Quote Originally Posted by bricekolob View Post
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 gotta say one thing, though... If you honestly can not justify spending $157 plus shipping for a nice kilt...and I've been in budget situations when I was younger that I sure could not....but if you can't, then there's no point in stressing out over it. $157 for a wool kilt, made to measure is not jut a good deal, it's a STUPID-good deal.

Think for a minute. Let's pretend these are "five yard kilts". OK, that means they contain roughly two and a half yards of 16 ounce tartan, right? Go look up the price of 16 ounce tartan!!! Even if Burnetts and Struth gets a 50% "to the trade' deal on those tartans, they STILL are going to cost $35-$40 a yard. Do the math.

2.5 yards X $40 a yard = $100

That's how much the CLOTH costs. Oh, do they have buckles, too? YES. OK, so add $10 for the straps and buckles. Gosh, do they have a liner? YES...OK so add $5 for the cloth for the liner.

Now we're at $115 JUST FOR THE MATERIALS... That leaves them $42 to pay some Schmoe to stitch the thing up for you. Forty two bucks? it's going to take at least 6-8 hours to sew one of these things up, who the heck can work an 8-hour day for $42????? Do you work all day for $42? That's $7.00 an hour.

You twig? If they have a tartan you like, BUY IT. If you can't spend $157, then mate, you only have two other options, and that is to A.) make it yourself, and BTW, you'll have to find discounted tartan to make a 13 or 16 ounce, 6-8 yard kilt yourself, for under $157....B) spend weeks or months scouring ebay and other online venues, hoping to score a killer-lucky deal on a first-class wool kilt that will, hopefully fit you for $75.