Adding another Aussie

[orangeco]

Hi all

Great to discover this forum and community.

In Adelaide, South Australia and only just starting my personal kilt ownership journey. Having worn one at several weddings including my own, and now working from home thanks to the global pandemic, and approaching 50 years old, and with a traced family history to Girvan (coincidentally my ancestors were weavers) in the 1700s … it’s time.

Advice from experts about these thoughts and plans will be welcomed:

Tartan: Buchanan ancient
Weight: 13-16oz
Mill: Lochcarron (?)
Pleats: no idea
Military or civilian: civilian
Use: daily use and special outings
Extras: sporran, flashes, waistcoat, jacket
Me: 6’3” (1.91m) and 210lbs (96kg)
Built local to me or elsewhere: not fussed either way (but jacket and waistcoat likely to be done by my local personal tailor)
Timeframe: in hand by Xmas/Jan

Guidance from the greats here please?

[Liam]

Welcome to the forum from Canada!

[Father Bill]

Welcome to the “Great Rabble”!

[MichiganKyle]

Welcome from Michigan, USA!

You might consider also segmenting your use cases between "everyday" and "special occasions" rather than trying to do one kilt that fits everything. I wear kilts as everyday clothes, and I may be a bit of a germophobe, but I'd much rather have my everyday kilts be nice easy-to-wash-at-home P/V than try to wear an heirloom-quality kilt that I can't wash and worry about getting it dirty. Others may have different ideas, but it's something to consider.

[Kiltedjohn]

Welcome from a Scotsman living in middle England. All the best with your kilt project.

[KiltedDixon]

Welcome from Texas!

[KennethSime]

Welcome, from California!

It sounds like you've pretty much got it down. You've selected one of the best tartans out there if you ask me! 16oz is better than 13oz, but it's not THAT much of a difference.

My biggest advice would be to make sure you follow the measuring instructions provided by your kilt maker, or better yet have them measure you in person.

Kyle's point above is a good one - while one kilt can "do it all," many folks find that having a less expensive, easier-to-care-for option in PV is great for daily wear.

[Hauge]

As Kyle and Kenneth advise, a good Poly Viscose for daily wear. And then a good wool kilt, for more formal occasions.
The heavy 16-18 Oz Wool, eight Yarder, could be a wee bit to hot, if You are to go gardening ect.
And it would be sad to ruin a wool Kilt, by ripping it, or spill something on the great tartan. The PV is a little more forgiving, as teflon coated...

[Jock Scot]

Welcome from Michigan, USA!

You might consider also segmenting your use cases between "everyday" and "special occasions" rather than trying to do one kilt that fits everything. I wear kilts as everyday clothes, and I may be a bit of a germophobe, but I'd much rather have my everyday kilts be nice easy-to-wash-at-home P/V than try to wear an heirloom-quality kilt that I can't wash and worry about getting it dirty. Others may have different ideas, but it's something to consider.

On a just so you know basis, the longtime traditional kilt wearer wears his newest bespoke kilt (mine is some 8/10 years old) for smart events and wears his old bespoke kilt(mine is some 40 years old) for the more practical stuff around the garden, country sports and so on. However that does not mean we wear that kilt for everything. For example, oil, grease and general grime from servicing the combine harvester etc., is still the territory of trousers.

Oh and welcome from Inverness-shire Orangeco.

[COScotsman]

from Colorado!