Would you buy an off-the-rack kilt?

**auld argonian** · 12th June 10, 04:44 PM

Yeah...if it's a tartan that I'm interested in and of a decent quality, why-da-hell-not?

Best

AA

**Whidbey78** · 12th June 10, 06:17 PM

It depends, as has been said already, on price, but also on intended use. No $500 hiking, camping and yardwork kilts. Some off the rack garments fit me, though not all.

In other words, if it works, yes. If not, no. I'd always prefer something built for me though as long as total destruction isn't likely.

I doubt I'll get anymore though, as I have decided to make my own for beating around the toolies...a few bucks (less than $20 for my last two, and about 15 for the one I'm starting tonight) in fabric won't break my heart.

Besides, it leaves more $$$$ to put away for Rocky and Josh's retirement funds.

**dutchy kilted** · 12th June 10, 06:27 PM

I have bought several Utilikilts and Amerikilts and they have fit fine.
A tartan kilt I would have made, like my beloved casual from USAK.

**Bugbear** · 12th June 10, 07:34 PM

Wasn't sure how to vote; I have, but wouldn't. I guess that equals no.

**SteveB** · 12th June 10, 09:32 PM

Three Utilikilts, three Amerikilts, One Sport Kilt, two Stillwater kilts, one Burnett & Struth kilt.... O.K. a few off the peg, but then in the jeans casual I am a 24 length. I just dropped three inches off the hips, and the off the peg fit pretty darn good, but NOTHING fits like my hand sewn wool Tank. Next best is the bespoke work of Rocky and Mac.

I still wear the UK, and AK for mucking in the garden. I prefer to wear the bespoke kilts most of the time.

Slainte

GG · 12th June 10, 09:51 PM

Of course I should buy a kilt-off-the-rack if the size was right and if I liked the quality and the price seemed reasonable.

In fact, the only garments ever made to my measures are kilts and mainly because the “standardized” 24” length is just a little bit to the high side. In fact I also prefer the kilt to sit a little bit lower than “prescribed”. Therefore 23” or 22.5” is my choice but I can live with the 24” ones.

I have several off-the-rack kilts, and except for the length they seem to fit me exactly as well as the bespoke kilts. Probably I’m a rather normal shape guy, not too fat, not too slim and with a pretty average hip to waist ratio.

If I should really benefit from having anything tailor-made it should be my trousers and my shorts, in fact, but like probably most men and most of you here I live with them readymade, even if it sometimes takes a little longer to find some right fitting ones.

And right fitting is far from being a question of price. When I buy branded trousers – I almost always do and my favourites are Hugo Boss and Tommy Hilfiger – I know that 80% of what I pay for is the brand and high margins; the remaining 20% is for the “quality”, meaning I could rather easily find some non-branded ones with the same “quality”.

To me the phrase “you get what you pay for” therefore is mainly a matter of feeling secured or an excuse for paying more than you really need to. And this excuse is more than welcome if we have a special interest in something. We tend – like me - to spend more than we, from a rational point of view, should do, being it on kilts, other garments, cameras, lenses, hi-fi equipment etc.

So yes, I have bought kilts off the rack, and I will do it again. And I certainly see nothing “wrong” in it and no one living on a budget should feel wrong if all of their kilts were off-the-rack.

Greg
www.dress2kilt.eu

**Woot22** · 12th June 10, 10:26 PM

Originally Posted by GG

To me the phrase “you get what you pay for” therefore is mainly a matter of feeling secured or an excuse for paying more than you really need to. And this excuse is more than welcome if we have a special interest in something. We tend – like me - to spend more than we, from a rational point of view, should do, being it on kilts, other garments, cameras, lenses, hi-fi equipment etc.
www.dress2kilt.eu

Again, it's just my opinion but I feel it in not a matter of paying more for something than I ought too when purchasing a kilt. I also disagree with the notion of living on a budget as a rational for buying cheap. I purchased my first kilt, which was a tank, while serving as an E-4 in the Army. Wealthy I was not, I can assure you of that. I just saved and saved some more till I eventually could afford one. The plus side of buying a handmade kilt from Scotland is the length of time required to make it helps save some money to make the final purchase. Just my two or four cents worth.

GG · 13th June 10, 08:55 PM

Originally Posted by Woot22

Again, it's just my opinion but I feel it in not a matter of paying more for something than I ought too when purchasing a kilt. I also disagree with the notion of living on a budget as a rational for buying cheap. I purchased my first kilt, which was a tank, while serving as an E-4 in the Army. Wealthy I was not, I can assure you of that. I just saved and saved some more till I eventually could afford one.

I think we are pretty much on line, after all. There is nothing wrong with paying a high price for something you really go for. I do it myself, as I wrote.

My point is, however, that no one should feel shameful when buying am even thrifty kilt off the rack - or anything else for that matter - if that is what he thinks he will or can offer right away. Saving up is good but it could be a long term process with many obstacles delaying the purchase.

And the difference between an expensive and a cheap kilt might not be that big – looked at from a distance of several meters.

Can you tell if my watch is approximately a $100, a $1.000 or a $3.000 one? Unless you are interested in watches I'm pretty much sure you cannot. You don't need to answer.

Is my kilt a $100, a $300 one?

Greg
www.dress2kilt.eu

**OC Richard** · 15th June 10, 04:40 AM

Originally Posted by GG

Is my kilt a $100, a $300 one?

I would guess that it's not a $500 one, as the sett size looks too small for 16oz kilting fabric, and far smaller than the full MOD sett size.

Also it could just be the photo rendering, but the colours don't seem to be at full intensity.

GG · 15th June 10, 06:50 AM

Originally Posted by OC Richard

I would guess that it's not a $500 one, as the sett size looks too small for 16oz kilting fabric, and far smaller than the full MOD sett size.

Also it could just be the photo rendering, but the colours don't seem to be at full intensity.

You are absolutely right and you have some good points.

This kilt is one of my first and cheapest. It is a PVC kilt - not acryllic as most cheap kilts - as far as I can judge. The finish is far from being perfect, however.
It is a 4 yard kilt - at the maximum. The kilt shop (Tartanwear-direct in Glasgow) does not exist any longer but for the £39 I paid it was about all right.

I very seldom wear it. The Royal Stewart tartan might be a little bit too much connected with kilted skirts, I'm afraid and the colors are too loud for my taste. They are more intense red than rendered in the picture, as you suggest.

But for just knocking about it is OK to me - sometimes.

Greg

www.dress2kilt.eu