Incremental Accessorization Question

[416 Rigby]

Lots of good stuff here. I, too, got into it on a very limited budget. I agree a sporran is a requirement. I got the economy day sporran from USA when I bought my USA Casual, and it's good for $45.

The USA Casual is, in my view, the perfect first tartan kilt. For about $120, depending on your size, you get a kilt made to your measurements and they are so easy to care for PV material and look great. You can also use this less expensive kilt to confirm your measurements before spending a lot of money on a wool kilt. I recommend measuring to wear it above your belly button like a wool kilt, instead of where you wear pants. I just love mine and will definitely get another.

Shoes...the ones in your photo will be ok, I think, with some polish. Treads are good in the Midwest winter weather. Hit up the thrift stores for a pair of wingtips on the cheap.

Have fun, and welcome to the great rabble...

[CMcG]

Does "Cream" count as white for kilt hose? I don't think I've ran across ones that are called white but cream seems to be ubiquitous. I've seen some nice pictures of lovat green with red flashes, but I'm not sure if I'm quite that bold. I was thinking grey hose with green flashes.

...

It is the very ubiquity of cream, off-white, white, etc. that many experienced kilt wearers recommend avoiding. Some people on this board would tell you it is better to not wear the kilt at all than wear the dreaded white hose, but I'd say an exception might be made for some thick, hand-knit ones with nice cabling on them. Those won't look so much like a uniform, rental, or tat.

Either of the other hose and flash choices you mentioned would work. One trick is to make sure that you fold the cuff down far enough that it covers most of your flashes and also shows some knee. That way you get a little pop of colour and not mini flag hanging off your leg

Here are a couple photos of me wearing an outfit similar to what you seem to be going for. In both pics I'm wearing lovat green hose, which seems to go with everything. In the second one I'm wearing garter ties, rather than flashes. As others have mentioned, the casual sweater/jumper look can be dressed up a bit by putting on a necktie:

[New World Czech]

To be clear: The Utility Kilt is for me and will not show up to the office. While the dress code says nothing about kilts, it does specifically forbid cargo pockets. It might make an appearance at our annual office BBQ, though, where cargo shorts and t-shirts are the norm.

I'm for sure going tartan for the Christmas Party, even if it is in a more casual style kilt. Tartan kilt or no kilt. I have my eye on a USA Casual in Scottish National. Gotta start somewhere and I think I can dress it up enough for the party. Plus, I know I will want to keep a casual kilt around anyways.

I have a couple of different sweaters and really might bust out the v-neck if I can find a solid color tie that compliments the kilt. My current tie collection is lacking in the solid color department.

Below is my off the rack USA casual dressed up for Christmas. If you order it custom you can have the patch left off the kilt. Most none kilt wearers will not know it is not a traditional wool kilt. My sporran is a budget about $35, my hose cost more. The jacket is a conversion.
002x.jpg

[Panache]

Does "Cream" count as white for kilt hose? I don't think I've ran across ones that are called white but cream seems to be ubiquitous. I've seen some nice pictures of lovat green with red flashes, but I'm not sure if I'm quite that bold. I was thinking grey hose with green flashes.

You can bet I'll post pics when I get it all together. Really hoping to get it all in time for the company Christmas party. In my favor is that USA happens to stock "off the rack" the exact measurements I need in the tartan I want (Scottish National) for a casual kilt.

Alright, everyone, I'll make a sporran work in the budget somehow. I, sadly, might have to start with the cheapo one, but I guess that's better than getting a mediocre one and never getting around to an upgrade.

Bob,

Looking at the colors of the Scottish National tartan (and considering you are getting this outfit together for a Christmas party) have you considered going with green hose and red flashes?

Here is a USA semi traditional kilt in the Galbraith tartan (with colors very similar to the Scottish National) to help you get an idea





I have a whole box of flashes and the ones I wear most (in fact the only flashes I have ever had to replace because the elastic wore out) are the red ones. Red flashes just work an amazing amount of the time with a wide variety of different tartans.

If you must go with an inexpensive sporran (note I write "inexpensive" and not "cheapo") I have one last recommendation. I needed a basic black tasseled sporran as part of the costume requirements of The Red Thistle Dancers performance group and got this one from Jerry at Stillwater kilts

http://store.stillwaterkilts.com/Emb...rran_p_47.html

The quality is pretty good and the embossed leather looks nice. It is one that I would wear on other occasions if I didn't have my Buzz Kidder basic one or my nicer options. The difference in quality between this $35 sporran and the under $20 ones you can find is pretty huge. The cheapo sporrans will have a cardboard-like feel to the leather and they will start looking really shabby sooner than later. My sporran doesn't get heavy use (SCD mainly) but it still looks good after 3 years of infrequent use.

By the by, in your introduction thread you mentioned you have possible ties to the McNaughton Clan

USA Kilts does quite a handsome PV McNaughton kilt when you look to expand your collection


(Wearing MacNaughton whilst gathered with other X Markers)



Cheers

Jamie

[BobCampbell]

Jamie,

I had thought about lovat green hose and red flashes. I've seen lovat green with red in a lot of photos and really like that look. I'm just not sure I'm that bold. I had not considered the forest green since I'll want to wear this for other occasions and don't want it to look "too Christmasy". I'm using the Christmas party as a deadline and certainly want to be able to use the outfit for other events.

Now, your picture doesn't come off as Christmasy at all. It's nice to see it with a very similar tartan. Thanks for the pic! The forest green works.

You touched on exactly my thoughts regarding the sporrans. I know a decent bit about leatherwork, and know you get what you pay for. Cheap leatherwork irritates me. If I'm going with a sporran (and I am after all the comments in this thread) then I'm going with one that'll be decent, even if it is low cost and fits my goal of getting together a starter set, then upgrade later. The one you linked definitely appears to fit the bill.

[BobCampbell]

Below is my off the rack USA casual dressed up for Christmas. If you order it custom you can have the patch left off the kilt. Most none kilt wearers will not know it is not a traditional wool kilt. My sporran is a budget about $35, my hose cost more. The jacket is a conversion.
002x.jpg

Your picture illustrates something I really love about kilts. Swap out the tie and you could show up to lots of other different events. It's neat to see that "tartan" (as a color) is a neutral color.

Fun fact about the patch, I have it on good authority that it is only sewn on and not ironed, making it easy to remove, which I plan on doing. Then, I'll put it on something else.

[416 Rigby]

If you're ordering you kilt new, made to measure for you, just select the "no patch" option and you won't have to remove it later...or maybe you can just ask to buy on and not have it sewn on. Come to think of it, next time I order something from Rocky, I think ill just buy one. It would look cool on my pipe case.

[BobCampbell]

If you're ordering you kilt new, made to measure for you, just select the "no patch" option and you won't have to remove it later...or maybe you can just ask to buy on and not have it sewn on. Come to think of it, next time I order something from Rocky, I think ill just buy one. It would look cool on my pipe case.

I'm in a lucky situation where I measured and my exact measurements are one of the options for the off the rack kilt. I also happen to really like a tartan that they offer off the rack. So, I'll just order that and get the same kilt I would have, minus the wait. I want to start with the casual anyways while I finalize family tree research and order a proper family tartan.

I, too, think the patch looks cool, but can't really justify keeping it on a kilt that I'll dress up a bit. I'll find somewhere fun to put it.

[Father Bill]

Jamie,

I had thought about lovat green hose and red flashes. I've seen lovat green with red in a lot of photos and really like that look. I'm just not sure I'm that bold. I had not considered the forest green since I'll want to wear this for other occasions and don't want it to look "too Christmasy". I'm using the Christmas party as a deadline and certainly want to be able to use the outfit for other events.

Now, your picture doesn't come off as Christmasy at all. It's nice to see it with a very similar tartan. Thanks for the pic! The forest green works.

You touched on exactly my thoughts regarding the sporrans. I know a decent bit about leatherwork, and know you get what you pay for. Cheap leatherwork irritates me. If I'm going with a sporran (and I am after all the comments in this thread) then I'm going with one that'll be decent, even if it is low cost and fits my goal of getting together a starter set, then upgrade later. The one you linked definitely appears to fit the bill.

An observation: that green/red colour combo is not actually "bold" since they are considered by many to be default, fall-back "normal" colours for hose. Black and white diced? Now THAT's bold! (I have a pair. )

[Panache]

An observation: that green/red colour combo is not actually "bold" since they are considered by many to be default, fall-back "normal" colours for hose. Black and white diced? Now THAT's bold! (I have a pair. )

Father Bill,

I'll see your Black and White diced hose and up the ante with pink hose, checked purple tops and matching pink and purple garter ties!



;)

Jamie ith: