Buying a Kilt :D

[Colin MacBean]

Hello Kilt members here is the mostly formalized list of items. I would like to hear critiques and or support on items in the list Thanks again.

Kilt - Deluxe Knife pleat (traditional) Strome 16 oz 8 meter in MacBean Modern

Jacket and Waistcoat - Argyll (tweed or barathea need opinions ) Colour is also up for debate. I like the lovat green, but it isn't as formal.

Sporran - I don't want to offend anyone but I am not a huge fan of fur so my brother and I have been looking at the hunting Sporran.
http://www.gaelicclothing.com/huntingsporrans.htm I'm sort tossing up the metal or leather cantle and brown or black as I would like something that can be used in a formal occasion but also in a casual situation as well. Would you guys recommend getting only the formal and if I wear the kilt more often consider purchasing a casual sporran later?

Sgian Dubh - There are a lot of different options and I still have very little idea on what I should or shouldn't get Any advice/opinions would be gratefully appreciated.

Scottish hat - This is the other sore point ;) I really like hats, but am wondering what hats are considered formal/military/casual etc.
The hats I know of so far are the Glengarry, Balmoral bonnet and the Tam. As with all the previous selections the more advice the better

Thanks a lot guys, you have no idea how helpful you have all been


Former post below---
Hello X kilt members,
My brother and I were recently draw aside to hear about a surprise. We are both home schooled and thus were able to avoid prom My parents are very generous and we as a family have been doing full time charity work for the last ten years almost. Ninety percent of my clothes are from thrift stores and I am very proud of that However, for this kilt my parents have given my brother and I each a rough estimate of 1000 dollars for the whole attire. They would like us to have something that we can use for the rest of our lifes etc. so good quality products. We are starting from absolutely nothing and I would love to hear everyone's opinions and tips. A general area to start etc. would be extremely helpful.

http://www.lindaclifford.com/Images/MacBean.jpg
We are MacBean if my name wasn't obvious enough and for me at least I like this tartan best. I also wondering what the differences would be between going a more dress kilt style compared to a more historical style? If it was historical I would definitely use it for dances, costumes parties etc. whereas with dress you can wear it for your wedding etc. and other more formal occasions I assume. Is it possible to have two sets say with overlapping items? I'm not going to spend my parents money to buy two sets, but how much harder would it be to myself buy some extra goodies to improve in a certain direction?

Thanks again for reading this and thank you even more for replying!
Colin

Just to add as I did not specify my location age etc.
I am going to be 19 in October this year.
I am 6 feet tall and very lean.
I currently live in British Columbia Canada and we do get snow and winter. So most likely more medium to heavy weight kilt would be better
I suggest early that I am fugal with money, but since I appreciate the advice to really do some research etc. I most definitely am
Thanks again

[Jock Scot]

I have worn the kilt for the best part of 70 years and it is quite normal for ONE well made kilt to do everything. Weddings, funerals, dances, balls, meet the Queen, BBQ's, business meetings, School functions, walk in the country,go to church, etc. The trick is; the kilt is the foundation, and it is everything else like, jackets, shirts, shoes, sporrans, hose, ties that get changed, to dress yourself "up", or "down".

Two things to remember, the well made kilt is really too expensive to wear to change the oil on the car for example, so a cheapo kilt for those kind of jobs is not a bad idea. The other thing is that our body changes as we grow older and like all clothing the kilt will "shrink" so you will be extremely lucky if you get away with one kilt for your entire life! We Scots do try not to buy too many though!

You have a nice sum of money to get you well on the way in your kilt wearing life and it would not be wise for me to advise on where you spent it as I don't know the price of anything in your part of the world. So, do your research, read ,look, ask questions, take your time and then do it all again until you have it clear in your mind what you want----------THEN BUY THE VERY BEST YOU CAN AFFORD.

[rsvpiper]

I have worn the kilt for the best part of 70 years and it is quite normal for ONE well made kilt to do everything. Weddings, funerals, dances, balls, meet the Queen, BBQ's, business meetings, School functions, walk in the country,go to church, etc. The trick is; the kilt is the foundation, and it is everything else like, jackets, shirts, shoes, sporrans, hose, ties that get changed.

Two things to remember, the well made kilt is really too expensive to wear to change the oil on the car for example, so a cheapo kilt for those kind of jobs is not a bad idea. The other thing is that our body changes as we grow older and like all clothing the kilt will "shrink" so you will be extremely lucky if you get away with one kilt for your entire life! We Scots do try not to buy too many though!

You have a nice sum of money to get you well on the way in your kilt wearing life and it would not be wise for me to advise on where you spent it as I don't know the price of anything in your part of the world. So, do your research, read ,look,ask questions, take your time and then do it all again until you have it clear in your mind what you want----------THEN BUY THE VERY BEST YOU CAN AFFORD.

I Second the learned gents comments

[artificer]

You can't go wrong with advice from Jock Scott.

You've also come to the right place. If you look at the top of the page you will see some of the forum advertisers- this is a good place to start your quest.
Keep us posted on your progress. ith:

[davidlpope]

They would like us to have something that we can use for the rest of our lifes etc. so good quality products.

We are MacBean if my name wasn't obvious enough and for me at least I like this tartan best.

I also wondering what the differences would be between going a more dress kilt style compared to a more historical style? If it was historical I would definitely use it for dances, costumes parties etc. whereas with dress you can wear it for your wedding etc. and other more formal occasions I assume. Is it possible to have two sets say with overlapping items? I'm not going to spend my parents money to buy two sets, but how much harder would it be to myself buy some extra goodies to improve in a certain direction?

Colin,

Jock's post is spot on. Buy high quality items and you will likely not need to buy a second time. My advice on your aquisitions:

1. Buy a traditional handsewn 16oz. or 13oz. 8yd kilt for your first kilt. I'd stick with the MacBean tartan in either the Modern or Ancient color scheme. If you ever decide to buy a second kilt you can tweak your preferences- e.g. I really prefer the 16 oz. 6-yard hand sewn knife-pleat kilts that Matt Newsome makes to wear in the summer months.
2. Buy a good quality kilt jacket and waistcoat in a nice lovat green tweed.
3. Buy a simple/ non-flashy brown leather day sporran. You can often find good deals on vintage sporrans which were generally made of higher quality materials than those currently mass-produced. Make sure you use a plain leather sporran strap instead of a strap/chain combination.
4. Buy a simple brown leather kilt belt with a brass buckle. Don't wear your kilt belt and waistcoat at the same time. Wear one or the other.
5. Buy two pairs of good quality kilt hose, probably lovat green and lovat blue, although dark red and dark green are also reliable choices. The "Lewis" Hose from House of Cheviot is a good choice. I've also been very pleased with a recent pair I purchased from the Almost Unwearoutable Sock Company. Get a pair of red hose flashes, either the elastic type or the garter type to tie yourself.

These items, along with a pair of black brogues (wingtips), shirt, and tie from your closet for dressier day events and you're set.

A couple caveats:
1. How old are you? If you're still going to grow a great deal in a short time it might be better to hold off a bit.
2. Don't be in a rush to purchase all this stuff. You'd be better served to take 6 months and fully research different options before buying. This ensures that you'll be satisfied with your purchases after the fact.
3. Find a reliable merchant who specializes in Highland clothing. Most of the sponsors here at XMarks fall into this category and will be able to provide useful wisdom and advice.

Best of luck.

David

[Arnot]

All of the above is sound advice, but I would go with a black sporran and belt. There is nothing wrong with the brown sporran and belt with the black shoes. It's just that a black sporran,etc will allow you a few more options.

[toadinakilt]

Goodness, that's a windfall! I can't really add anything here except to say that my rabble-in-arms are correct... don't blow it all at once! Spend some time researching, and spend some time on this forum, learning everything you can.

And as has been pointed out to me, you probably have shirts and shoes, boots perhaps, that will work with the kilt already. There's nothing like a t-shirt and boots wth a kilt. The most comfortable outfit you've ever worn.

Might I suggest one of these fine sporrans from the Scottish Tartan's Museum for casual/day wear. I love mine.

[HeathBar]

If by historical, you mean the Great Kilt or Belted Plaid, I would avoid going that route. Those are best left to historical reenactors. There are modern tailored kilts that are inspired by historical kilts, such as the 4yd box pleated kilt. These are gaining popularity as an alternative to the traditional 8yd knife pleated kilt. You sound as if you are beyond high school age since you mentioned missing prom, so I'll assume you won't get much taller.
Look towards your family to see what you future body might look like. When you choose a kilt, do your best to work directly with the kiltmaker instead of a middle-man. See if they can build the kilt to allow for a few inches of future growth. Don't rely on the straps to last you a lifetime of adjustment.

Next I would look for a nice plain sporran. Black or brown will be fine, but black will let you slide into evening functions, whereas brown is typically worn only during the day. Plan to spend a couple hundred here. A quality sporran can last you a lifetime.

After this you might only have around $200 left if you started out with $1000. So go ahead and by a few pair of hose. Lovat colors are typically worn during the day. Bottle green is a good color that works both during the day and evening. You can get by with one pair of flashes. Red is probably the most versatile.

Whatever shirts and shoes you have now will be fine. You don't need a sgian dubh. I wouldn't worry too much about jackets and waistcoats until you are able to purchase one on your own. I would avoid the typical kilt belt with the large rectangular buckle. Any belt two inches or wider would work just fine. Just make sure it is the same color as the sporran. Or you could just forgo the belt altogether. It really not needed.

Keep us posted on your progress and keep asking questions. Encourage your brother to join us as well.

[xman]

To respectfully contradict David, I would suggest black leathers. I just think it goes with more.

That MacBean is a nice tartan and readily available. 16oz 8 yards is what you want unless you live in a particularly warm climate. Then think about 13oz.

The thing I would be considering is whether I want to go for a more formal black or less formal charcoal Barathea Argyll jacket and waistcoat or a nice tweed day jacket and waistcoat. That'll depend on where and when you'll get the most use out of your kilt. You can always add more pieces to the wardrobe in time.

[lethearen]

Welcome to the forum! If I recall correctly, MacBean is the only tartan to have traveled to the moon, so you've got a bit of fun story there when people start talking to you about your kilt. The advice given here is really sound, and you're likely to have a great experience. I'll chime in what little I have to add...

A couple people have mentioned getting a 13 oz 8 yarder if you're in the south (sorry, I'm assuming you're in the US)... I would beg to differ. I live in Texas, and it's triple digits right now... and my 16 oz is just fine. Personally, I like the weight and motion of the heavier fabric, and it's really not all that much hotter. But, your mileage may vary.

If you are stateside, you might consider a US kiltmaker. We have some stellar performers as sponsors to this site (see the banners at the top), and you'll get to avoid the fun rigamarole of US Customs. Poke around and you'll find some truly horrifying stories about duty/brokerage fees, customs delays, and at least one incident of a gent whose kilt got shipped back to Scotland due to postal error! While part of me would truly urge you to support the Scottish artisans, you may save a few headaches if you shop locally.

After you choose your kiltmaker, be sure to talk to them about your decisions. Each one might have their own measuring system they use, so if you can't visit their shoppe to be measured personally, be sure to measure yourself exactly how they proscribe.

Be prepared to wait. And wait. And just when you thought you were done waiting, wait some more. Depending on whom you choose and where in the queue you fall, you could have months of lead time before your kilt is even started, and then a bit longer before it's finished. Be patient. Or come here and complain about your jones like the rest of us

Start with the kilt. You can build everything else around that as you have the inclination. A nice kilt can be used for everything (except changing oil) just like Jock Scot said. I've worn my trad up to the nines in a Prince Charlie, and I've worn it with a ragged T-shirt and ankle boots. It's all about how you accessorize! That's a mantra we men probably don't know quite as well as the lasses, because they get all the fun stuff (except kilts!).

Get some nice coloured hose. Nice hose will last longer, and coloured hose will prevent unnecessary wars about the propriety of white hose in Highland attire

Just watch yourself. A grand can go a long way... but it can also disappear faster than you realise. There is so much out there to make your dress yours. Think of it as a journey Have fun!