First Kilt Purchase

[ccga3359]

Here's the thing...

I just lost over 45 pounds and I am looking to replace pretty much all of my casual attire. A good pair of cargo shorts will cost me $25-35 a nice pair of golf shorts $30-45. A $100 price point on a casual kilt to replace a $35 pair shorts will make my wifes head explode! I need to get something, to start, that is in the same price range as a good pair of golf shorts.

I know that you get what you pay for, that is true in anything, but I am willing to make a cheaper kilt make do while I save for a more expensive one.

Kilt dealers should be like drug dealers... Make the first one cheap to get the customer hooked, then charge the full price ;)

True enough but unlike shorts kilts are adjustable for a 3" waist adjustment. I suppose that you could just machine stitch the pleats from top of the kilt down 7" to make a rudimentary fell. Consider another option in Sport Kilt. Congratulations on the weight loss.

[dfmacliam]

I had a Sportskilt without the sewn down pleats, and I was not happy with it at all. So much so, I will not buy another kilt, without sewn down pleats.

You have alot of options, and if you look at the fact you will wear the kilt more often than you would a single pair of shorts, you could justify the cost equalling a couple pair of shorts.. and any of our casual kilt vendors will be a good option, for a non wool option.

[Kilted Rogue]

You can look at the Celtic Croft they just released a solid black kilt.
take a look here Casual Canvas Kilt

[Hothir Ethelnor]

I've got two SWK thrifty kilts. (my younger brother wanted a kilt so I bought him two and since he's growing, I went with SW because the price is right. Of course so I could match, a couple of thrifties smuggled themselves in...)

As far as a knockabout kilt goes they are fine. I wear them regularly although my homemade kilts get more wear simply because they are tailored. The acrylic lays flat and has an "iron" crease to it so the problem of unstitched pleats isn't really much of a problem. There are more pleats and quite a bit more fabric in a SWK thrifty kilt than in a sportkilt. The sport kilt is almost laughable how wide and shallow the pleats are, the SWK thrifty kilt is better in that regard.

For me the biggest problem with the thrifty is the fact that the whole things is a perfect rectangle, no taper to the "fell" at all (there is a 2-3" fell between two rows of stitching.) Since I am a person with a big difference between my waist and hip measurements the first and last pleat generally lie open, not neatly closed, which is kinda sloppy. But if you're a person with no hips to speak of the thrifty might be fine.

I'd say it's worth every bit of the $30 especially if it isn't going to fit forever... It is true that you get what you pay for. It isn't a fine tailored garment but it is decent enough to wear most of the time (I wouldn't wear it formally but most informal and walkabout situations it is fine for.) (I wore it to church this morning in a semi-casual way.)

[GG]

Congratulations to your weight loss!

I, too, should go for the sewn down pleats of the Stillwater Economy kilt. After all the difference between the SWK Thrifty and the economy is no mo more than $23.
Tell your wife that it shall last twice as long, besides being a better designed kilt up front and that she certainly should be more pleased seeing you in the Economy kilt than the Trifty which might be more questionable as a KILT.

Finally, the more you pay on your new smaller garments the likelier it is that you shall keep down your weight.

Good luck!

Greg