Buying a Kilt :D

[Downunder Kilt]

I would suggest, along with all the other excellent advice you have be given here, not to forget your OP shop sources for things such as ties, waistcoats, buckles for daywear belts, kilt pin alternatives etc, Whislt you have been given a generous amount of money to equipment yourself. I would suggest that you don't go the whole hog in one go. In an earlier post you said that your have dressed from OP shop clothes in the past, so don't loose that valuable source.

As has been advised, get yourself the essentials, wear it a bit and find the style that suits you, then build on that style.

As for daywear shirts, I like the the tattersall style, with a tweed tie.

[artificer]

There is a thread called 10 looks with one kilt, it shows two different men showing various levels of formality wearing one kilt.

Blast! I knew there was another thread I wanted to link to.
Here it is for your convenience Colin. Jamie and Glen do a wonderful job of illustrating various levels of formality, each with their own twist.

[Colin MacBean]

I have seen that thread before I think I'll update this topic once I've somewhat finalized a list of products so I can hear some criticism if anyone feels like lending it

[Eric Schutte]

Hi Colin,

This is just MY HUMBLE opinion so take it as such:

In my quest to become kilted I decided to go with a mill direct from Scotland to have my kilts made. I dealt with Strathmore Woollens. There is a gentlement there named Joseph Brown, (he goes by Jo.). He will take care of all your needs for a 13 or 16 oz. handmade, 100% worsted wool, knife pleated kilt. They either have your tartan in stock or they can get it.

Great people to deal with and shipped to my door in the Western US from Scotland I received 2 kilts for about 1000.00 dollars. Thats shipped and tailored to me! I urge you to e-mail strathmore woollens and give Jo a shout.

Here again, just my humble opinion of buying direct from a mill in Scotland. Yes you may have to wait a little longer and you will have about a 60.00 charge for customs but to me it was well worth it. I now have 2 kilts, 1 MacLean of Duart Modern and 1 MacLean of Duart Hunting Modern that I will wear with pride for a lifetime.

Congrats on he opportunity to be kilted!!!

Eric Schutte

[Hothir Ethelnor]

Hello Kilt members here is the mostly formalized list of items. I would like to hear critiques and or support on items in the list Thanks again.

Kilt - Deluxe Knife pleat (traditional) Strome 16 oz 8 meter in MacBean Modern

Jacket and Waistcoat - Argyll (tweed or barathea need opinions ) Colour is also up for debate. I like the lovat green, but it isn't as formal.

Sporran - I don't want to offend anyone but I am not a huge fan of fur so my brother and I have been looking at the hunting Sporran.
http://www.gaelicclothing.com/huntingsporrans.htm I'm sort tossing up the metal or leather cantle and brown or black as I would like something that can be used in a formal occasion but also in a casual situation as well. Would you guys recommend getting only the formal and if I wear the kilt more often consider purchasing a casual sporran later?

Sgian Dubh - There are a lot of different options and I still have very little idea on what I should or shouldn't get Any advice/opinions would be gratefully appreciated.

Scottish hat - This is the other sore point ;) I really like hats, but am wondering what hats are considered formal/military/casual etc.
The hats I know of so far are the Glengarry, Balmoral bonnet and the Tam. As with all the previous selections the more advice the better

Thanks a lot guys, you have no idea how helpful you have all been

Well I can't say as I can help you with what kilt-maker to choose but there are plenty.

For jacket and waistcoat I would go with tweed. It's warmer and more versatile you can wear it to most everything except formal evening events. If you happen to be the sort that attends black tie events and formal dinners and such a black Argyle with pewter buttons will dress up and down nicely. (though some would say it's not quite formal enough for black tie.)

As far as a sporran goes Ferguson Britt sporrans look (to me) to be the most versatile. I don't know if you can fit it in your budget but that's my opinion. Basically you won't be able to get one sporran that is both casual and formal you will have to draw the line somewhere and most people tend to do so with fur or "bling" of course an understated hair sporran could be used in almost any occasion.

As far as Sgians go, would you wear and use a knife regularly or is this simply decoration? It is optional as decoration and not needed. If you are the sort that constantly finds uses for a pocket knife, a serviceable sgian with a simple handle made from a dark wood with perhaps a silver top would do quite nicely, in most settings.

I have one Balmoral bonnet that I wear everywhere. It was a basic noobie black bonnet with a red toorie. The toorie has been lost for a long time now and the bonnet has gained a worn shape and a clan badge. I wear the heck out of it and don't care what people think. For formal settings the hat will most likely be off your head. and everywhere else who cares? I think Glengarries look a bit "uniformish" to me.

[Colin MacBean]

Thanks Hothir

I was leaning more towards the tweed. I do not attend many formal events, but once and awhile when someone gets married or something of the sort it would be nice to be able to wear a kilt for those occasions. Thus does the colour affect the formality of the jacket? Say green lovat vs charcoal tweed?

With the Sgian Dubh I would most likely be only wearing it in formal occasions. However, we are more 'country' people and a knife that actually works would be nice From what I hear most of the fancy looking ones are pretty much useless.

I agree about the glengarry's looking uniformish, they do look sharp though

[james.mccarson]

Having been wearing the kilt since '84, I have worn both sewn and self pleated (small kilt). The more yardage in the kilt, the better it will hang and sway. I prefer pleat to sett, but knife is worn with small kilts.

I still have my first two, but they have been let out. You will grow out in your mid thirties. God's gift.

Remember to shop around. You can be taken easily.

Yes there is a wait, if the tailor is quite good. Six months at the least.

I have both black and brown sporrans. Make sure the belt and shoes match.

White Hoses for Evening Wear. Get your garter to highlight a color (not the main color) from your kilt.

I would get a Day Wear Jacket first and then the Prince Charlie later. A Argyll with a Waist Coat (Vest) is just as formal as a Prince Charlie.

I would feel naked without a Black Knife.

Remember the kilt is the base for everything else.

[Colin MacBean]

Can I get garter (flashes) in the colour of my tartan?

The black knife is another word for the sgian dubh right? What black knives do you recommend?

Thanks for the other advice as well

[xman]

Hello Kilt members here is the mostly formalized list of items. I would like to hear critiques and or support on items in the list

Ooo what fun, virtual shopping.

Sporran - I don't want to offend anyone but I am not a huge fan of fur so my brother and I have been looking at the hunting Sporran.

Yeah, me too.

I'm sort tossing up the metal or leather cantle and brown or black as I would like something that can be used in a formal occasion but also in a casual situation as well.

There's no such thing really, but I'd say a black leather hunting sporran with a black cantle should bridge the gap fairly well.

Would you guys recommend getting only the formal and if I wear the kilt more often consider purchasing a casual sporran later?

That sounds like a good idea to me.

Scottish hat - This is the other sore point ;) I really like hats, but am wondering what hats are considered formal/military/casual etc.

The Balmoral is commonly worn by civilians while the Glengarry is a more military adornment. A tam is just way too casual to pull of in anything less than golfing gear IMO.

For the rest, I'd say you are on the right track or have nothing to add except that if high formality will be a rarer occasion for you, you can always rent a Prince Charlie and sporran with silver cantle plus Gillie Brogues or whatever else you need above and beyond your usual kit. I find it useful to think about where and when i will most likely be kilted and have found that since my PV casual landed I am over dressing slightly so far this summer because I'm throwing on dress shoes, flashes and a waistcoat where hiking boots, socks and a belt would better suit. it's early days for me though.

Good research so far.

[Downunder Kilt]

If the most formal event you are likely to go to is a wedding, I would go for a lovat coloured tweed argyll and waistcoat which can be dressed up or down with shirts and ties. For a more stylish tweed you could look at the selection at the Sottish Tartans Museum eg the poacher tweed (I am a bit bias in this as it is my all time favourite tweed)
For a functional sgian dubh I would recomend "the Officer" from Gaelic Themes
which has a full tang blade