When I was measured for my only kilt, a Hunting Fraser, from Hector Russell's on Prince's Street in Edinburgh (then made in Inverness and posted on to me), I didn't rush to buy it and all the associated accessories. Here's what happened:

First of all, I'd made sure with my wife, Rexie, that we both had three days off, not easy for two Registered Nurses as we don't have 'weekends' as such. We drove the hour and a half to the capital and settled in to our hotel - no expense spared, heck, the outfit was a £1,000+ purchase itself! Mid-afternoon we went along to the shop and found a salesman and I informed him that I wanted to go through the whole rirmarole of talking through what I might or might not want, but I was NOT going to buy on the day, Friday.

The chap, Kevin, now sadly moved on to another company, was fine with all this and we spent over two hours going through discussions about tartans, sporrans, hose etc. I knew some things, like not buying a huge bandsman's sporran like I'd seen some folks wearing, but Kevin kept me right all the way through with little tips, e.g. stating you should tie your brogue laces on the outside above your ankles and not at the front!

I came back on the Saturday and was measured up and took away my other purchases. For me, taking my time over two days was such a memorable experience. I had waited until I was 40 years old to get my kilt, partly because I didn't have the funds until then, partly as my ex-wife had always laughed at my ancestry, constantly pointing out that it was my grandad who was the last one born north of the border.

What's your story of that first purchase?

Bruce