Dual review: Scotweb and USA kilts; other items

[Amelorn]

I've poked around and made a few posts. Nothing substantial. Anyway, my kilt finally arrived from Scotland via FEDEX. (On the customs clearance on FEDEX's tracking, the freight paid and anything monetary was blank...so I hope that I dodged customs fees).

I made a list to myself of everything I wanted (basically, a Jacobite outfit + plaid...yes I know, it's not canon, but it's my garment). I then bought the items depending on who had what in stock, and if both had the item I wanted, who got the better price. If prices were about equal, I'd choose USA kilts to avoid customs. Both orders were placed on June 6 (D Day).


On a note, my accessories have the Monarch of the Glen/Stag "theme" to them. I'm also a bagpiper.

USAK
From USA Kilts, I bought a Jacobite shirt, sporran, stag horn sgian dubh, belt buckle (stag head), flashes (red), kilt pin (stag head) and hose.

The order came to around $250. I went 2 weeks and didn't get it, so I e-mailed rocky. He forgot to ship the order. I got everything by June 20. No problem, as all the big stuff was a month away from coming. He was polite and prompt in his service. I'll buy another pair of hose and a shirt from him soon.

I didn't get the kilt from Rocky, as his prices were far enough above Scotweb's to justify importing it. Rocky makes a damn good product, based on reviews, but for the extortionate tariffs on tartan cloth, in addition to the labor, it reduces in his competitiveness. If you read this Rocky, I understand (to the degree an outsider can) the costs and overhead you incur...and I understand that you aren't greedy.

Scotweb (this order came earlier in he morning)
~I ordered a 5 yard casual kilt by Balmoral, made from 13 oz Batli Torridon worsted wool and pleated to the line. The tartan was Royal Stewart Modern. The wool is slightly....just slightly coarser than most worsted wools, however, the color is magnificent. The pleats swing nice, and the kilt is a perfect fit (my pants size is 34, though the kilt waist is 37...as I wear my pants low).

~Chieftain Tweed waistcoat, charcoal color...size small. Originally, I had ordered the waistcoat in black barathea wool. However, that wasn't in stock and was delayed into august. After exchanging e-mails with a very prompt and helpful person named Judy, the in-stock tweed coat was shipped out instead. It fits fine (chest is a 38.5", the coat allows up to 40"). The nickel-plated buttons are very pleasing to the eye. However, have a gold-plating kit (If it is made of gold and silver, I am a hobbyist of those things), and will probably plate them.

~Leather Kilt belt, black. Not much to say here. It's a fine belt made with decent leather. It's snug, but not oppressive.

~Fly plaid. I love this accessory. I am not as "libertarian" for kilts, in that I believe a man's highland garb is his own business and prerogative. It's Batli Cuillin 11 oz wool. The plaid is luxuriously soft, more so than the kilt.

~Stag head plaid brooch. In keeping with my Monarch of the Glen/Stag Theme, this seemed like the perfect accessory/finishing touch.

Pictures coming soon.

Outing:

I put on all of the items listed above and a pair of dress shoes....to go to a wedding...no, a ball...no, some other formal event...no. I took my Siberian husky out for a walk. My area, though it's you're typical white suburb (and being New York, loaded with Americans of Celtic lineage) doesn't see kilts often. One lady, whose dog is friends with mine, said "Ready for St Andrews I see" (It's where I am going for university next year). She said it...awkwardly.

Then I encountered a man on the same sidewalk going in the other direction. He said hello, but the "Are you insane" look was so obvious, that all I could do was laugh. Motorists were also staring.

On the last leg of the journey, the wind started to blow, so the plaid was fluttering in the wind, in what I imagine was a flash of red, white, yellow, black, and blue. On old man was just watching me. He's probably been to enough parades to not be fazed.

My mother(I'm 18) was semi-horrified that I'd go out for a casual outing kilted. For her, kilts are only for bagpipers on the relatively few parades they do each year. I'll try and convince her of the error of her ways... She hopes that I won't wear my kilt constantly when I'm at St Andrews. Although she did tell me of a girl in her high school who wears elaborate Victorian period dresses (Think Jane Eyre)

So that's my story.

[Carolina Kiltman]

Sounds like a good trip to me.

[Nighthawk]

Nice! I've been planning on getting a Scotweb Balmoral. Can you give me a review? I have one of USA Kilts' semi trads, and it's an incredible garment to be sure.

[Amelorn]

Nice! I've been planning on getting a Scotweb Balmoral. Can you give me a review? I have one of USA Kilts' semi trads, and it's an incredible garment to be sure.

As I'm wearing it for the second time today, I will give you the best review possible.

I'm wearing the 5 yard, although the 8 yard is available. The measurements you give them ARE the measurements that will be made. The buckles on my kilt allow me to shrink or expand a few inches (on the waist). The fabric choices are excellent. You can choose from locharron, hedga, batli, marto and a couple of other mills with weights from 18 oz to 10oz. (I went with batli ....as said, the colors are beautiful for the royal stewart, but it's slightly coarser than the top notch mills).

The buckles are stainless steel and quite sturdy looking.

The 5 yard is pleated to the line.

Balmoral uses a hybrid process of hand sewn and machine sewn. I can't say it's a bad combo. I like my kilt.If you look on Scotweb's side for the Balmoral kilt, you can read 100 or so glowing reviews.

The worksmanship is just fine.

Then there's the made in Scotland factor.

The price was excellent (mine was $230 or so...for 5 yards of 13 oz worsted wool and a made in Scotland real kilt, that's unbeatable).

Edit: picture

Edit...I know..I know. I let the sporran sag a little too much.

[Riverkilt]

You are so hooked!!! Welcome to your new hobby/passion/addiction....there is sooo much more waiting for you to buy/wear/enjoy....you're in the right spot to fine tune your enjoyment of FREEDOM!!

And, be you related to Paul McCartney??

Ron

[beowulf67]

Great looking kilt and accessories! That price is really good, I need to look into those kilts more closely.