Complete the outfit

[Panache]

If you are ordering your 8 yard knife pleated kilt through Matt Newsome at the Scottish Tartans Museum (understand he won't be making it for you) I would be very tempted to order a set of Lewis Hose from him as well.

At about $50 they may seem steep, but they are going to be thicker and nicer looking than the standard wool / acrylic blend hose most places have.

It is a subtle thing, but high quality hose make any outfit just a little classier.

I will second Jock's opinion about a tweed jacket. I have a tweed crail style jacket, a PC style formal coat, a black braemar jacket , and two lighter weight "walking jackets. Hands down the tweed crail is worn most and most appropriate for the situations I find myself in.


As for a sporran, before offering any advice I would need to know what (if any) sporrans you have currently own?

Cheers

Jamie

[Scotus]

If you are ordering your 8 yard knife pleated kilt through Matt Newsome at the Scottish Tartans Museum (understand he won't be making it for you) I would be very tempted to order a set of Lewis Hose from him as well.

My 8 yard, 16 oz Cumming Hunting was ordered through Matt's shop. It's a good deal, as Matt is an excellent go-between person to have.

[Panache]

I am assuming that you are looking to buy a sporran /sporrans that will last you for the rest of your life.

If you only want to buy one sporran , I believe a full mask sporran can serve you for all levels of formality from polo shirt to white tie.

A good one is going to cost about $400

If a full mask sporran isn't your thing I think you will need to purchase at least two sporrans, a brown daywear one and a black one for evenings and formal wear.

Currently I have 10 sporrans that run the gauntlet from very casual to white tie formal.

They are all great and all have there place in my wardrobe.

However if I were just starting out, with the accumulated knowledge I have gained here at XMTS I would choose to save and purchase two

A brown leather Freelander Sporran for day wear

http://www.freelandersporrans.com/cms/index.php

And a black leather and fur Ferguson Britt for everything else

http://giftshop.scottishtartans.org/...%20stripes.JPG

Now I would be looking at better than $600 for both, but between the two I would be able to wear them to anything.

Now if I picked a fur Ferguson Britt sporran that used black leather for the cantle and trim and something like brown beaver fur for the body I could use just the one sporran for everything which would then be about $400.

Since you are looking for a first class traditional outfit it would be worth it to get a sporran that is going to be made to last and l,ook top notch.

Cheers

Jamie

[Friday]

I am assuming that you are looking to buy a sporran /sporrans that will last you for the rest of your life.

What I am trying to do is put together an initial traditional outfit, as the years go by I would want to increase the quality/price of the items I have.

So far

Kilt $590
Hose 50
sporran 200
Tweed Jacket 450
Vest 175

So far my budget for an initial outfit, based on what has been said is that I will have to save over $1,000 before I can take my wife to dinner. Each of these items are reasonably priced, but, it is going to take over a year for me to save up enough and then I could only afford McDonalds for dinner.

[Highland Logan]

See it is possible.. budget now for what will get you through what you plan to dress for, and the formal can wait. Also you can get hose much less exspensive than $50, and are still of a good quality. Hope this has been of help.

Frank

[Panache]

Friday,

It strikes me that if one is starting from absolute scratch then perhaps a Kilt Package might be your best bet

Here are a couple of examples

Here is one from Scotweb:

http://www.scotweb.co.uk/package_bui...d_crail_outfit

Here is one from USA Kilts

http://www.usakilts.com/store/premiumkilt1_packpage.php

Now hear me out. Here is my reasoning.

Your goal is to have a nice outfit.

You have absolutely nothing.

Assuming you have no problems paying your monthly bills I would be tempted to save for about half a year.

Then I would use a credit card with a really good rate for the first balance to purchase the the package (in addition at this time I would also purchase a brown leather day sporran)

Then I would take that card and lock it up (or cut it into little pieces) so you never use it again.

Because you have a great rate on the credit card (and already have saved up half of the price for the package) you get everything you need, and are in a sense paying for your outfit in installments.


The last bit of kit you would need would be a plain brown leather belt, a black leather sporran strap, and a brown leather sporran strap.

You could just buy these as well from the same company at the same time but these are actually pretty easy (and fun) DIY projects.

Just an idea

Cheers

Jamie

What I am trying to do is put together an initial traditional outfit, as the years go by I would want to increase the quality/price of the items I have.

So far

Kilt $590
Hose 50
sporran 200
Tweed Jacket 450
Vest 175

So far my budget for an initial outfit, based on what has been said is that I will have to save over $1,000 before I can take my wife to dinner. Each of these items are reasonably priced, but, it is going to take over a year for me to save up enough and then I could only afford McDonalds for dinner.

[Highland Logan]

I like the suggestions by MoR, but I think you may be off the mark a bit Jamie. Friday has already said that $1000 is off the mark, and most packages start around there. Second is the fact that most do not let you chose your tartan, and if there is choice it is limited. And third, and no less importaint... people have budgets because they wish to avoid credit, and sence this seems to have been some of the root cause of where the world now finds itself, I encourge all to stay within their means in these troubling times. Dressing up or down a kilt can be done, and on a budget without credit and without breaking the bank. You for example have shown us a large selection of DYI jacket conversions. And the other great thing about avoiding these packages.... one does not look like a cookie cutter version from a cataloge.

Frank

[Scotus]

I agree with MacMillan of Rathdown and Highland Logan. I think Jamie is aiming at too high of an expense. When it comes to the kilt, save your money and buy a good one. When it comes to the accessories, however, it seems that the traditionalists (myself included) are saying, "Here's where you need to stay in budget." Please, don't buy a $200. to $400. sporran right off the bat, unless you can afford it. You can get the proper kilt accessories, good quality, at cheaper prices (not so the kilt). MoR's suggestions are excellent.