"But I Don't Have Enough Money!"

[Panache]

Again, the purpose of this thread wasn't for people to say what they like about so-called "modern" kilts. Please, look at the title of this section of the forum. Jamie, you know it well, as I PM you frequently in regard to it's misuse.

Scotus,

With all do respect I stand by my point about your comparison.

Unless all you know of Scottish Culture is the movie "Braveheart", you don't buy a modern Kilt to celebrate your Scottish heritage. If you do, well you also probably bought some blue face paint to go with it (as well as a traditional Scottish katana).*




I am in agreement with you as the argument "Traditional hand sewn Kilts are too expensive" or "I can't afford it" to justify the purchase of a mass produced one is a bit weak.

Some time back here on XMTS there was a wonderful photo of someone who had literally saved their pennies to buy a traditional kilt (he had saved all his change over a year or so and was able to order a brand new kilt with the final amount).

There are things in life worth saving for and there is a reason they are worth saving for them.

They are worth it.

Jamie





* Should you meet such a person at a Highland Games make sure to ask them about the details of the battle of Stirling Bridge bridge!)

[LewisG]

A little bit at a time is exactly how I have built up my highland attire over several years. The first time I wore my first kilt to Burns Nicht I wore a Navy blazer with it. I now have 3 tanks, 1 casual kilt, 2 sporrans, jackets, etc.

[JSFMACLJR]

Scotus,

With all do respect I stand by my point about your comparison.

Unless all you know of Scottish Culture is the movie "Braveheart", you don't buy a modern Kilt to celebrate your Scottish heritage.

But Jamie, in my time on this forum, I have seen many, many posts by people who do just that...they go for one of the cheap, modern, PV kilts to celebrate their Scottish heritage, against the advice of a great number of folk.

Scotus has the floor, and the topic is traditional kilt wear and the economics involved.

Cheers,
Sandford

[Scotus]

Jamie, we'll have to disagree on this one. I'll still stand by what I said in regard to Utilikilts, since I've seen this used as an example of a "cheaper way to go," or to "get people interested in kilts."

A little bit at a time is exactly how I have built up my highland attire over several years.

Exactly! Sometimes a young man may be given a traditional kilt, then, over the years, he gets a sporran and other things for birthdays, Christmas, etc., until he is set for day and evening wear. This is how many people do it. I don't imagine that most people simply go out and buy, all at once, an entire wardrobe of traditional Scottish attire for day and evening wear. Thus, the affordability of traditional Scottish kilts and attire shouldn't be an argument. It's often about priorities and being able to plan and save.

[Panache]

But Jamie, in my time on this forum, I have seen many, many posts by people who do just that...they go for one of the cheap, modern, PV kilts to celebrate their Scottish heritage, against the advice of a great number of folk.

Scotus has the floor, and the topic is traditional kilt wear and the economics involved.

Cheers,
Sandford

Sandford,

I am going to respectful ask you to read both my posts agian.

I am not arguing with Scotus point, I am noting that his example of Utilikilts is flawed. You yourself in what you just wrote above aren't talking about Utilikilts.

If you are going to compare it is best to to so apples to apples, not apples to oranges.

Cheers

Jamie

[JSFMACLJR]

I forgot to add utilikilts, Jamie, because I find it such a hard word to spell!

[Highland Logan]

However I do think that your use of Utilikilts in your argument is not quite correct. A fellow doesn't purchase a Workman model Utilikilt because he can't afford a traditional Scottish Kilt. He buys it because it is a cool modern kilt.

Modern/contemporary kilts are their own whole different thing.

It's apples to oranges

But if you change "Utilikilt" in your post and substitute a mass produced traditionally styled kilt I have to agree with you. No machine made, mass produced kilt is going to fit, look, and feel the same as a handmade custom one.

Jamie I see where you are coming from as well. But you are forgetting that there have been posts in the past by new members, who purchased utilikilts and the sportkilt types just like Scotus says. The phrase used in most cases was (and I'm paraphrasing) "I can't see myself spending that kind of money for a kilt/clothes". After they have been on board for a while they started "jonesing" for one of Matt's traditional 4 yard kilts, which are a tad less expensive than the regular 8 yard.

A great many posters on the board are always lamenting on "how can I get this cheaper", or my favourite "I'm a Scot, so I'm cheap". Once people shake off the preconceived misconceptions, they realize the difference between cheap and frugal. I think if you remove any blinders you may have inadvertently put on, you well see that this is all Scotus was trying to point out.

I don't read into what he said as an attack on utilikilts or the members who ware them. So perhaps in the spirit of the Traditional Kilts section of the board, maybe we can have some policing by the Mods to keep the treads here on topic and not have them degenerate into brawls by those only interested in Contemporary/Modern Kilts.

Frank

[Rex_Tremende]

A lot of it is priorities as well. Many (though by no means all) who claim not to have the money for a traditional kilt, don't even hesitate to buy the latest computer, take that trip to Vegas, or whatever else they spend their money on.

Yes, what they really mean when they say don't have the money is that they don't have the budget for it.

For me, the decision to purchase a not-tank initially was not so much a question of money or budget, but one of risk. I wasn't sure if I could afford to waste money on something I wasn't sure I could get away with wearing whenever I wanted. And I had doubts about ordering stuff over the Internet and over the phone without having a professional take my measurements. And so my initial forays into kilts were experiments. I made a few mistakes, for sure, but there also were some keepers (namely, my UKs).

Having gone down that path, however, here's the lesson: had I known then what I know now, I would have started with the tank. Whether I would have the same level of appreciation, I can't say.

Regards,
Rex.

[Nighthawk]

First of all, calm down a bit. No need to yell. Secondly, I wasn't addressing persons like yourself who wear Utilikilts or a cheaper type of kilt because they want to; that is, because it's their choice to do so. I'm only addressing those who want to wear traditional kilts and traditional Highland attire, but continue to give the excuse that they're too expensive. In the meantime, they continue to buy cheaper ones instead of saving their money for the more expensive traditional kilt. So, in short, you did misunderstand my carefully worded original post.

My plea was for the sincere, future traditional kilt wearer to save instead of buying something cheaper, while giving the excuse that they're too expensive. I'm also addressing those who say that these cheaper kilts and Utilikilts are a way of getting people interested in traditional kilts. I think the way to get people interested in kilts is through knowledge of traditional kilts, traditional Scottish attire, and advice such as I've given. I hope to reach the person who wants and traditional kilt, yet the people on the forum might tell them to buy something made of PV or something cheaper.

I will echo what DWFII said; that is, we tend to want what we want... now! I just want people to stop thinking that traditional kilt wearers are all independently wealthy. It's all where you place your priorities in what you want to wear.

Oh! I misread, then. I got the impression that you were referring to everyone who wears nontrad kilts.

And I wasn't yelling- I was being stern.

Also I am one of those who recomends PV kilts. It's not because they're cheap- it's because the workmanship of USA Kilts is top notch. It's because in climates like Denver, that are desert climates, wool in the middle of summer is just... well, let's just say that the one time I made the mistake of wearing a nice wool kilt to a festival in July, I left before lunch time because I was on the verge of heatstroke. Wool+desert= . PV+desert= You see what I'm saying? My 13 oz saffron is good on warmer days, but when it gets above 85 or 90... Yeah, I'm breakin' out the PV. And I do want to say that I will to my dying breathe steer people away from acrylic. That crap is just plain nasty.

[JelicoCat]

A agree that utilikilts are not cheap kilts. They are well made and buy no means inexpensive. I also started with UK's and I am moving toward more traditional kilts. If I used your thinking then I would not be wearing a tartan kilt at all and certainly would not wear a $700.00 kilt on a daily basis. I would rather see any one start with an inexpensive kilt than not wear a kilt at all. The fact that a person's budget has different priorties should not prevent them from wearing a kilt.