New Casual Kilts from Heritage Of Scotland

Added a couple of kilts to my collection so I can keep up with my "you can't have just one" philosophy. Based on a recommendation from a kilt blog I follow I thought I would try Heritage of Scotland for their casual PV kilt line. The intended purpose for these kilts are for more casual everyday wear so PV was desired. Placed the order and it was dispatched quickly arriving from across the pond via FedEx. The material is 85% Viscose Rayon and 35% Acetate Fiber. The kilt felt a little heavier than my other PV kilts but on the scale they both come in at 2 pounds for a 38" kilt. Out of curiosity I wanted to know how much material went into the kilt. So on a Sunday afternoon, with nothing else on my social calendar, I measured the material in each pleat and the entire kilt. Came up with a length of 6.5 yards.

The tartan on the first kilt they call "Freedom". I looked it up on the tartan registry and nothing listed with "Freedom" in the name that looked like this. I guess it is free of being registered so I assume it is just a fashion tartan. The second one I received is MacDonald.

This model only comes in a 24" length but it does have hem using a blind stitch. I normally try to get my kilts at 23" so it could be shortened but I probably won't.

I have been wearing the "Freedom" kilt all weekend. Received a few good comments. Both kilts will serve their intended purpose.

Heritage Of Scotland Freedom Casual Kilt




Holding the MacDonald


Inside of kilt


Hem from the inside which is done with a blind stitch.
Inside label:

Burns Night Dinner 2011

That time a year again to cellibrate the Scottish poet Robert Burns. I went back to Barley's Smokehouse in Columbus, Ohio. That is a fun group of about 60 in attendance. I wrote about last years Burns night which you will find in the 2010 posts. This is a more casual group than some Burns dinners. Some pictures from this year's dinner:

Taping the keg:


A few of the participants:






Yes we had an official kilt inspector:


Reading of Burns went on through the evening:


Piping the Haggis:


The Haggis (don't ask what is in it):


After the drinks started to take their effects:

Humorous Presentation on Wearing the Kilt

Robert Pel is the owner of RKilts in Ontario Canada. He tells a humorous way about wearing of the kilt.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XB9Qn1sKevQ

Kilt Night at the new Tilted Kilt - Columbus, Ohio

Kilt night at the new Tilted Kilt in Columbus, Ohio. We had a good turnout and a good time. This was the first Tilted Kilt I have been to. I was surprised, and pleased, to see the male staff in kilts. They do that at The Pub but I was not aware of the standard for this chain. At The Pub (a chain British style establishment in Ohio, Kentucky, and Florida). It is interesting to note that at The Pub the young guys wear a standard length kilt a jean waist which puts it below the knee. I don't like the look of a kilt below the knee. We tease the manager about this every time we go. At the Tilted Kilt the guy's kilts are provided by the company. They appear to be custom for the Tilted Kilt in a contemporary style, solid color, knife pleat. They are made for jean waist since that is where guys of that generation will wear them. They are also a few inches shorter than what most of us would wear them. Generally 2 or 3 inches above the knee. The girls had on short wrap style skirts but not pleated. You can see them in the pictures. Looking forward to the next time we get together.








(edit from original photos. Not sure what happened to the original links)

Kilt Power

Those of us that wear kilts on a regular basis refer to something called "the power of the kilt". This results from increased interaction with people around us. Most of this is positive but on rare occasions it can be negative. The positive interactions is what I remember the most. Some spouses find this intimidating and that leads to "I like kilts, but not on my man". Spouse negativity toward the kilt has been discussed on other kilt blogs and I am not going there on this post. Someday I get around to doing a post on this subject as I have some experience with the subject. This post is about the fun I have been having with "the power of the kilt" this summer.

I have not posted much this summer. Something always gets in the way and now we are the down hill drag into winter. Yes, today's high where I am will be 80F but the way time flies I had better figure out where my snow shovel is hiding.

I eat out a lot being single again. One of the places I frequent is a chain restaurant common in Ohio. I have gone there for years and about two years ago started to wear the kilt. The waitress staff are mostly college age young ladies that come an go fairly frequently. There are a few that are a few years older and have been around for while. I am older than all of them and for the most part I am probably the same age as their father. Because of the age difference I would never consider trying to get to know any of them any better. This is an advantage as I don't have to consider playing the dating game which I was never very good at anyway. I can go in, have some fun, and then get back to regular scheduled living.

There is on particular lady that caught my attention back before the kilt days. She was always busy, knew what she was doing, and made you feel good that you came in that day. She is older than the college age group. I would put her age at 30. When I started to wear the kilt she took a particular interest in them. Her and one other. This place has a hostess that takes you to the table. I noticed this one hostess would always take me to one of the two. I don't know if this was my imagination or if they said something to her. That hostess is now gone I ended up back to the luck of the draw. I thought what the heck I am going to ask for one of the two if I see them on the floor when I walk in the door.

Went in one day and the one I like commented that she was going to get some grief from one of the other waitresses. Turns out one of the girls likes a band where the guys wear kilts. She is looking to get one for her boyfriend. I think she is a new employee so that now makes three waitresses that like the kilt. The new one noticed I get the other waitress most of the time. She made a comment about the other waitress getting the "kilt guy" the last time. Another waitress commented that they were fighting over me in the back. So now, to keep the peace, I ask for those two and alternate between them each week. The third lady is now gone or else she leaves before I get there. I am not coming in as early as I use to. I go there once a week now. I think they are looking for me now as I come in on the same day of the week. I tried another day of the week and neither of them was working that night. I have no idea what there schedule is I have not asked.

Eventually one or both of these ladies will move on to other jobs so I am enjoying this while it lasts. Sure, the girls know how to work me for a better tip which they get. Some of this could be that but I think they enjoy my visit. Something different for them.

The bottom line is without the kilt none of this would have happened. So guys, get out the kilts and get out in the world.

KILT ON.

Mike

Celtic Activities in Full Swing

Last weekend was the Dayton Celtic Fest. It ran Friday night through Sunday. This is a free event to the public and very well attended. They had three stages setup and music playing all the time. Gaelic Storm was there along with local bands such as "Father, Sons and Friends" and "Dulahan". A new group, first time in Ohio, to attend was "The Rovers" out of Maryland. I missed last year so I made sure I attended this year. I was there all three days. I had a very good time. I think there were more kilts there this year then when I attended year before last. Most were contemporary kilts such as the Utilikilt. Utilikilt had a booth as did Got Kilt. What I like about having Utilikilt there is I get a chance to examine the various kilts they sell in person. I am not in the market for one at the moment but I made some mental notes for when I am ready for another Utilikilt. I will make sure I keep the calendar free for next year's show.

This weekend is the Dublin Irish Fest in Dublin, Ohio (Columbus). I did not make this year's show. This show is larger than Dayton. It is also well worth attending.

If you have a Celtic fest in your area try to attend and listen to the bands. You will have a good time. Don't forget to wear the kilt!

Today was also the British Car Show in Eastwood Lake Park in Dayton. I attended the show today. There were around 400 cars on display. This is one of the best British car shows in the area but you never hear anything about it on the news. I found out about it by accident last year looking through the park directory for summer activities. Saw a listing for the car show. Surprised me as I had never heard of it. I attended last year and was surprised at the number of cars entered. Being a British show you have the normal MG, Jag, Morris, etc on display. I enjoy the display of the original Mini's. I was the only one in a kilt that I could see. Last year there were a couple of us in kilts.

On the way home I stopped at the grocery store. I heard a lady behind me say "I wanted to go to Scotland and now Scotland comes to me". I turned around and had a nice chat with a lady that wants to tour Scotland. I had on my "good girls don't ask" t-shirt. That t-shirt is a good ice breaker too.

Concert and Reunion

On Friday I attended the Weird Al Yankovic concert in Kettering (Dayton) at the Fraze. I wore my box pleat AlphaKilt and expected I would be the only one in a kilt. Got a "nice kilt" comment from a lady as I got near the gate. So far normal reactions. Once I got in the gate I spotted a Cameo kilt. Wow! this was the second kilt sighting in the wild this year. Dayton is coming up in the world. I walked over and introduced myself. Matt was wearing a kilt his wife made. Nice to know there are other "kilties" in Dayton. We could not chat long as it was time to get to our seats. My seat was next to a boy about 14 years old. He gave me a "what the #@^$ is that" look as I sat down. The concert was good. It was the first time for me to hear Weird Al on stage. I left via the side exit so I did not see Matt on my way out.

Now it is Saturday and I time for my 35th high school reunion. This was a casual event so I wore my American Heritage tartan USAKilt with a red shirt. I was sure this would surprise some of my former classmates but I figured it would be a good ice breaker. My class size was over 500 and this crowd was not the group I hung around with. We had about 175 at the event. Again, I expected to be the only one in a kilt. Wrong again. So now we have kilt number three in the wild. One of my classmates, that I did not remember, was wearing a contemporary kilt. I am not sure who it was made by. I wanted to talk to him to find out who he was. Was not sure if he was a classmate or a spouse of a classmate. He was on the other side of the floor and by the time I got over there he was gone. Someone else told me who he was and that he was unable to stay for the event. He was a classmate but I don't remember him. I sent him an email via Facebook so I will see if he responds.

The kilt was a great ice breaker at the reunion. As the evening went on and the ladies were influenced by a little alcohol it got even better! Gosh, in high school if someone told them that 35 years in the future they would be asking Mike what he had under the kilt they would have up-chucked at the thought.

Tomorrow is my local community parade, car show, and craft show. Will be kilted for that of course.