design when they see it. I’m always very pleased when a Skilt makes it’s way north of the border!
The Scottish Tartans Authority has decreed that refusing to put on underwear beneath a kilt is “childish and unhygienic”.
It also warned that “going commando” flies in the face of decency.
Tartans Authority director Brian Wilton said kilt wearers should have the “common sense” to realise they should wear underwear beneath their country’s national dress.
He said “The idea that you are not a real Scot unless you are bare under your kilt should be thrown into the same wastepaper basket as the idea that you’re not a real Scot unless you put salt on your porridge.
“People should not be browbeaten into believing that nonsense. Just because Highlanders wore nothing in the days before Y-fronts were invented doesn’t mean that we, in the 21st Century, should wear nothing too.
via Draught guidance: a kilt need underwear – Telegraph.
My thoughts:
Can’t say that I agree. I recommend that London kilts are worn with uncommon indecency!
Tip: if you are concerned about hygiene simply safety pin a piece of fabric to the inside of the front apron. You can change it as often as you like without needing to wash the whole kilt.
For a person new to kilt wearing it can be challenging to think of that many places to wear the fantastic garment. A Scottish Country Dancing evening is an ideal place to break yourself in gently as it is one of the few places you can be assured that you will not be the only one in a kilt.
Perhaps I can take this opportunity to recommend London’s Ceilidh (pronounced Kay Lee) Club. They hold regular events at Cecil Sharp House and Hammersmith Town Hall. Tickets are about £15, genders are balanced, and booking in advance is advisable (though not always necessary).
I’ve been to one of their events at Cecil Sharp House and had a hoot. The main hall is absolutely massive and on the evening I attended it was absolutely full of people. There was a good mix of sexes and most people seemed to be between the ages of 25 and 40. I watched the first dance and was impressed by the quality of the band and how much fun everyone was having. And, of course, there were LOTS of fabulous kilts.
Before long I was asking girls to dance and having a good old time. Because there is a caller and lots of people who really know what they are doing it is really easy to understand what to do and when. The emphasis is far more on having fun dancing together than it is on complicated dance moves. Another feature of many of the dances is that you swap partners … that means that you get to meet more people and you don’t have to try to impress that girl you asked for the whole dance. The one thing that I didn’t see any of is men dancing with men … I’m guessing this is a bit of a no no … especially with the partner swapping! So, any gay guys out there may have to grin and bear dancing with girls.
When you get thirsty (as you will) there is a reasonably priced bar downstairs and, wait for it, a cake shop! Genius!
This isn’t a new image but it seems timely for me to post it onto the blog.
Max brought this Kilted (OK, I know it’s a hula skirt!) Santa back from Hawaii. She’s away in Australia right now … I wonder if she’ll find a kilted kangaroo or something while she’s out there?
Have a great winter solstice and Christmas holiday.
The Skilt arrived swiftly and safely yesterday, so many thanks.
It is excellent – both in looks and quality. With a Scottish wife, I was always treading dodgy ground by not going for a traditional kilt – however she expressed joyful surprise at the build quality and style of it (whilst I was always confident!).
Richard,
Just a quick text to say the kilts arrived at 8am this morning. I must say an impressive and quick service and as for the kilt it’s fantastic thank you very much. If you do manage to do your t shirts please let me know and I will definitely be purchasing more kilts from you again.
Thank you.
Les
Lots of interesting people, lots of lovely people, lots of really weird people!
I’m pretty pleased with the look of the stall: we hung the black fabric up at the back to look like the back of a Skilt with the label and the parting with the fire showing through.
We were next door to some lovely people selling all in one spandex body suits … as you can see we couldn’t resist having a go in them! I think I’ll stick to kilts…
[slideshow]
Hey Richard,
I’ve worn the kilt twice since it arrived an it’s awsome from top to bottom lol, what a beautifull garment. The pockets are an absolute bonus an the amount of room in them is good, the silver buttons against the material looks every bit as good as the one worn by your model on your internet web site, and as for the material it feels good against the skin and hangs well. I must say it was well recieved by friends an family and an absolute pleasure to wear.
I can only thank you for creating a truly beautifull garment.
Hi Richard
Thank you for you prompt dispatch. It’s a very cool and modern version of the traditional kilt. Shame I am not in Scotland as I would wear it more often…!
All the best
Joseph
My reply was:
You’re welcome. Glad you like it. You don’t need to be in Scotland to wear a kilt! I suggest you take it for a walk this weekend and enjoy the admiration.
I have been going through my old emails and found this image advertising Club RUB:
We gave a prize for the best dressed. Here is a pic of me presenting the happy winner with his award:
Hi Richard,
Thought I would drop you a line to let you know that I was really impressed by your show at Alternative Fashion Week and have given it a mention in my article on Thinpurse.com along with a link to your website. You can check out the article here.
Thanks,
Imogen
Hello!!
Jens here.
I wanna say a big thanks for the kilt it was really nice..
I will wear this one with great pride….
Best regards
Jens
How do you know?
I agree, it’s a completely un-real kilt
I agree, it’s a completely im-proper kilt
I assume by the trousers that you’re English … (they probably aren’t)
My other kilt’s a (enter tartan here), I use this one for town … it has more luggage space and gets better milage
No need to unzip a kilt in the bathroom (think ‘There’s Something About Mary’!)
Kilt checks!
Skilts have roomy pockets that do not move when your legs do
Women check out men in kilts
Gay men check out men in kilts (even if it’s not your bag a complement is a complement)
Straight men check out men in kilts and admire you for having the balls to wear one
It’s better to run away with your kilt up than get caught with your pants down!
As Braveheart says: ‘Freedom!’
It would be selfish to keep those calves to yourself
Women are attracted to confidence and it takes confidence to wear a kilt
Kilts are great to dance in: plenty of ball room!
Kilts make people wonder
Lipstick
Boots and socks
Nothing, it’s all well lubricated
Richard’s favourite: Just how curious are you? (wink!)
