Plunge Taken!!!

[Casey_in_Carolina]

So, taking the advice I received here over the last few days, I decided to forgo the SportKilt. While I'm sure it's a good product, I've heard nothing negative about it, I don't know that it will hold up to the casual and dress up duties my first kilt will have to serve. I'll keep them in mind for a strictly knock-around kilt later down the road though....

I decided to try the Frugal Corner. I looked over their package deal, and it looked really good, and looked like it would supply everything I needed to get started, both for a casual look, and to add a nice shirt/tie to dress it up. I called them Friday afternoon, but was unable to get in touch with anyone, and so left a message with my name and number, and the note that I was interested in purchasing a kilt. I also called several more times during the afternoon, without being able to contact anyone. I saw on the site that their store opened at 11 AM on Saturdays, and decided to wait and see what happened. I was working around the house Saturday, and waiting for a call to be returned. By 5 PM, I was tired of waiting. Now nothing against them, they may very well be out at a weekend-long event, and start returning calls Monday morning. However, the money allotted was absolutely burning a hole in my pocket, begging to be spent.

So I called USA Kilts. A very pleasant lady named Kelly picked up on the second ring, and said she'd love to help me place an order. I spent about 10-15 minutes on the phone with Kelly, who was not only polite, but very helpful. Double checking my measurements, and making sure that I gave her actual measurements, and not pants size, going through all of the options that USA Kilts offered for the Casual Kilt Package deal, and generally being very nice to talk to. The end result of all this being that I'm now anxiously awaiting my Clark Casual kilt from USA Kilts, and saddened by the fact that it will be a 6-8 week wait. Of course, that means they'll be actually making a kilt to my measurements, instead of pulling something off of a rack somewhere, which is also a good feeling, but still going to be a hard wait. Now that I've actually committed to the purchase, I wantsss it bad...

So, I decided to bypass the Sportkilt for now, and while I didn't have a negative experience with Frugal Corner, I never really got a chance to have an experience with them. Admittedly, that's probably due to my own impatience However, the experience I did have with USA Kilts was one hundred percent positive, and I'm now anxiously awaiting my first kilt purchase.

Woohoo for me!!

Thanks for all the helpful tips and advice so far,

Casey

[Gauranga]

The experience you had with USA Kilts is not an uncommon one. They are quite simply the best there is! Your 6-8 week wait will be well worth it.

[Mael Coluim]

You can't go wrong with Kelly and Rocky. I love my Stewart Black that I got from them and hope to acquire a Robertson Red in the future

[Nighthawk]

I personally doubt that I'll be buying from any other stateside vendor, aside from a SWK saffron shadow tartan. I'd love a Lare, Newsome, or Teuksberry, but those are most likely not in the cards for me. The two kilts that I want to get next are a Wolfe family and Colorado state tartan kilt. It's a little more economical to get those from ScotWeb. But you never know. Either way, you'll love your USA kilt.

[Carolina Kiltman]

I don't know what else you may be getting from them, but if for instance, if you need a bonnet, go ahead and buy one, then make a coloured cockade in your clan's livery colours. (The first two colours listed on the coat of arms, usually), and other stuff like that to pass the time. I am also most impatient when waiting for something special like that! Believe me, the wait is worth the pleasure

[Cat]

You'll love your USAK! I have a semi-trad and I wear it nearly every day (only kilt currently, but hopefully that'll change soon.) Rocky actually made a point to write a short note on the invoice that Kelly made the entire thing, and I'm extremely pleased. Kelly does great work, as does Rocky, and I think if you compared a USAK side-by-side with your other choices, you'd be happy with your decision (not meant to knock any of the other kilt businesses here, but a custom-made kilt is generally always going to be better than an off-the-peg, especially in fit. Although the SportKilts I've seen have been pretty nice.)

I actually couldn't wait the 6-8 weeks for mine, so I paid the extra $25 to put a rush on it (not sure if USAK offers that on their package deals), and was glad I did...even though two weeks was still seemed like a long time (I have no patience when it comes to ordering stuff!)

You'll be very pleased with the kilt...and I can guarantee everyone else here with a USAK will say the same!

BTW, what tartan did you end up choosing?

[Buckskin]

Sorry your were not able to contact them today. I had tried also. Looked at their events list and saw the Iowa Irish fair. Figure that's were they are.

[Casey_in_Carolina]

I actually couldn't wait the 6-8 weeks for mine, so I paid the extra $25 to put a rush on it (not sure if USAK offers that on their package deals), and was glad I did...even though two weeks was still seemed like a long time (I have no patience when it comes to ordering stuff!)

You'll be very pleased with the kilt...and I can guarantee everyone else here with a USAK will say the same!

BTW, what tartan did you end up choosing?

Hehe, I may have to end up calling back and seeing if I can pay the $25 to get it faster, but I'm going to try and curb my impatience, at least for a little while.

I've ordered the Casual in the Clark Tartan, as I'm a Clarke. I've actually been thinking about the different tartans, and instead of getting a variety, I think I'm going to stick to the Clarks, and see what kind of variations I can find on it to acquire as financial ability permits. I see a lot of the different clans have their tartans in things like Ancient, Modern, Hunting, etc., and I'm wondering if I can find those things and more in the Clark tartan.

Gah! The first kilt isn't even here yet, and I'm already trying to think up ways to convince the better half that I need more. It's almost kind of a sickness isn't it?

Casey

[Standard]

Gah! The first kilt isn't even here yet, and I'm already trying to think up ways to convince the better half that I need more. It's almost kind of a sickness isn't it?

Oh yeah! Deep breaths, happy thoughts..... oh who am I kidding? Better start saving all your spare change for the inevitable next purchase. BTW congrats on your first kilt.

[starbkjrus]

You made an excellent choice. Rocky and Kelly have nothing but a stellar reputation (as I can personally attest) and the USA Casual is a VERY versatile kilt.

Congratulations!