"But I Don't Have Enough Money!"

[Bugbear]

It's all been cleared up for me. Scotus is just offering his advice and point of view on an approach to saving up for a traditional kilt.

I do walk both sides of the street on the traditional and non, but I try to keep them seporate or specified, so the other things in this thread aren't really an issue for me.

I'll try to shut up now.

[macwilkin]

Having read thru all the replies again I still disagree with the spirit and intent of the original post as well as the letter of it. The kilt to me is not just something to be worn when getting dressed up, rather it is garment worn because of its characteristics and flexibilty. The kilt was originally and should be something that I can wear as often as possible.

Of course, not everyone wears the kilt for the same reasons you do. And remember, as davedove mentioned in his post, a quality traditional kilt can be worn in a variety of situations, from formal attire to casually at the games, etc. -- it's all about accessories.

Food for thought...

Regards,

Todd

[Scotus]

It's all been cleared up for me. Scotus is just offering his advice and point of view on an approach to saving up for a traditional kilt.

Correct, and you don't have to "shut up," Ted.

[herminator]

The first kilt I bought was a flimsy black cotton thing that I would now even hesitate to call a skirt. I threw it away, ... money I could have saved!

Even the first kilt I made myself weas of better quality.
But then it was my entry into the world of kilts.

The later DIY kilts were nearly all made of PV, I don´t wear wool at all, it is much too warm and itches terribly! But in construction they are traditional. Yes it is quite a difference, I wouldn´t go back. But I will never buy a "Traditional Handsewn 100% Wool Kilt", because I wear my kilts on an everyday basis and would not want to put a 400$ kilt at risk!

And I would never have been able to convince my wife to spend that much money on a piece of clothing ...

[JelicoCat]

Food for thought...

I agree with your post. But it's about not having the money. If I save up the kind money it takes to buy a quality/traditional kilt, it is money that goes to supplying my family/kids with their needs and wants. Some of us honestly "don't have the money." That is my point.

[ForresterModern]

I am probably the exception to the rule, in that I bought a good quality 8yd machine sewn 13oz wool tartan (all my family tartan came in) bespoke kilt from a major US vendor. Followed that with 4 more 16oz 8yd machine sewns, then my first 16oz wool casual and another traditional style 16oz 8yd in unusual fabric (the original Braveheart tartan). Another 13oz 8yd wool tartan is now followed by my latest acquisition, a "16oz" 8yd acryllic casual. Why, you might ask? Because I am so proud and protective of my nice wool tartan kilts that I would not wish to damage them doing some of the things I do fairly frequently, and would still rather wear a kilt than pants while doing them (hiking, camping, after cycling, working around the house, etc...). I will probably never wear the acryllic anywhere serious as I have others for that, but now feel more comfortable wearing the kilt around when I am doing more dirty or wear and tear related activities.

First hand sewn tank in queue with Barb T, another Kingussie from her to follow that (when I can afford it), and then another handsewn in the hunting sett of my family tartan after that. But there will always be a place in my closet for the two casuals, the wool and the acryllic, and it will likely be closer to the front than most of the tanks, as I will be more likely to put it on for more occasions.

[JSFMACLJR]

But I will never buy a "Traditional Handsewn 100% Wool Kilt", because I wear my kilts on an everyday basis and would not want to put a 400$ kilt at risk!
...

What do you chaps do that puts so much stress on a kilt? I have worn a kilt ( what you would call a "tank" ) hiking, shooting, beagling; through snow storms and torrential rains; in very hot weather; in clean places and dirty. Mine have survived. My hunting kilt has a few little snags, but actually no one knows and they aren't that big a deal. When I read about this fear of damaging your kilt, I just have to wonder what you all are up to!

[ForresterModern]

working on and handling bicycles after rides tends to expose them to some pretty tenacious grease stains as does working under one of the cars. Yardwork, like hauling firewood or digging new garden or flower beds for the wife, handling bricks and landscaping block, cleaning out a rather cluttered basement full of old, dusty boxes. Building things from wood with hand and power tools leaves a lot of sawdust around, hanging shelves and other things around the house sends out plaster dust and paint chips.

I know that a nice tight weave heavy duty wool tartan can probably withstand many of these things, but why risk ruining a quality kilt I have worn to places and events I like to remember each time I put it on? If I trash a $50 acrylic there is no love lost, and it is easier and cheaper to replace if I choose to.

[piperdbh]

This is my first and only post in this thread.

The original post here talks about saving up to buy the best kilt one can afford and acquiring the "accessories" in the course of time. I would submit that this is probably what most of our ancestors did, unless they were wealthy enough to buy all their "kit" ready-made. I read somewhere that it took at least a year (maybe more) for a Highland family to process the wool from sheep to plaid, and that would have been in a good year. My understanding is that the economic sysytem in the "old days" probably precluded most of our ancestors from buying anything except the necessities of life, again, unless they were in the wealthy minority.

What's that got to do with us?
For those who want a "traditional/classic/textbook" kit, and want it all right now, but don't have the pocketbook to back it up, may I suggest that a "traditional" way of obtaining all this stuff would be to make it, barter for it, save up for it, or do without? For example, I wanted a raccoon sporran, but didn't have the $ to buy one. My father, an avid hunter, had a hide in his freezer. I had it tanned and sewed it up and now I have a raccoon sporran. Is it as nice as a Turpin or Thorfinn? No. Will it serve my "needs" and be something unique? Yes. I recently inquired of a fellow XMarker about a particular item I'd like to have, but when I found out the price, I know I cannot have that particular item. Do I still want it? Yes. Can I afford it? No. I'll have to use something else in its place.

The point is this: the majority of our ancestors acquired things as they could, slowly, one piece at a time. In my opinion, if one wants to be "traditional", then how much more traditional can one get? Just because our cultures have told us that we have to gratify our every desire immediately, and that there's something wrong with having to wait, doesn't mean we have to believe it. It's taken me since '93 (when I started 'piping lessons) to acquire a tank, a few pairs of hose, flashes I made, ghillies, some Wal-Mart walking shoes (that double as work shoes), a half-plaid, a "manufactured" sporran, my handmande 'coon sporran, a navy blazer that I had cut down to make a quasi-Crail, a tweed jacket that's currently being cut down, a kilt belt, a Glengarry (which I don't particularly like) and a Balmoral which will fit my big ol' head. That's less than 1 item per year. I've bought and made things as my finances allowed, and, in my opinion at least, I look fairly respectable when I sally forth. It would have been nice to get a whole load of stuff at once, but I couldn't, and neither could my ancestors. I'm not saying it's bad to get a whole kit all at once, if one can afford it, but if one can't afford it, then one will have to follow the "traditional" method of building a kit.

Now, if one wants a non-traditional kilt, and has no desire for all the trappings and trimmings that go along with the "traditional/classic" look, then that person probably can get a whole "outfit" fairly quickly, because the price probably won't be as high. More power to them.

I've intended this to agree with and support the original post in this thread.

[Panache]

When I read about this fear of damaging your kilt, I just have to wonder what you all are up to!

Sandford,

To some of us Kilts are a little like golf clubs, you always use the right one for the situation.

Cheers

Jamie