Kilt Advice

[Erikm]

Hello everyone new to the forum

I need some Kilt advice I am getting married soon and after long begging and a great trip to Scotland, I talked her into letting me wear a kilt for the wedding

I have read in Scotland it's traditional to wear your mother side. my mothers last name was Gourley and is a sept of Macduff.

I know the Middletons have a tartan but it would not go with anything she wants. my question is I am on a budget any good places to find the Macduff tartan at a good price? ebay seems to lack this pattern.


Thanks..

[Coemgen]

First off, from your friendly local Poor, Starving Liberal Arts Student!

Secondly, let me say that as a Poor, Starving Liberal Arts Student, I only have inexpensive kilts, and have no experience getting a kilt that cost more than about $100.

BUT, based on what I have read on this forum, I believe that I can make some recommendations. Of course, I defer to those with greater experience than I, a category in which falls most of the rest of the forum members.

Anyway, this is what I have to say:

First of all, if price is an issue, get a kilt made by a tailor in North America, since getting a kilt from the UK costs twice as much, due to the rapidly declining value of the dollar.

Second, if quality is something you will value, do not, under any circumstances, buy a kilt made in Pakistan. The only exception would be getting one from Stillwater Kilts.

Now, if you are dead set on getting a kilt in MacDuff, you will need to get it custom made for you, since it doesn't seem to be carried by the inexpensive purveyors of kilts. I think that the best route to go is to get a kilt from Matt Newsome. I have only heard rave reviews about his kilts on this forum, of which he is a member and sponsor. Others that I've heard good reviews of are USA Kilts, Freedom Kilts, Alexis Malcolm Kilts, and many, many others whose names I have forgotten but whom you can find quickly on this forum.

If you are unwilling or unable to spend them admittedly large sum to get a custom made kilt, and are willing to settle for something other than MacDuff, I would suggest Stillwater Kilts. They carry limited number of tartans, but they are well made and inexpensive. The tartan they do have are for the most part ones that anyone could wear, including some solid coloured ones. I can personally recommend them, as I have two of their fine models: a standard MacLaren and a Heavyweight Saffron.

Well, that's about all I got. I now refer you to the many members of the rabble who actually know what they are talking about.

[thescot]

Welcome aboard.

It appears that Coemgen gave you some pretty good advice. The only other thing I'd suggest is that you seriously consider something other than Macduff. Doing so will make your search much easier.

[billmcc]

Erikm,

Lochcarron makes the MacDuff tartan, so any kiltmaker can get it in wool.
See here: http://www.lochcarron.com/stromesw.htm

The lowest price you will find in a wool kilt is probably from the Tartanweb, one of the forum's sponsors. See here: http://www.tartanweb.com/

[Drillagent]

Welcome to the forum from Virginia!

[Erikm]

Thanks everyone for the advice it is a great help!

I do like the Black Watch also and it seems pretty easy to get. Stillwater Kilts seems to have great prices, I will have to check them out

[ChattanCat]

from Kansas City

One question, how much is the brides wedding dress? I would suggest about the same for your kilt budget. You will need a kilt and as much of the following as you can budget: jacket, hose, shoes, balmoral, flashes, sporran, belt, kilt pin, vest...

[James MacMillan]

from Sunny Southern California!

I have been to many a Scottish wedding, and I have never heard of wearing your Mother's tartan. You should wear your own tartan or one that you have ties to.

Please remember, as we say and joke about, there is no tartan police, and you can wear what-ever tartan fits your fancy. It will be more meaning for you if you choose a tartan that has some meaning to your family.

If the entire wedding party is to be decked out in tartan, the groom picks the tartan with some sage guidance from the bride. I have seen some smashing wedding outfits where the bride and her maids are in one tartan and the groom and his men are in another.

For my wedding, 39 years ago, I was on active duty, and so were my best men, so we were all in our best dress uniforms.

Some very smart wedding parties have each person wearing their own tartans and make for striking pictures. Especially when you see a Campbell standing beside a McDonald or a Forbes beside a Gordan....

[auld argonian]

Click that orangey-red box to the upper left and you will go to USA Kilts homepage. Look at the semi-trads and you will see MacDuff listed as an option. USA uses poly-viscose as distinct from wool but the semi-trad has an excellent reputation here at Xmarks. USA can also sell you an appropriate jacket and vest to go along with that puppy as well.

If you're thinking that you want to go the real wool route, you're probably looking at a minimum investment of $400 US for the kilt. There are several kiltmakers coming in at that price point which seems to be the low end of the range. You're still going to need the reset of the kit (jacket, shirt, hose, sporran, etc.) so look at that as part of the expense.

Several of the UK companies seem to be pricing things to remain competitive in spite of the Dollar/Pound rate. Tartanweb would be one to look at and you can do a google to find others. Beware the dreaded tariffs, duties and carrier's service fees that buying from overseas can incur, however. Many horror stories about Xmarksers being held hostage by the FedEx guy waiting for the payment of fees and duties before they can get their hands on their new kilts.

Search the forum for a while and you'll find lots of threads dealing with situations like your own. Usually there are lots of suggestions and the questioner follows up with his decision and photos of the wedding. It'll be helpful.

Best

AA

[starbkjrus]

Well AA beat me to what I was going to say and others have given equally good advice so all I'll say is :


from Northern Virginia!

(and congrats on the wedding)