Casual or Traditional?

[RockyR]

casual vs traditional...

Jman... I have heard good things about Scotishlion. I think you'd probably be happy either way. As for which one to get... Here's how I explained it to Richard Johnson when he moved from ordering our Philabeg model up to our traditional model...

If you have a Volkswagon and drive it every day, you'll be very happy with it. When you get a Mercedes, you'll understand the quality and why it costs more, so you won't be AS impressed with your VW any more.

I'd say start low and work your way up... if you buy a casual and it's your only kilt, you're going to treasure it. When you get your second kilt (in a traditional), it'll be an improvement and you'll love it even more, but the first will be a little less appealing b/c it's ONLY a casual. That's how I was and that's how RJ was when he "moved up" in quality. Does this make sense to anyone but me?

Larry... do you mean "Hunting Stewart" like Duncan wears? We have it in stock and have our sewing machines at the ready.

[Graham]

Love the Hunting Stewart, it's pretty much my favourite kilt at present (or the Black Watch, or the Gunn or the Morrison....)

The colours in the PV are really vibrant, they have a sycolodgicall effect on me

[Mychael Sporrano]

One place no one mentioned yet is www.scottishkilts.net . Their prices aren't bad at all and they have a pretty fast turnaround time compared to the others. I bought my MacNeil from them and I'm very satisfied with it. As for the 4 vs 8 yard question, knowing what I know now, I'd opt for the 8 yard for the first kilt.

While I have not purchased from scottishkilts.net, I have had occasion to quiz them on a few things. The customer service in that regard was excellent with quick, informed answers. That might not sound like much, but I place a lot of stock in having emails answered and am always suspect of businesses who lack good communication skills.

Rocky has a point about beginning smaller and working your way up. Thus, I would suggest a casual for a first kilt. If you plan on only ever having one kilt that you wear for good, I would instead make it a traditional 8 yard.

Mychael

[The Kilted Chef]

casual vs traditional...

If you have a Volkswagon and drive it every day, you'll be very happy with it. When you get a Mercedes, you'll understand the quality and why it costs more, so you won't be AS impressed with your VW any more.

I'd say start low and work your way up... if you buy a casual and it's your only kilt, you're going to treasure it. When you get your second kilt (in a traditional), it'll be an improvement and you'll love it even more, but the first will be a little less appealing b/c it's ONLY a casual. That's how I was and that's how RJ was when he "moved up" in quality. Does this make sense to anyone but me?

I understand completely. Well, maybe not completely, as I have never owned a Mercedes or a VW!

Larry

[Rufus]

One place no one mentioned yet is www.scottishkilts.net . Their prices aren't bad at all and they have a pretty fast turnaround time compared to the others. I bought my MacNeil from them and I'm very satisfied with it. As for the 4 vs 8 yard question, knowing what I know now, I'd opt for the 8 yard for the first kilt.

While I have not purchased from scottishkilts.net, I have had occasion to quiz them on a few things. The customer service in that regard was excellent with quick, informed answers. That might not sound like much, but I place a lot of stock in having emails answered and am always suspect of businesses who lack good communication skills.

Rocky has a point about beginning smaller and working your way up. Thus, I would suggest a casual for a first kilt. If you plan on only ever having one kilt that you wear for good, I would instead make it a traditional 8 yard.

Mychael

Really? I've been trying to email their other store www.irishkilts.net and haven't had any responses. I'd sent about 5 that never got a response when I finally got mad and gave up. I'm not sure if their email's wrong on their website, or what the deal is...but they certainly lost this potential customer.

[bubba]

Odd, I had no problem at all in that respect. I don't think anyone is there on weekends though.

[Rufus]

Odd, I had no problem at all in that respect. I don't think anyone is there on weekends though.

Apparently no one's been there for the last two months either.

[Jerry]

My advice is do not mess with them. I recently had a bad experience with them that resulted in my filing a complaint with the Golden Gate Better Business Bureau. I ordered my Kilt package in Feb. 2004 and finally received the last items this month. I got my kilt in August. I must however give their east coast rep credit, after I was finally put in touch with her, she made every effort to resolve my order. I never did get one of the free items listed in the package, but she gave me a free kilt shirt and two free tee shirts as well as a Balmoral to make up for my troubles. You can see my full report in the "toms cafe" forum, under the vendors topic.

[bubba]

I've heard complaints about Clansman Knitwear, but Rufus is the first I've heard abour Scottishkilts/Irishkilts.net

[Rufus]

I've heard complaints about Clansman Knitwear, but Rufus is the first I've heard abour Scottishkilts/Irishkilts.net

I actually ordered my sporran, hose, and flashes from scottishkilts.net, and didn't have any major problems. It did take them about three weeks to process the order, but I think it may have been problems with my bank. And, I didn't realize hose prices were in UK sizes, but that's me being stupid. D'oh!

Okay, now I'm really confused! :x I originally emailed irishkilts.net (about 5 times) because on their homepage, they listed that they were the "only supplier of the Irish American tartan." I never could find a picture of it, and just wanted to see a picture of it. It wasn't until a few months later that I found a pic of the tartan on the Scottish Tartans Authority site (and it's ugly too!) So, I just checked out their site, and now there's NOTHING about the Irish American tartan! It used to be the first sentence on the homepage! :x

JerMC - Which company was it that you had problems with?