for those who say they can't afford top quality

[gKeith]

Great post! VERY perceptive, too.

Here are some observations from my end...

1. MAKE FRIENDS IN THE UK. I have a friend who has been collecting kilts I buy online over in the UK. She has a business address. She's filling a large box this month and just sending me all of the kilts I've bought there. I'm giving her 100 quid and sending her some things from across the pond.

2. There are GREAT GREAT GREAT GREAT DEALS right now on Ebay FROM THE US! I'm watching and bidding on twenty this week. I don't care if you have a 30" waist, a 44" waist, are tall, short, Libertarian, vegetarian, or even a sasquatch, you'll find something if you look.

3. Since I started collecting kilts way back a long time ago... that being "one month ago," I've made seven purchases. All of which have been under one hundred dollars. All of them are beautiful.

4. Speaking of US deals... I just saw a Royal Stuart tartan MILITARY KILT go two days ago for $71 after shipping in my size (34" under the first rib and 25" length). The thing was beautiful, 18/20oz wool, registered manufacturer (I forget the name but he's known,) etc.

[DesertWolf]

The key to Ebay is patience and digging through the listings. I have found a couple really nice things there, the SOS kilt OC mentioned being the latest. I have also let some things go because I wasn't willing to go as high as someone else or wasn't sure of the quality of the item. Don't be afraid to ask the seller questions too, most of the ones I have asked, have answered quickly and given me the info I wanted, the others usually didn't reply back at all, and I didn't bother bidding on their item.

[Andrew Breecher]

The key to Ebay is patience and digging through the listings.

It's just like shopping at thrift stores. Don't expect to find anything that you want every time you go there. But you have to keep going back, and going back.

[brewerpaul]

Ive also done quite a bit of buying of kit from Ebay and find the internet invaluable to research some item I am unsure of the quality of. If they state a maker or craftsperson I will try to google up said person and possibly find information and value of the item. I also email the sellers if I need information such as sleeve lengths of shirts and jackets or any other particulars. Like anything unseen it is buyer beware. Along with EBay I frequent shopgoodwill.com, Etsy and the local thrift stores in my town. Thrift stores can sometimes reflect the area of town they serve meaning one I go to is located near an older, wealthier section of my town. I have run into very nice Harris tweed and other brand tweed jackets as well as wool sweater of good quality. Sometimes you have to search out the resell store that takes items from better neighborhoods and end up with a great bargain. I guess it depends on how much time and patience you have to shop either on foot or via internet. Some examples of the great bargains Ive made follow.

A pair of black and pair of cordovan wingtips in 14D at 20 bucks a pair. Very lightly worn. EBay
Recent purchase of red deer fur sporran off EBay
Older walking stick made from walking stick kale off shop goodwill
Long sleeve and short sleeve tattersall shirts off EBay
yards and yards of vintage and new wool fabric to make my own jackets and such
2 sewing machines to sew above fabric from shop goodwill one for 14 dollars one for 25
Very nice quality burgundy (2pair) and charcoal gray (3pair) kilt hose from ebay
Wool breeks for those days when it is too windy for kilts from EBay
London fog heavy herringbone tweed trench coat 35 bucks from local resell store
natural tan leather wingtips for those casual times from EBay
Sheffield of England Sgian Duhb on EBay.
Sewing patterns for those expensive jackets and Inverness cape I cant afford to buy but can make myself from the wool Ive bought from EBay.
Stoneware Quaich from EBay


So you get my point. There are many items that went above my limit and Ive bought things that just were not what I expected. I chalk that up to my lack of research and buyer beware but for the most part Ive been able to fill in some of my needs in attire using any and all of virtual and real stores available.

[Llama]

I don't care if you have a 30" waist, a 44" waist, are tall, short, Libertarian, vegetarian, or even a sasquatch, you'll find something if you look.

I have a 58" waist and am a pacifist. Let me know if you find something that fits.