The one most important factor, IMHO ....

[Alan H]

Ok, I have a question then. I am in your situation. I have a USAK casual that I wear to anywhere except a formal gathering. I absolutely love that kilt. I need a NICE kilt. Something for a formal gathering. What would you recommend I do? I don't have the time to make one myself. Who would YOU purchase it from? (assuming they have high quality tartan fabric you have described)

Brice

I would go to Burnetts and Struth and look into their "casual kilt" sale.

http://www.burnetts-struth.com/index.php?cPath=149

Be sure to switch that site over to USA dollars if you're in the USA. $157, right now. That's for a machine-sewn, made to measure (not off-the-rack) wool kilt. If they have a tartan that interests you, I cannot see how it's possible to beat that deal, I just can't. It's incredible.

Second choice.... if you just absolutely flat-out can not make one, if you simply cannot spend $350 on a kilt..... then go to Scotweb (topmost link on this page) and find this link:

"Kilt, The Balmoral traditional 8 yard kilt with Flashes"

click on it, then look over to the right for the links to "clearance" and "in stock". Search for a while for a kilt in your size in a tartan that you like. It might take a while, that Hall hand-sewn has been there for months. Most of the kilts will be in the $300+ range, but there are a few in the $200's.

BTW, my personal situation is that I wear kilts several days a week to work and "around". Therefore, I have several knockarounds....a USA Kilts casual, a Gold Brothers kilt, a couple of lightweight wool/poly blend kilts that I made and a polyester-viscose clan tartan kilt that I bought online from Scotland. I also have a couple of heavier-weight kilts for more dressy situations. My X Marks tartan kilt, for example is a 6-yard 13ounce wool kilt and it's my "dressiest". That will be supplemented in a few months by my Ancient MacNaughton "8-yard". So I am lucky enough to be able to afford several kilts, primarily because I make nearly all of them.

But if you simply absolutely can not or will not make any kilts, and can only afford two, then that is what I would do.