IDEAL v. BUDGET

[dowofbuchanan]

ill make my list later as it is rather late but, unless one of you guys wants to commit a felony theres alot of us regular guys and a few of the mods that aint gettin a seal skin sporran.


edit. somehow the word guys became guess ... guess it is late

[Ancienne Alliance]

McMurdo says that the kilt itself is the one area not to scrimp on, if you get the best quality you can afford it may well last you the rest of your life (...)

Jock Scot recommends that you save your pennies, wait, save more pennies and wait again (...) and then buy the best (…) in the long term it will work out the cheapest way.

I will have to agree with both these gentlemen.

I can well understand the eagerness to go out there kilted and show it off to the face of the world. It’s a fact that you can always sell your cheap sporrans, sgian or kilt pins on @bay and gradually replace them…

But I wouldn’t recommend that with the kilt.

It’s just darn to expensive (and symbolic) to fool around with…

You can ask English Bloke … it is an expensive lesson to learn!

Best,

Robert

[ForresterModern]

My turn to take a stab. I think I will likely disappoint some, but I agree with Jock and MacMurdo that the kilt is the centerpiece and should not be scrimped on except to a point. I think it should be a full 8yd 13-16oz traditional knife pleated klt, but am willing to let that for either level be a quality well fitted machine sewn from a reputable vendor rather than necessitate it being the all out handsewn---cheaper, and as long as it fits and is constructed well I think probably looks nearly as well, but comes in farther underbudget in most cases. Choose the tartan you lke best, preferably becasue it has some deep and personal meaning to you-----family, military servie, etc...

Everything else I say simply that I agree with Jock with one exception. My agreement is to buy quality in everything---price does not necessarily equate to quality, as some deals can be had on good stuff if you are a good scot and shop thriftily and well, but in genreal you do get what you pay for. My exception is that I personally do like a bit of variety, so I do have several kilts, several jackets and waistcoats, several belts and buckles, two pair of ghillies plus my casual shoes, numerous ties and headgear, and more than my fair share of nice quality but relatively inexpensive kilt pins and other minor paraphernalia (thanks to ebay) to help dress up the final look just a bit more and be able to add some variety to the wardrobe on an as needed basis.

I must admit I do not know enough yet to be able to do the full out dress regalia, and have limited stock and resources, so the upper end IDEAL stuff I am just not as familiar with to be able to comment too far in that arena. But I think so far I have done well and made quality yet frugal and well thought out, well sought out, purchases on my own budget, and that is what is important. The scot's way.

[Jock Scot]

When I buy something, be it, a plough, lorry, fishing rod, car, kilt, or anything else apart from day to day shopping, I have two things that I always ask myself.

1.The most expensive thing you(me) will ever buy, is something you really don't want.So do I really want it?
2.I must divorce need from necessity. In other words, I may need it, but is it really necessary?

Do I always get it right? No way, but it helps!

[The Guy in the Kilt at UC]

When I buy something, be it, a plough, lorry, fishing rod, car, kilt, or anything else apart from day to day shopping, I have two things that I always ask myself.

1.The most expensive thing you(me) will ever buy, is something you really don't want.So do I really want it?
2.I must divorce need from necessity. In other words, I may need it, but is it really necessary?

Do I always get it right? No way, but it helps!

Good advice. I've never heard it before, but I can see the wisdom in it.

[Detroitpete]

So I just did a 'copy and paste' of everything MacMillan and Jock Scot said and saved it in a file named "Kilt logic 101".

But then Jock HAD to mention fly rods and I looked over at my collection of hand made bamboo rods and my heart sank.

I'm going to need a second job

Seriously, I think there are great points being made hear about building one's kilt kit primarily from a point of quality and usefulness.

Great thread Matt!

(I'm going back to note taking now)

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

ill make my list later as it is rather late but, unless one of you guys wants to commit a felony theres alot of us regular guys and a few of the mods that aint gettin a seal skin sporran.


edit. somehow the word guys became guess ... guess it is late

You know, without risking time in the pokey, genuine seal skin sporrans, fully legal to possess, are available on the used market in the USA on a fairly regular basis. Sure, they aren't cheap, but they are there if you look.

[McMurdo]

ill make my list later as it is rather late but, unless one of you guys wants to commit a felony theres alot of us regular guys and a few of the mods that aint gettin a seal skin sporran.


edit. somehow the word guys became guess ... guess it is late

Funny
I thought this was the Ideal for Traditional Highland Wear, as such I answered with Sealskin. You really must remember this is an international forum, some of us are not beholden to the Marine Mammals Act of 1974.

[Tattoo Bradley]

Ideal:

1. The kilt itself.
Handsewn, 16 oz. Scottish Tartan
Traditional 4 yd. box pleated OR 8 yd. knife pleated in your chosen tartan/hue

2. Shoes, daywear.
comfortable leather shoes, with an appropriate asthetic

3. Shoes, eveningwear.
well polished, high quality, black oxfords

4. Hose, daywear.
Lewis Kilt hose in complimentary colors, 2 pair

5. Hose, eveningwear.
Tartan hose in appropriate tartan

6. Sporran, daywear.
Brown leather, brass cantle sporran
Black leather, plain
Both high quality ie. L&M

7. Sporran, eveningwear.
Full Mask
or
Seal Skin with sterling silver cantle

8. Jacket and/or waistcoat, daywear.
Tweed argyll in a nice lovet or check with matching 5 button waist coat to compliment your tartan

9. Jacket and/or waistcoat, eveningwear.
Regulation Doublet in velvet or black barethea
waist coat in tartan matching that of the kilt
waist coat in matching velvet or black barethea as applicable

10. (Because it has to be a round number), your one other piece of personal advice.

Do not let yardage, tartan, and pleating styles (and the common misconceptions thereof) mislead you. Educate yourself on the differences, understand why there are differences, understand which differences are due to cost control and corner cutting, and understand which differences are that of style, tradition, and history.

Budget:

1. The kilt itself.
Handsewn, 16 oz. Scottish Tartan
Traditional 4 yd. box pleated OR 8 yd. knife pleated in your chosen tartan/hue

2. Shoes, daywear.
Comfortable leather shoes in appropriate style

3. Shoes, eveningwear.
well polished black oxfords

4. Hose, daywear.
complimentary colored hose, of highest quality you can afford, avoid the $10 "Highland Hose" whose sheer rivals that of pantyhose

5. Hose, eveningwear.
Hawick Lewis hose, in complimentary color, save pennies if necessary

6. Sporran, daywear.
Plain brown or black leather sporran, of highest quality you can afford

7. Sporran, eveningwear.
Fur sporran of reasonable quality, save pennies if necessary

8. Jacket and/or waistcoat, daywear.
Tweed argyll, haunt Ebay

9. Jacket and/or waistcoat, eveningwear.
Black barathea argyll with matching waist coat or matching tartan waist coat

10. (Because it has to be a round number), your one other piece of personal advice.

As has been stated several times: buy quality; period. Don't be afraid to haunt Ebay (but ensure you've done your homework and know what you're looking for.)

Do not let yardage, tartan, and pleating styles (and the common misconceptions thereof) mislead you. Educate yourself on the differences, understand why there are differences, understand which differences are due to cost control and corner cutting, and understand which differences are that of style, tradition, and history.

[dowofbuchanan]

Funny
I thought this was the Ideal for Traditional Highland Wear, as such I answered with Sealskin. You really must remember this is an international forum, some of us are not beholden to the Marine Mammals Act of 1974.

im fully aware that it is international, and that you are in canada where the seal trade is alive and well, and that hamish and jock are in the uk where it can be purchased without second thought. i actually pointed it out incase any of the non us posters forgot or wanted to give a suggestion for a sporran choice on the same level as a silver/seal combo. infact the op is a us citizen and would have to get his seal second hand. i dont use the term american ... i dont like it ... after all what continent are canada and mexico on, or brasil for that matter.