USA Kilts

Kilts & Culture Cast EP 4

On this episode, the guys talk about Tartan Day in New York, Irish County tartans, wearing a kilt in the summer, and more!

 

Originally aired April, 2019.

 

Join us every two weeks for another episode of Kilts & Culture or for our Live recording the first Friday of every month on Facebook, Youtube, Twitch, and TikTok. 

Our theme music is Gold and Guns by the Kilmaine Saints. 

• What should I do if I get caught in the rain and my kilt is soaked?
• Have you ever been corrected on some aspect of Highland wear by someone who was wildly incorrect? How did you handle it?
• What should you wear with a utility style kilt? Can you wear a utility kilt as part of a heritage outfit? How much can you dress a cargo kilt up?
• What is the best cost-effective kilt hose option for taller guys? What about dress shoes?
• Why do we wear Ghillie Brogues and Fly Plaids?
• Tartans of the day and what our mannequin is wearing
• When did Tartan Day become an American holiday and such a big deal?
• Is it acceptable to wear a clan cap badge as a kilt pin?
• Do you think wearing a kilt as an everyday outfit is on the rise? In Scotland is the kilt worn more for formal events and not as much for everyday wear? Where do you think the kilt is most popular as casual wear?
• How do you size for a sporran chain or strap? DIY ways to adjust sporran chain lengths.
• Can you convert a Saxon vest into a kilt vest? Ie. can you shorten a regular suit vest to make it look like a Highland wear vest?
• What is a good option for smart day-wear for (hot) summer months? Are there linen kilt jackets? Will a wool kilt be comfortable in hot weather?
• Where do you go to get a kilt cleaned and pressed? What questions should you ask a dry cleaner before letting them clean your kilt?
• Why wool kilts don’t need a lot of washing. How often do you have to clean a wool kilt?
• What Is a “Bias Kilt”? What are the differences and difficulties in making kilts on the bias? (ie. the fabric is at an angle)
• Is there any “test” to determine if your horse hair sporran has real horse hair? What should you look for when buying a horsehair sporran from a web site?
• When and why did kilt-wearers stop buttoning their jackets?
• My surname has no tartan but my grandmother's maiden name was McCoy - Sept of MacKay - so could I wear the MacKay tartan? How far back can you reach looking for clan or tartan affiliations before it becomes irrelevant?
• Are Irish tartans determined by the county of one’s mother's family line?
• As there are few Irish clan/family tartans, would it be acceptable instead for a family to adopt a county tartan as it’s “clan tartan” or would that be bad form? Or is it better for an Irish family to design their own new tartan?
• Does USA Kilts make custom kilts for kids?
• In your opinion what has been the biggest faux pas when seeing kilted individuals besides wearing the pleats in front?
• How do you pin on a fly plaid so it stays put without damaging the jacket? Does the plaid brooch pin through the jacket fabric?
• What are the traditions for solid color kilts and tartans? What Do Solid Color Kilts Signify?

Haggis Hunting ep1

The lads of USA Kilts have a new show! Haggis Hunting is our super casual, deep-dive content show were we really dig in on a topic. In this episode we talk about some of the more interesting holiday traditions from over the pond. 

 

If you wanna get social with other kilt enthusiasts, go check out the Kilts & Culture group over on Facebook. You can also find USA Kilts on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, or over at our website at usakilts.com

Kilts & Culture Cast EP 3

On this episode, the guys talk about our first trips to Scotland, how to get started wearing a kilt, traditional welsh cookies and more!

 

Originally aired on March 2019.

 

Join us every two weeks for another episode of Kilts & Culture or for our Live recording the first Friday of every month on Facebook, Youtube, Twitch, and TikTok. 

Our theme music is Gold and Guns by the Kilmaine Saints. 

• Why are some tartans more difficult to get than others? Why do mills stock support some and not others? How Tartan Collections work.
• Are tartan Tweeds the newest trend? How long will tartan tweed be popular? Is tartan tweed a fad?
• What can you do about itchy kilt hose?
• How do you handle someone taking a quick picture of you as your back is turned in the store? Is it rude to take pictures of kilted men without their permission?
• Do kilts come in 4XL and 5XL sizes? Can you get a plus size kilt?
• How long does it take to get a custom tartan woven? Is it better to get more than one kilt if you are ordering a custom tartan?
• How can you make sure that ghillie brogues you order online will fit? How do you try on ghillie brogues for the first time?
• Is it okay to use Scottish colloquialisms, slang, spellings, accents and pronunciations if you’re American? Ie. dram, wee, can nae (not), etc. Is it rude or insulting to use a Scottish accent and slang?
• How do you select a tweed that will tone well with the Irish National Tartan? How do you select a tweed to go with your kilt?
• How popular are formal jackets in different colors? For example - a green Prince Charlie, a red velvet Montrose doublet, a blue Sheriffmuir. Do people actually wear bright colored formal highland dress jackets or is it too much?
• What makes a good wedding favor for a Celtic theme wedding or kilted wedding?
• Are some kilt pleating styles more resilient in keeping crisp pleats than others? What type of kilt is easiest to iron, care for and keep looking crisp and neat?
• Why do some Scottish or Irish family names NOT have a family tartan? Do you have to have a family tartan in order to wear a kilt?
• I have both Scottish and Irish ancestors -- how do I choose my tartan?
• Tartans of the day!
• Is the cantle the only thing on a sporran that mark it as formal? Can you wear a fur sporran any time of day if there is no metal cantle? Are Full mask sporrans formal or informal?
• Do we re-size old kilts?
• What is the proper, recommended amount of scotch to pour for a guest?
• How do you personally choose hose color? Match the kilt? Match a jacket or tie? Boldly go in a different direction? Do the necktie and the flashes have to be the same color?
• Where would you go first on a trip to Scotland?
• How do you get the classic “Hourglass” look (shoulder line to kilt hem) if you have a large midsection/belly - your waist measurement is bigger than your hip measurement?
• What type of kilt do you prefer to wear regularly? 8-yard? 5-yard?
• How do I convince my wife to let me get a kilt?
• Can you wear a baseball cap with a kilt? What sort of warm weather casual hats do you recommend with a kilt?
• Sporran suspenders, sporran hangers, vs. sporran chains and straps -- what are the advantages?
• When should I get my kilt for my wedding outfit?
• What do you carry in your sporran?
• Is it wrong to wear a cotton sweater with a wool kilt?
• Can you run in a sporran?
• I want to get a kilt -- What do I do first? Basic advice for first time kilt buyers.
• What is involved in getting a custom kilt pin designed and made?
• If you camp, hike or hunt kilted, how do you protect yourself from insects like ticks and chiggers?

Kilts & Culture Cast Ep2

On this episode, the guys talk about some really cringy tartans, hats for highland wear, fur sporrans and more!

 

Originally aired on February 2019.

 

Join us every two weeks for another episode of Kilts & Culture or for our Live recording the first Friday of every month on Facebook, Youtube, Twitch, and TikTok. 

Our theme music is Gold and Guns by the Kilmaine Saints. 

• How often do you travel in your kilt? How do you handle airport security in a kilt?
• What detergent is best for washing a kilt? How do you wash a kilt at home?
• When wearing a sweater vest, do you cut it shorter and re-hem it to wear with a kilt, fold the bottom hem up inside, or just leave it as is?
• Doc Martens with a kilt? Are combat boots standard footwear now? Or are they still “edgy” like they were in the 1970s and 1980s?
• Can you wear monk strap shoes with a kilt?
• What tartans are Erik and Rocky wearing today? Erik - Scott red Muted, Rocky - Federal Memorial
• How do you clean bagpiper’s spats?
• Why are fur sporrans usually saved for more formal events? When selecting a pelt sporran (a sporran with fur like a dress sporran), which pelts are the most popular? Which sporran pelts are the most used historically?
• Discussion of exotic sporrans.
• What is the difference between a diced Glengarry and a regular black Glengarry hat?
• What is the cringiest tartan you have seen?
• Lightweight flat cap options?
• Northumbrian tartan shepherd check re-cap
• What is the difference in the feel and visual look of a PV kilt vs. a similarly weighted wool kilt? Are there any advantages of a PV kilt beyond price?
• Can you adjust the sleeve length on an Argyll jacket?
• How does one register a new tartan? Is it expensive to register a tartan? Does a woven sample have to be provided when you register a tartan?
• What is the difference between a Box Pleat and a Knife Pleat kilt in yardage, design, etc.?
• What did Rocky do on his birthday???
• Thoughts on wearing a fur sporran casually?
• Best sporran for hard work? Best rugged sporran for farm work, mechanic work, working outside?
• My daughters want to wear their own kilts - do they have to wear the family tartan? What is the etiquette for children wearing tartan?
• I have recently heard about the military putting elastic in the pleats of their kilts. Do you see any problems this could cause or any benefits such as sitting down and getting in and out of a car?
• Is Saltire Blue the most traditional color for a Scottish hat like a tam or Balmoral?
• When wearing a vest or formal Highland jacket, can a 1.5 inch belt be worn to carry modern sporran hangers? Would this be a good option for a man with a large belly? Plus ideas on how to make sporrans a little easier for big guys.

Kilts & Culture Cast Ep1

On this episode, the guys talk about kilts used in athletics, alternative sporran materials, trying haggis and more!

 

Content originally aired on January 2019.

 

Join us every two weeks for another episode of Kilts & Culture or for our Live recording the first Friday of every month on Facebook, Youtube, Twitch, and TikTok. 

Our theme music is Gold and Guns by the Kilmaine Saints. 

 

• Can you wear knee-high renn faire boots with a kilt? If you wear tall renn faire boots, do you need kilt hose? 
• Piper’s spats for large calves?
• Feather Bonnet facts and price
• Can you get a gold sporran chain?
• When can you wear a hunting sporran?
• Concealed carry sporrans. Can you carry a firearm in a sporran?
• Can tartan flashes be a different tartan than the kilt? Can you wear tartan flashes that are different from each other -- a different tartan on each leg? What do you think of tartan flashes cut on the bias?
• Which is better - elastic flashes or traditional garter ties?
• Do Sgian Dubhs have a good cutting edge?
• Are flashes required or optional for formal wear? What do you do if your flashes do not match your tartan colors?
• Women’s bagpiper vests? Do you make Argyll vests for women?
• How do I iron my kilt at home?
• Drums
• Do you make kilts for curling or other athletics? Plus the Grand National Curling Club tartan.
• Custom weaving a clan tartan with different colors - (MacLean Ancient in this case)
• What are the best options for a spouse who wants to match her husband’s kilt?
• Can you wear National / Clan / family accessories with a universal or fashion tartan? Or is that bad form? For instance - a Welsh dragon sporran with Black Watch.
• When wearing a grouse foot kilt pin, does the claw point up or down?
• Where do you get “diaper pin” military kilt pins (blanket pins) and how much do they cost?
• Are sewn-down pleats useful or do they cheapen the look of the kilt?
• Why are kilts measured in yards and not meters? Plus a discussion of kilt types coming out of Scotland and the history of the USA Kilts 5-yard kilt. Why do you make a 5-yard kilt?
• Best tartan cloth for upholstering furniture?
• What tartans are we wearing today?
• Cream kilt hose - are they formal or informal? Why are cream kilt hose popular?
• How do you determine how much yardage you need for a great kilt?
• Have you seen an increase in kilt wearing in the past ten years?
• Do you sell Sheriffmuir jackets?
• What shirt and jacket options do you recommend for a semi-formal event?
• When do you wear Ghillie Brogues? Are Ghillie Brogues only for formal dress or informal dress?
• Are there other sporran materials besides leather? An you make a sporran out of something other than leather? Is there a vegan sporran?
• Can I wear studs with a Prince Charlie Jacket and vest?