USA Kilts

Tartan Talks Episode 3: Dr. Rosie Waine

Rocky talks with Dr. Rosie Waine, Research Fellow at National Museums Scotland and author of ‘Highland Style c.1745-1845’.

Dr. Waine is an expert in historical textiles and the fashion history of the 18th and 19th centuries. Her work at NMS has centered around properly documenting and examining the evolution of Highland Dress during what some people consider its “Golden Age” of development.

Among many things, Rocky and Dr. Waine discuss the history of tartan as an artform and how Highland Dress went from a loose concept to the national dress of Scotland.

From The Book Description: “Ideas about the Scottish Highlands which took hold around the turn of the 19th century remain to the present day – for many people across the world Highland dress, bagpipes and Highland landscapes are the images of Scotland that first spring to mind. National Museums Scotland holds a significant collection of Highland dress and tartan clothing. The aim of Rosie Waine's two-year research project include a survey of the collection and an exploration of how such outfits became an integral part of Scottish identity on a global stage.”

If you want to 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 6

On this Episode, the guys talk about our Norse accessories, kilt storage, great kilts as formal outfits, and more!

 

Content originally aired on June 2019.

 

Join us every two weeks for another episode of one of our podcasts here on our channel or for our Live recording the first Friday of every month on Facebook, Youtube, Twitch, and TikTok. 

 

-USA Kilts New Norse Viking Range of Accessories!

-What are the differences between kilt hose flashes and garter ties? Is one better than the other? Is one more traditional than the other? And what is the deal with those “crazy wool fringed flashes”?

- What is a good shoe for a casual kilt outfit?

-What are shooting socks?

-If you’ve only ever worn utilikilts, but want to get into traditional kilts, where is a good place to start?

-Why do kilt belt buckles stand proud and at an angle?

-Is Erik wearing a Northumberland Check or Burns Check kilt?

-Besides a Jacobite shirt, what are some good shirts to wear with a Great Kilt on a regular basis?

 -Can a stag horn sgian dubh be used for formal wear?

-Is it better to leave a kilt pin on even when not wearing it?

-How do you take the measurements of an existing kilt that you have been given?

-What are the differences between the Rise, the Drop and the Length of a kilt?

-Can you wear a great kilt as part of a formal outfit?

-Does one kid of bagpipes sound better than the others? Which type of bagpipes is the best?

-If my pleats go haywire (like from sitting on them wrong or from driving) I will usually fix them by using a garment steam cleaner. I hang the kilt from a shower rod and tug each pleat down individually and gently steam each one straight. I let it fully air-dry. It looks great afterwards, BUT am I damaging the wool in any way by doing this?

-I’m a truck driver and am looking into getting kilts for daily wear and would be purchasing PV. Any suggestions for getting in and out of a Semi? Keeping the pleats crisp?

-I’m just starting to think about kilts. I’ve got varicose veins in my legs, and I have to wear a knee-high compression hose but I don’t want to look ridiculous. What do you think?

-My kilts seem to be multiplying like rabbits in my closet. How did I start off with a hiking kilt and end up with a dozen kilts hanging up in there? Inquiring minds want to know!

-Question about kilt storage...I don’t hear people mentioning the method of hanging the kilt on a peg using the two loops on the kilt liner. I think that’s how the Highland regiments store their kilts in the barracks. Do you guys see any potential problems with long-term storage of kilts in that manner?

-Tartans are recorded by color and thread count...so if you scaled the thread counts up or down evenly, does this then become a different tartan? Ex. Tartan A is 4 Blue, 2 White, 6 Green, 4 Red If Tartan B is 8 Blue, 4 White, 12 Green, 8 Red- then are they the same tartan or technically distinct?

-How is the USA Kilts New Store construction going?

-Why is there a little row of tiny holes in the bottom edge of my kilt?

-Tips for summer heat

-Is it proper to wear a Clan Crest Badge, or other Celtic-Style Brooch, as a Kilt Pin?

Haggis Hunting: ep 2

Today on Haggis Hunting the lads chat about some common myths and urban legends that come with the kilt, Highland Dress and Celtic/Gaelic culture generally. 

A roll of the dice resulted in us discussing:

 

* TARTAN myths.  “My G-G-Grandfather wore the Irish County Donegal tartan”

* Trusting old photographs for “historical evidence” (just a portrait studio with bog standard kit)

* Can’t put a sgian dubh back in it’s sheath without drawing blood

* Sgian dubh is worn on opposite side from your dominant hand as a symbol that you come in peace

* You’ll get beat up for wearing the wrong tartan (not fucking gang colors)

* Ancestry.com says I’m 12% Scottish

 

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

Tartan Talks: Shaun Takes America

Rocky sits down with our friend Shaun Vlogs of Shaun Takes America to chat about travel in the USA, life in Scotland and what the Scottish identity means today. * Check out Shaun's content here: https://www.youtube.com/@ShaunTakesAmerica

 

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 5

On this episode, the guys talk about Viking tartans, choosing the right tie, and more!

 

Originally aired on May, 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 are the pros and cons of sporran belt hangers?
• Did the Vikings have tartans?
• How popular are utility kilts in the UK?
• For a festival, I am wearing a black utility kilt, clan crest t-shirt, tartan flashes and kilt hose - is this an acceptable look?
• Where did the Brian Boru jacket and vest come from? Is it traditional Irish dress?
• If you had to choose just one type of sporran for any and all occasions / outfits, what would it be?
• If you could have only one pair of shoes to wear with your kilt for any and all occasions, what would it be?
• How did weathered tartans come about? Are weathered tartans traditional?
• What is a dress tartan? Do you have to have a dress tartan for formal events?
• What is the difference between a tweed kilt and a traditional tartan kilt? Are tweed kilts traditional / legitimate Highland dress?
•  What is the best cleaning compound for a metal sporran cantle?
• Can you wear suspenders with a kilt?
• Is it wrong to wear Irish accessories with a Scottish tartan kilt?
• Is it OK to wear a turn-down collar shirt and bow tie with a Prince Charlie jacket and vest?
• What are “cheater pleats” in a great kilt? Do all great kilts have them?
• Where do you get the candies you put in every USA Kilts order???
• Should you always wear a kilt belt and sporran? Do always wear a kilt belt and sporran together?
• What tartan are you wearing today?
• Are spats just for bagpipe band uniforms or can anyone wear them? Can you wear spats with formal Highland wear?
• Should ghillies be tied in the front of the leg, off to the side, or somewhere in between?
• Rant about tying regular shoes as though they are ghillie brogues
• Best out-of-the-blue compliment you ever received whilst out and about kilted?
• When and where is it okay to forego the vest and just wear the Argyll jacket?
• Any advice on shirt and tie colour matching?
• What kind of kilt do you recommend for a stockier person?
• How is the USA Kilts building expansion going?
• How to differentiate between formal, dress, traditional, informal, etc.?

Tartan Talks Episode 1: Ally the Piper

In this episode of Tartan Talks we sit down with musician and TikToker Ally the Piper to talk about music, bagpipes, and more! 

 

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 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.