Not many people out there are the kilt buying kind. My guess is that everyone has come to accept the idea of men wearing kilts, and you see the maverick at weddings who decides to wear one. But taking the leap of faith toward wearing one is more challenging. Fortunately, the Utilikilts Store (recently relocated to Pioneer Square), is a great place to consider making the leap of faith.
A friend of mine decided he wanted one, and dragged me along. As of November, 2006, the store operates from a temporary location in an alley on Occidental and Jackson, and the shopkeeper said they are remodeling a storefront on Pioneer Square. He began browsing the selection, and the shopkeeper seemed extremely enthusiastic about helping us, and spoke excitedly about helping us. He followed us through the small store, offering to measure us and describing the different types of fabrics.
And in the process, I discovered the following:
1) Kilts do not necessarily come in tartan.
2) Kilts come in a variety of fabrics, from the basic cotton for everyday use, to cotton polyester blends (for lounging around the house -- think tracksuit material), and the store even features leather and tuxedo-type kilts for special occassions.
3) Most kilts snap shut, and are very easy to put on.
4) Kilts are comfortable, and although they can be very chilly in winter, the shopkeeper informed me you could just stand with your legs closer together.
5) Most people do not typically wear underwear under their kilts.
6) Kilts are quite expensive. The house kilts cost around $100, and the most expensive leather kilts are upwards of $700.
I was pleased to learn so much about kilts, and my friend said he was happy about his. The service was good and thorough, and I am excited to see how the business develops after it gets a storefront.
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