An XMTS Game: Ranking quality of Kilt & Kit

[Panache]

On XMTS we often talk about the importance of the quality versus cost in our highland attire. It is easy to say "I want everything to be the best quality". But what about when you have to make choices about what can be best quality vs. lesser quality? I pose this scenario and question to you for your amusement and for us to share what see as most important in our highland attire.

Imagine you are a starving 1st year college student and do not possess any highland attire. Fortune has smiled on you and you have won a drawing for a free highland outfit from a respected Kilt shop. As starving student you will not be able to buy replacements for any of the items until you are finished with college (and you are shooting for a Doctorate). So this gear will be serving as your only highland attire for the better part of the next decade.

The shop owner says you may have your choice of an outfit that includes (1) kilt, (1) sporran (with strap), (1) kilt jacket w/waistcoat, (1) pair of hose w/flashes, and (1) sgian dubh.

However there is a catch.

One item may be of the very finest quality (bespoke to your specifications)
One item will be of very good quality.
One item will be of good quality
One item will be of average quality
One item will be of low quality

What would you choose for your outfit? List them from 1 to 5 with 1 being the highest in quality to 5 being the lowest and add an explanation if you would like as to your reasoning. It will be interesting to see if we all have pretty much the same priorities or if there is some variation. For the fun of it I will send a PM to one of the Mods with my prediction.

Cheers

Jamie

[Paul Henry]

I'll play...

The shop owner says you may have your choice of an outfit that includes (1) kilt, (1) sporran (with strap), (1) kilt jacket w/waistcoat, (1) pair of hose w/flashes, and (1) sgian dubh.


One item may be of the very finest quality (bespoke to your specifications) kilt
One item will be of very good quality. jacket/waistcoat
One item will be of good quality sporran
One item will be of average quality hose, because I'll be making my own
One item will be of low quality as I don't wear one can I put the money from the sgian dubh towards the hose please

[ForresterModern]

1. Hand sewn 8 yd knife pleated kilt in Forrester modern tartan, bespoke by Bonnie Heather
2. Black barathea Argyle jacket and vest, with interchangeable buttons between chrome and black horn or leather buttons
3. HoC Tain hose in Lovat blue
4. Basic dress sporran in grey cowhide with chrome cantle and black leather strap (plain)
5. Faux or low end sgian nonspecific---actually I would like to turn this back in for credit toward better quality hose or sporran

One man's opinion.

[RockyR]

I'd list them in order of price... get the highest price item at the top of the scale and the lowest priced item at the bottom of the scale. As you grow older and can afford it, start replacing items from the bottom up.

[Panache]

I'd list them in order of price... get the highest price item at the top of the scale and the lowest priced item at the bottom of the scale. As you grow older and can afford it, start replacing items from the bottom up.

PENALTY!!!!!




That isn't playing the game Rocky! (And a warning for you Paul!)


The point here is that you have imagine that this EXACT outfit is the one you will be wearing for the next almost 10 years. There is no "I'll replace" or "I'll make" allowed. There is no exchanges or barter. You get the 5 items of varying quality and that's it. These are your only options. This is to get you to think about what is really important to you in a highland outfit.

OK (Panache blows whistle)

"Resume Play!"


Cheers

Jamie ith:

[David Thorpe]

[B][SIZE="7"]There is no "I'll replace" or "I'll make" allowed.

That leaves me and most other DIYers out of the game. Tartan fabric and a copy of Barb T. is *much* cheaper than a bespoke kilt by anyone else. I can get a very good quality tweed sport jacket from a thrift shop and turn it into a fine Argyll or Braemar. (Done that)
And a cheapo Ebay sporran rebuilt with on-hand fur, leather and horsehair makes a showpiece. (Done that, too)
Of course, a starving college student doesn't have the time or experience that a retired guy does.

Sorry for the digression. Carry on.

[Panache]

That leaves me and most other DIYers out of the game.

David,

No it doesn't. The "game" isn't DIY. (By all means run another thread with a DIY theme in a similar vein). The "game" is to see where X Markers see investing the most money in for kilt and kit (and their reasoning for doing so). All games have rules! So play along (and then start your own game.)

Cheers

Jamie

[piperdown]

I'd list them in order of price... get the highest price item at the top of the scale and the lowest priced item at the bottom of the scale. As you grow older and can afford it, start replacing items from the bottom up.

Can't argue with this reasoning...

[Harold Cannon]

THIS WOULD BE MY ORDER.

One item may be of the very finest quality (bespoke to your specifications)

KILT

A GOOD KILT CAN LAST A LIFETIME AND WILL HOLD UP BETTER THAT A LESS EXPENSIVE ONE.

One item will be of very good quality.

JACKET AND WAISTCOAT

A GOOD QUALITY BLACK ARGYLL JACKET AND WAISTCOAT CAN BE USED AT SEVERAL LEVELS OF FORMALITY

One item will be of good quality

SPORRAN

A GOOD QUALITY MASK SPORRAN OR EVEN A BLACK HUNTER SPORRAN WORK ON MANY LEVELS.

One item will be of average quality

HOSE AND FLASHES

A DECENT PAIR OF HOSE AND FLASHES IN A DARK CORESPONDING COLOR OF THE KILT WORKS WELL FOR MOST FUNCTIONS.

One item will be of low quality

SGIAN DUBH

AS IT IS ONLY DECORATION THIS WOULD BE THE LOW QUALITY ITEM FOR ME.

[Jock Scot]

I am only interested in the best kilt attire around and nothing else will do. And no, I am not made of money.