looking for a formal look but not the price

[Iolaus]

To the un-educated eye (99.9% of the population) a kilt is a kilt. He wants "the look", not the real thing; a Stillwater Heavyweight or inexpensive tradional from one of the makers here will probably suit his purpose just as well as a $500 kilt would; where the real cost comes in is trying to get the rest - jacket, vest, hose, etc. ...especially the jacket!

[macwilkin]

Another detail that wasn't mentioned: when do you need the formal rig? For a wedding or another event this year? Or just to have it for the future? If the latter, I would advise (for what that's worth) not rushing into anything and regreting your first purchases down the road. Let me use an example from Civil War reenacting:

When I first started doing CW reenacting in college back in the early '90's, I was an "impulse buyer" at the sutler (vendor) tents at reenactments -- I didn't do any research, and burned a hole in my pocket with items that I didn't need and/or were not correct for the impression(s) I was trying to do -- as a result, I had to replace much of that gear with quality items down the road, which only cost more money! I learned a hard lesson that I applied to my Scottish kit later on. Granted, I need to be as accurate as possible, since I was actually presenting a historical impression, but it's good to look at your options (as Matt suggested) and make decisions that are best for you.

If you really want formal "kit", then my advice is to go slow and do your research, in particular listen to Matt's advice. You may not get the full kit in a year, or even two, but if you go slow and buy the essentials first, and then add a wee bit each year, it won't take you long to collect it. And please don't sacrifice quality for price -- you'll only regret it later on. Yes, there are ways to save on items -- sales, checking with the local Scottish society, etc. -- take advantage of those, by all means. Remember the old saying:

"The ox is slow, but the earth is patient."

Just some advice from a bluff old traditionalist! :mrgreen:

Cheers,

Todd

[Iolaus]

Another detail that wasn't mentioned: when do you need the formal rig?

Another detail that wasn't mentioned...does he need a full rig at all? At first, I had assemed that he did, but I just went back and looked, and all he said was "a place that I can get a traditional look."

[Oswulf]

There's also a lot to be said for getting your feet wet. I really do want a hand stitched heavyweight 8 yarder, and a nice Argyll jacket, and a bitchin' formal sporran (I really, really want sealskin, and I'll find a way to get one by hook or by crook). That being said, it's just not in my budget just now, I'm hoping by the end of the year. So I got my feet wet with a couple Stillwaters and a Scottish 5 yarder. I know, I know, for what I spent on the kilts I've got now I probably could have had a tank, but for me it's a lot easier to put out some small bites spaced out a bit than save up for one biggie. As it is I have 3 worsted wool kilts and I'm wearing them fairly often, and by the time of my wedding in December I'll have the custom package. By then I'll have been kilted for nearly a year and I wouldn't have been able to do it without Stillwater. I probably have very little need for full formal anything, but with what I've got I can dress up pretty snazzy indeed, and I've got some pretty good variety. I am a wool fanatic and like the wool kilts waaaay better than the one stillwater PV I have, and I am really looking forward to a tank, but the others do have their place.

I guess what I'm getting at is that for a beginner a wool stillwater or a machine stitched wool 5 yarder is a pretty good place to start. Best to start anywhere than sit around wishing for something you just can't swing. The only hard part is to actually quit buying for a while now and start saving up for a tank and formal accessories, there's still so many kilts out there I'd like to have.

[Colin]

To the un-educated eye (99.9% of the population) a kilt is a kilt. He wants "the look", not the real thing; a Stillwater Heavyweight or inexpensive tradional from one of the makers here will probably suit his purpose just as well as a $500 kilt would; where the real cost comes in is trying to get the rest - jacket, vest, hose, etc. ...especially the jacket!

I would have to disagree with that number Iolaus. At least up here in BC people tend to know the look of a traditional Scottish kilt vs a PV or comtemporay style kilt. I have been stopped a few times in my Bear kilts and asked what kind of material it was and if it made a good kilt. At least in my environment, the un-educated eye is, maybe 60% of the population. Mind you we have a piper or pipeband for almost everything, and one of our universities, Simon Fraser University (SFU) has produced a pipeband that has won the worlds numerous times.

I have not seen the Stillwater wool kilts in person, only in photo, but wonder what traditional characteristics they have. Does anyone know the weight of the wool?

[Iolaus]

I suppose it depends on where you are. I don't think that many of the people I run into around here would know the difference; hell, many of them wouldn't even know it's a kilt!

[mbhandy]

I have not seen the Stillwater wool kilts in person, only in photo, but wonder what traditional characteristics they have. Does anyone know the weight of the wool?

From Stillwaters web site:

Black Watch Tartan
• Made from 16-ounce Australian Merino Wool

http://pro.channeladvisor.com/storef...9&aid=31417501

MrBill

[Jerry]

Look up in the upper right hand corner of every page on this forum, where it says, "Kilt Store, XMarks The Scot Discounts" and click on the banner, They have 16 oz wool 8 yard kilts for under $400.00, depending on the tartan you choose. I saw a Balmoral in "Macneil of Barra" for $343.00. There are others in that range also, that was just the one I'm looking at now.

[bikercelt1]

At the risk of sounding like an elitist (which I'm not) I would advise you to bite the bullet and buy a good wool kilt. You already know the wearing of a kilt since you have multiple sportkilts. Get a really good kilt even if it costs you $500 or more, in the long run you'll save money. I know this for a fact. I have several kilts that I bought because they were "more affordable". I don't like them and rarely ever wear them. I wasted enough money to pay for a wool kilt in the process. There are some really good alternative kilts out there, I love my USA kilts, my Bearkilt, my Stillwater kilt, and my Utilikilts. Each of them is a great garment but none of them are a "substitute" for my formal wool kilt.

Jamie

[Colin]

At the risk of sounding like an elitist (which I'm not) I would advise you to bite the bullet and buy a good wool kilt. You already know the wearing of a kilt since you have multiple sportkilts. Get a really good kilt even if it costs you $500 or more, in the long run you'll save money. I know this for a fact. I have several kilts that I bought because they were "more affordable". I don't like them and rarely ever wear them. I wasted enough money to pay for a wool kilt in the process. There are some really good alternative kilts out there, I love my USA kilts, my Bearkilt, my Stillwater kilt, and my Utilikilts. Each of them is a great garment but none of them are a "substitute" for my formal wool kilt.

Jamie

I totally agree with you now Jamie!!! For all that I spent on my 4 casual kilts, I could have bought a really good 5 yard and 8 yard handsewn wool kilt. The fit, the feel, the look, and the durability is just so much more.

Not to take away from my other kilts as each has it's plus points, but they just can't compare to the traditional 8 yard handsewn wool kilt. It's nice to have a few others for trips to the pub or for the dry heat of the summer though.