The definitive guide to killing it in a kilt

With St Andrew’s Day, Hogmanay and a flurry of weddings on the horizon, there’s been chat amongst the men in the i-on office about investing in a decent kilt. Sure, they know a thing or two about the latest sneaker releases and the hottest Scandinavian streetwear brands, but it transpires they're a little clueless when it comes to traditional Scot’s style. We therefore turned to the experts at McCalls Highlandwear for some advice on choosing the right kilt. After all, they’ve been kitting out guys in classic Highlandwear since 1887 so we can safely say they know what they’re talking about.
 

Right, I need a kilt. Where do I start?
The most popular choice is your family tartan - try looking for your surname, your mother's maiden name or other forebears such as grandparents. You can also choose a district or country tartan from a place you have an affinity with. Or you can simply choose the tartan you like best.

Ok, I’ve found my clan. But wait, what’s all this about Modern, Ancient and Weathered Tartans?
Modern Tartans have strong, vivid colours due to the use of modern dyes. Ancient Tartans are created to give a softer and lighter appearance. And Weathered Tartans are created to give the fabric a muted, vintage look. It just comes down to personal preference.

Hit me with the maths - how much cloth is in a man's traditional kilt?
On average there’s 7.3m / 8yd of single width cloth measuring 28" / 56cm wide, though this varies according to the size and setting of the tartan.

When can I wear it?
It’s most commonly worn at weddings and formal functions - basically any occasion when you would otherwise wear a dinner suit or tuxedo.

Great, so that’s the kilt sorted. Now what jacket do I pair it with?
For daytime events, a kilt can be worn with a tweed jacket or one of our more contemporary kilt jackets. For semi-formal events, you can pair it with an Argyll, Sheriff Muir or Prince Charlie jacket, matched with appropriate accessories to make it more or less formal. For formal events such as weddings and gala dinners, a Prince Charlie is an obvious choice.

And now for the finishing touches – how do I accessorise it?
Again, this comes down to personal taste but you can dramatically change the look of a kilt by pairing it with a different shirt, waistcoat, tie / bowtie, socks and brogues. We’ve made things nice and easy by creating an online Kilt Outfit Designer where you can see how your outfit looks and change things up at the click of a button.

How much will it cost?
We’re currently running a great offer so you can buy a bespoke kilt in a range of tartans complete with matching flashes for just £299.

One last thing… should I go commando?
There’s no rule that says you mustn’t wear anything underneath but you might not be hailed a true Scotsman by some if you do.
 

Need a little more tartan inspiration? Check out i-on’s top five tartan lovers.

Alternatively, read our interview with Iain Hawthorne, managing director at McCalls Highlandwear, for even more top tips.

McCalls Highlandwear Edinburgh, 21-22A Haddington Pl, Edinburgh, EH7 4AF, Tel: 0131 557 3979,
McCalls Highlandwear Glasgow, 132 Ingram St, Glasgow, G1 1EJ, Tel: 0141 548 1116
www.mccalls.co.uk