Buying a Kilt :D

**Colin MacBean** · 6th June 10, 12:31 PM

Well I must say I'm rather happy they are Jacobite shirts

Same side at the battle of Culloden

It would really suck if they were Stewart shirts

If I was to not get a Jacobite shirt would it be better to just wear a regular white dress shirt or is there some special type of white dress shirt that is supposed to be worn with the kilt?

Thanks again

**artificer** · 6th June 10, 01:37 PM

For delightful examples of putting a kilted outfit together, you'd be hard pressed to go wrong looking HERE, or even HERE. The first is a link to a photo-archive of HRH Prince Charles- probably one of the most put-together men in a kilt, in my opinion. The second is a thread by our own creagdhubh.

It would be hard to put a foot wrong by following any of the images linked.

**dfmacliam** · 6th June 10, 02:16 PM

A dress shirt would be appropriate... And for shoes a regular pair of dress shoes. I wear wingtips, myself. Dress as if you were wearing a suit, on that same formality, and then dress down or up from that point.. The best looks are usually the simplest to put together.
A charcoal tweed jacket and a four/five button waistcoat makes a great base... You can add a different colored waistcoat for a bit of variety.
A simple sporran in black is a good base, and I would suggest a sporran belt instead of the chain, also.

There is a thread called 10 looks with one kilt, it shows two different men showing various levels of formality wearing one kilt.

**Downunder Kilt** · 6th June 10, 03:24 PM

I would suggest, along with all the other excellent advice you have be given here, not to forget your OP shop sources for things such as ties, waistcoats, buckles for daywear belts, kilt pin alternatives etc, Whislt you have been given a generous amount of money to equipment yourself. I would suggest that you don't go the whole hog in one go. In an earlier post you said that your have dressed from OP shop clothes in the past, so don't loose that valuable source.

As has been advised, get yourself the essentials, wear it a bit and find the style that suits you, then build on that style.

As for daywear shirts, I like the the tattersall style, with a tweed tie.

**artificer** · 6th June 10, 06:53 PM

Originally Posted by peacekeeper83

There is a thread called 10 looks with one kilt, it shows two different men showing various levels of formality wearing one kilt.

Blast! I knew there was another thread I wanted to link to.
Here it is for your convenience Colin. Jamie and Glen do a wonderful job of illustrating various levels of formality, each with their own twist.

**Colin MacBean** · 6th June 10, 10:05 PM

I have seen that thread before

I think I'll update this topic once I've somewhat finalized a list of products so I can hear some criticism if anyone feels like lending it

**Eric Schutte** · 6th June 10, 10:30 PM

Hi Colin,

This is just MY HUMBLE opinion so take it as such:

In my quest to become kilted I decided to go with a mill direct from Scotland to have my kilts made. I dealt with Strathmore Woollens. There is a gentlement there named Joseph Brown, (he goes by Jo.). He will take care of all your needs for a 13 or 16 oz. handmade, 100% worsted wool, knife pleated kilt. They either have your tartan in stock or they can get it.

Great people to deal with and shipped to my door in the Western US from Scotland I received 2 kilts for about 1000.00 dollars. Thats shipped and tailored to me! I urge you to e-mail strathmore woollens and give Jo a shout.

Here again, just my humble opinion of buying direct from a mill in Scotland. Yes you may have to wait a little longer and you will have about a 60.00 charge for customs but to me it was well worth it. I now have 2 kilts, 1 MacLean of Duart Modern and 1 MacLean of Duart Hunting Modern that I will wear with pride for a lifetime.

Congrats on he opportunity to be kilted!!!

Eric Schutte

**James C** · 7th June 10, 05:54 AM

Originally Posted by Colin MacBean

Ok everyone I have for one been doing a ton of research

Second my parents have bumped up the budget to $2000 each!!

They are very generous

The only thing I cannot seem to find though is the classic poofy shirts

If of course they actually exist

Thanks again for all the help so far

Hey Colin,

You can definitely fit everything you want in that budget. Be sure to check out retailers Kilt Packages. They often allow you to save quite a bit. If you don't see any just ask them if they offer any. You should be able to get a dress shirt and "puffy shirt" too.

In regards to buying direct from Scotland, that can be good but no different than buying from a retailer who gets their material direct from Scotland. Only difference would be no duty. We personally buy from Lochcarron, House of Edgar, Dalgliesh, to name a few.

Be sure to let us know how it turns out.

**Colin MacBean** · 8th June 10, 02:55 PM

Thanks for the advice everyone.

@ Burnetts and Struth I have been to your site and I did find a lot of products that I was interested in, but I could not find a 16oz deluxe knife pleat (traditional) in modern MacBean tartan. Also do you happen to have a PC kilt in modern MacBean? I've been thinking it would be best to have two kilts as wool is a pain to wash. Thanks

Other than that does anyone know anything about these websites?

http://www.westcoastkilts.com/

http://www.gaelicclothing.com/

They seem decent, but one really doesn't know from just a website. Does anyone here recommend a kilt maker or store in Canada (preferably BC) I'm very open to ideas so please give your two cents

**xman** · 8th June 10, 11:17 PM

Originally Posted by Colin MacBean

Other than that does anyone know anything about these websites?

http://www.westcoastkilts.com/

http://www.gaelicclothing.com/

Those are both highly recommended kilt makers.

Robert MacDonald of West Coast Kilts could be the best in the region. Reading his site I learned more about kilts in so few words than anywhere else. I would buy my kilt from Robert, but he is priced out of my range.