Kilts4less Barva Harris Tweed Argyll/Vest Review.

[Mike S]

As promised in another thread, here is my mini review of the Harris Tweed Barva Argyll jacket and vest as offered by Kilts4less.com.

I'm aware that a few members here had some issues with their purchase from Kilts4less/Tartan4less, however my experience was 100% positive. I dealt with Craig directly, and his email and assistance was both efficient and thorough, as well as lighting fast. It was obvious to me that they genuinely desire to obtain AND KEEP your business.

I won't publish the price, but I got a very significant discount on both the Argyll/vest as well as the Airmail shipping. The value for money on this was too good to pass up.

The package was received ONE DAY after ordering from Scotland to W.KY. You can't beat that! The whole affair was sturdily boxed, and came in both the standard clear plastic suit bag, as well as a black zip up garment bag. Nice.

The Harris tweed fabric is of excellent quality. I rather fancy this tweed color and herringbone pattern, which is why I decided to experiment with this vendor and add this one to my hoard. I needed another one like a hole in the head, but so it goes.

Fit and finish is crisp and as good as one could expect off the rack, and fitted to a beer barrel torso (blame my gluttony on the German side of my family tree. I do!). Craig suggested that a 48 was a better fit for my 50" chest as these run a bit big. He was correct in this regard with both the jacket and the vest. The lining is perhaps a bit thin (a faux Satin acetate), but well finished and actually a God send for this fat guy in the hot South. I can see this being wearable during the slightly warmer fall weather we often suffer during the local Highland Games. The hang and construction of the garment is handsome, but without an excess of padding and interfacing that makes such a wool garment too toasty for those of us down South.

The only alterations that I personally made (In a former life, I handmade beau coup accurate living history reproduction garments) was to shorten the sleeves for an optimal fit, and to reposition the gauntlet cuff and scalloped pocket buttons so that they sit directly over the integral faux "Piping", and not off to the side as originally presented.

I see no issues with this being a "SAXON" suit cut regarding the cut away for the sporran,length of the skirt etc. It fits like my other, bespoke argylls.

Craig gave me the name of the manufacturer they contract with for these, and they are indeed made in the U.K. The usual red flags one sees with Sialkot Pakistan made garments are completely absent. I saw a lot of those among the less than accurate types in the Living History/Reenacting field, and this is certainly not a product from those manufacturers.

Forgive me for not donning the full kilt and regalia for the snapshots, but I wanted to get this up quickly before heading out for the day without dragging out the full kit.

Bottom line, I am very pleased with the product, have paid much more for far less, and the service couldn't be beat. I will definitely order from them again.

The jacket as it appears on their website:



And on my fat a** :