Advice on buying traditional full dress

[Pour1Malt]

walcome tae the rabble...

dinnae order oiny thing until you seek advice frae Hamish... he will set ya richt!

slainte

[davedove]

All good advice here. The only thing I would add is, since you are looking for the whole outfit, look for places that will provide the whole outfit. If you buy it all at once, the companies will often give you a discount.

[Riverkilt]

Welcome,

I can't not suggest you include Kathy Lare in your list of prospective kiltmakers. She's not in Scotland, but that's where she learned her craft. www.kathyskilts.com

I'm just a hair smaller than you size wise and she's working on her sixth hand sewn traditional kilt for me. Pics in my gallery if it helps you.

There are land mines out there for on line ordering. But if you stick with the companies in business for a long time and the kiltmakers with a good reputation on this board you should be fine.

And, a hearty congratulations on treating yourself!

Ron

[Panache]

First off Granty666,

Welcome to X marks the Scot!

... I've decided on the 16oz Grant Hunting tartan manufactured by Glena and will probably go for a box pleat. I'd like to get the outfit made in Scotland

...But I know that our very own Matt Newsome makes a heck of a box pleat kilt, and can get the rest of the full dress outfit...

As nixphotography noted our own Matt Newsome makes Box Pleated kilts. It is an older style and oddly enough very few, if any Scottish Kilt makers are willing to make them. I believe Matt wrote on his blog that one maker referred to such a thing as a 4 yard box pleat as "a women's skirt". If you have your heart set on the box pleat style (or would like to know about their history) you should check out Matt's site. There is a lot of good information there.

http://albanach.org/

All good advice here. The only thing I would add is, since you are looking for the whole outfit, look for places that will provide the whole outfit. If you buy it all at once, the companies will often give you a discount.

Look at the link in the top left hand corner of your screen. The Kilt Store offers a discount to X Marks members and have various kilt outfit packages that might fit your needs. They don't offer box pleat 4 yard kilts but do have 5 yard Casual kilts (larger pleats in back than a traditional "tank")

One final bit of advice. If you intend to buy your jacket ask yourself the following. How often do I expect to dress at Black Tie Formal events?
If the answer is "often" get a PC (Prince Charlie) jacket and waistcoat. If the answer is "seldom" consider a black argyle outfit with matching vest. The argyle jacket, worn with a vest (or even a flyplaid) can be dressed up to almost black tie levels of formality. PC jackets (like fly plaids) are solely formalwear.

Hope this was of some help.

Cheers

P.

[cacunn]

First off Granty666,
How often do I expect to dress at Black Tie Formal events?
If the answer is "often" get a PC (Prince Charlie) jacket and waistcoat. If the answer is "seldom" consider a black argyle outfit with matching vest.
P.

Panache has a good thought a PC and formal accessories can run in to a good deal of money. How often are you going to be fully formal where a PC would be necessary? If these are few and far between then an argyle jacket, worn with a vest (or even a flyplaid) will be a lot more versatile. A PC is pretty but if it sits in the closet most of the time, spend the extra money on fun accessories.


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