Lack of a good accessories market

[Cavebear58]

Picking up the thread about Ghillie Brogues, personally, I don't like them - far too fancy. For formal wear, it's regular black slip on shoes, and for smart day wear I've a pair of brown Army officer's 'brogues' that are Veldtshoen (ie with a full gusset to prevent water entering upto ankle height) and with Vibram soles. (These especially are incredibly comfortable.)

What I do struggle with is more casual and then end up with either trainers with very low white socks, or Army desert boots with off-white kilt hose rolled down over the tops.

It amazes me that someone like Howie at Geoffrey Tailors (21st Century Kilts) hasn't marketed a range of casual accessories, like shoes, socks, shirts, and pullovers. There's a big market in the country casual sector (wanabee huntin', shootin', and fishin' types) that's gone through a huge revival of late, dominated by the likes of Barbour, Musto and two or three French labels, and yet the kilt hasn't latched on to this at all.

I reckon the kilt is great for hill walking, and yet I'm aware of no genuine outdoors manufacturers including them in their range, collaborating with the kosher kilt makers (eg Anderson), or producing specific accessories.

I did see one of the cheapie makers offering a 'hillwalkers' outfit, but it was a botch job - the sporran even had a chain!

Over to you... is there a marketing entrepreneur out there?!

Best, Graham.

[Jock Scot]

I would not wear the kilt in our hills, for all the tea in China!

[JRB]

I think the lack of specific casual kilt accessories on the market is because when worn casually, a kilt can be worn with casual accessories that aren't geared only toward the kilt. I wear normal casual T-shirts, safari shirts, polo shirts, sweaters, socks, shoes and boots with my kilt when I'm going casual. I also wear all of those items with trousers or shorts. In my opinion, when wearing a kilt casually, there is no real need for specific kilt accessories. There are, however, many, many casual kilt belts, sporrans, sporran straps and even kilt hose on the market.

[sydnie7]

I'm with JRB -- we're assembling nice casual outfits for Bob from a combination of "open market" items and those available from current vendors.

Besides, when a product gets a specific name/purpose attached to it, the price so often seems to go up. . .

I suppose there might be a market for casual outfits akin to the "Prince Charlie sets" that can be purchased as head-to-toe garb --jacket, plaid, kilt, hose, flashes, pin, sporran, etc. etc. delivered to your door all in one box. Some folks don't enjoy the thrill of the hunt as much as others, i.e., they don't want to haunt Target searching for tartan ties and tweed waistcoats!

[Raphael]

The market for a specific kilt related casual products will be very small as most of us just wear what we already have or readily available in our regular retail outlets,

[English Bloke]

Casually speaking, I tend to regard my kilt as I would my jeans and wear whatever I would wear with jeans with my kilt. Bit more attention to complementing colours maybe and I do wear kilt hose (always up not scrunched) but other than that; I'm not really hung up about it.

I must post some pictures someday then you can all snigger at my sartorial in-elegance

[Highlander31]

When I go casual. I will wear a set of boots (brown or black) with hose either scrunched down (or up depending on the weather) with anything from a t-shirt to a regular shirt with a pull over sweater. I do own a Jacobite shirt, however, I wear that rarely and usually only to the odd party.

[ThistleDown]

I would not wear the kilt in our hills, for all the tea in China!

But I do. I probably wouldn't except that the midgies don't seem to bother me much

[Jock Scot]

But I do. I probably wouldn't except that the midgies don't seem to bother me much

For the kilt on the hill:

1. It looks great.
2. It is comfortable when its dry.

Against the kilt on the hill:

1. Midgies.
2. Horse flies(cleggs).
3. Ticks.
4. Draughty particularly in winter.
5. Wet and frozen "hem" cuts the knees.
6. The "question" is answered PDQ for those following up the hill.
7. The heather,rocks etc. cut the knees.
8. The sporran gets in the way when crawling to get up to the deer.
9. The sporran always gets in a very tender spot just before making the shot.
10.If you leave the sporran behind,you spend hours explaing why you have done so.

No, not the kilt for me on the hill!

[cavscout]

I can't make any guarantees but I believe a good leather belt would make many of those cons not seem so bad (I've never been stung once or had a tick while wearing mine ) (knock on wood )