Hassan Geoffrey is my new friend

[CDNSushi]

Not to be confused with Geoffrey (Tailor) of Edinburgh -- Hassan Geoffrey of Pakistan is most commonly seen on E-Bay. I went out on a limb because I wanted a formal outfit for the end of November. I have a hot date with my wife in Tokyo. You see, not since we have been married (over 6 years ago) have we had the opportunity to go out to an opera, concert, theatre or any performing art. Finally, after all this time we're going to see a musical. Yay! Since I moved to Japan, I left my tuxedo and all the accessories in Canada.

So, what's a far-flung ex-pat to do? I hopped onto the Macbook and started hunting down an affordable outfit. I found numerous purveyors, but I was drawn to Hassan Geoffrey by the price, positive reviews and their claim that they have been doing this for nearly a century, 1912 to be precise. They even claim to have made kilts for Scottish regiments of the UK military.

After scoping them out, my next stop was X-marks to see what the real experts had to say about them. The few threads I found seemed to be relatively positive so I went ahead and placed my order.

I ordered:

- a Prince Charlie jacket and vest, and since I was already shopping, a Black Watch kilt. Because they tend to sell stuff in sets, I also ended up with: a sgian dubh, and rabbit fur sporran too.

Total price of my outfit exactly as you see in the picture: $210 USD (at the current rate of exchange, and including shipping from Pakistan to Japan via DHL).

Well, as a side story, since I had no formal wear whatsoever with me from Canada, I also went and bought a tuxedo shirt with bow tie from a U.S. E-Bay vendor, which cost me about $20 incl. shipping to Japan via USPS.

Today: CHRISTMAS! Both shipments converged: shirt & bow tie from the U.S., kilt, jacket and accessories from Pakistan! What could I do but unwrap everything like a little kid, throw it all on and take a few snaps! I do apologize for the quality -- I'm not looking my best, and the lighting was awful. Not to mention that a Black Watch tartan is ridiculously hard to photograph well under the best of conditions. Also missing are, flashes and kilt pin, which I just didn't want to bother with. But I just had to see myself wearing my new kit and share my joy with the clan. I'd like to have some GOOD photos too with me wearing it, but for now -- the 15 minute-special below using the self-timer and cheap tripod will just have to suffice.




So, then. What of Hassan Geoffrey's company and kilts?

- communication with them was super-fast and very, very polite
- everything was exactly as promised
- shipping was extremely quick -- passed through customs like nobody's business. They put in a customs slip indicating "product samples" with a total value of $30 USD.
- quality of the PC jacket and vest looks really good! I couldn't see any evidence of missed or crooked stitches, irregularities or anything of the sort. A few light wrinkles -- but nothing that a bit of steam won't resolve. Can't beat it for $130 in any event!
- the quality of the kilt is what you'd expect from ANY kilt in that price range. Artificial acrylic wool, some imperfections in the weave, pleats not sewn down. (See my Kiltmart review for my solution to THAT problem. A quick, cheap trip to my local seamstress will fix that in a hurry). Also, the waistband (for some reason) has cardboard INSIDE it to give it stiffness and form. Doesn't really bother me at all -- but there IS a label that warns the kilt is dryclean ONLY -- and rightfully so. Otherwise, the leather straps and buckles seem quite sturdy and the whole thing has a nice "heft" to it, even though it's far from being a tank. The edge is nicely fringed and the knife pleats are acceptable.
- the rabbit fur sporran is nice - but it sheds like a freakin' long-haired cat! Do all rabbit fur sporrans do that? Anyway, it's not like I'll be using that particular sporran for something casual like mountaineering.
- the sgian dubh is of dubious quality -- but really -- who the hell cares? It was essentially free, and I won't be using it for anything but an accessory. If I need a good-quality knife, I'll use my Swiss army.
- the kilt was shipped with 3 lines of basting stitches holding it all together, and wrapped in thin plastic. Arrived in fine condition.
- PC jacket and vest were shipped in a standard, zipped up suit bag on a hanger. Again, no problems here.

Would I order from them again? In a heartbeat. For my purposes it's more than sufficient. When it comes to this kind of thing, the sky's the limit when it comes to price and quality -- I'm happy with something that looks nice and doesn't fall apart when used.

[McMurdo]

I've got a couple of things that I think would make the outfit that much better, first off if you are wearing the waistcoat, loose the belt. Secondly, hike the kilt up so that there is no white showing between the waistcoat and kilt.

Congratulations on the new stuff, I'll bet you are a happy camper.

[CDNSushi]

Yep, the white shirt bit -- agreed 100%... I thought the same thing as I was uploading the pix. The belt? I can see why you'd say that -- but I guess I've seen lots photos of people wearing formal wear both with and without belt -- so I never figured that it was not customary. How about a cummerbund? I've seen that too.

I've got a couple of things that I think would make the outfit that much better, first off if you are wearing the waistcoat, loose the belt. Secondly, hike the kilt up so that there is no white showing between the waistcoat and kilt.

Congratulations on the new stuff, I'll bet you are a happy camper.

[McMurdo]

Yep, the white shirt bit -- agreed 100%... I thought the same thing as I was uploading the pix. The belt? I can see why you'd say that -- but I guess I've seen lots photos of people wearing formal wear both with and without belt -- so I never figured that it was not customary. How about a cummerbund? I've seen that too.

I would not do a cummberbund either, as that is part of a tuxedo outfit, I think the reason you see the belt and waistcoat together is because many tartan shops want to sell as much as possible, however that does not make it correct, one reason not to wear the belt and waistcoat is that the belt can make the waistcoat not sit properly.

[Panache]

CDNSushi,

I'm with Glen here you can have a belt with a fancy waist plate or a waistcoat. Both look strange to me. Basically it makes your waistcoat look like it is either worn too high or it is too small for you (or both).

I have actually seen a gentleman in a kilt wear both a waistcoat and a cummerbund with his Prince Charlie jacket at a formal ball.

It is even more bizarre looking in person than you could possibly imagine.

Cheers

Jamie

[irishcoloradoan]

Got it, thanks CDNSushi!

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

I've got a couple of things that I think would make the outfit that much better, first off if you are wearing the waistcoat, loose the belt. Secondly, hike the kilt up so that there is no white showing between the waistcoat and kilt.

Agree totally. And the reason the sporran sheds like a long haired cat is... it probably is.

[CDNSushi]

LOL! Aww... Poor kitty! (Just when I read that I got this awful image in my head of a tall, white caftan-wearing Pakistani, scimitar in hand, going through a stereotypical Middle-Eastern crowded bazaar, going: "Heeeeere kitty, kitty, kitty..." in Arabic.

Well, we'll see. Maybe the shedding was because of shipping. After all, it was bounced around in a cardboard box and inside a plastic bag, going from the extreme heat into the freezing cold within the period of a few hours. Hopefully after a few uses it won't look like it underwent chemo.

Hamish: Good call on the placement of the sporran. It is indeed too low. Again, one of those things that'll get adjusted before I actually go out in public with it.

Thanks for the tips & suggestions, guys. We're not born with knowledge like this, and unless you grow up in a kilted home where such attire is common, arriving into it later in life means there's a learning curve.

As for the belt thing... The experts have spoken. I'll lose the belt. Heh. I just find it interesting that if you flip through the X-marks "formal kilted" pix thread (all 14 pages of it) , I'd say almost a good half have 'em. But to be fair, not everyone's wearing a PC either.

[Panache]

...As for the belt thing... The experts have spoken. I'll lose the belt. Heh. I just find it interesting that if you flip through the X-marks "formal kilted" pix thread (all 14 pages of it) , I'd say almost a good half have 'em. But to be fair, not everyone's wearing a PC either.

You may wear a belt with a fancy waist plate for dressy outfits, even with a formal Prince Charlie jacket and dress / tuxedo shirt. But you can't also wear a waistcoat with it.

Waistcoat (no belt)



Belt (No waistcoat)




Waistcoat (No Belt)



I hope this was of help

Cheers

Jamie



Cheers

Jamie

[CDNSushi]

You may wear a belt with a fancy waist plate for dressy outfits, even with a formal Prince Charlie jacket and dress / tuxedo shirt. But you can't also wear a waistcoat with it.

I hope this was of help

Yessir! And thanks for the photo clarification! That's a good way to illustrate your point.