Looking for prioritization advice.

[unixken]

Hello, to The Rabble!

I am looking to expand the range of levels of kilted dress I'll be able to achieve, and I'm in need of some advice.

I'm off to a fair start with the kilts I currently own - three 8yd PV kilts from Heritage of Scotland, a "Team Kilt" from Sportskilt, and my traditional 8yd heavyweight Buchanan Balmoral from Scotweb. I also have an eye toward the 5.11 kilt for the gun range, when released.

For jackets and such, I have the ubiquitous Prince Charlie at the high end, the Braemar I'm expecting any day now (purchased from Hootstwo here on XMarks), a Barathea Chieftain's vest, and a few Jacobite shirts. I see no need at present, for something as top-end as a Sheriffmuir, as I have never attended a white-tie event of any kind in my life.

I likewise have a range of flashes (some tartan, though most are solid colors), hose (so far, all solid colors - no diced or argyles), and hats (a Tam and a Glengarry, with a Balmoral currently on order.)

I have a few daywear/casual sporrans and a dress sporan, own a couple pairs of suitable shoes for formal and informal wear (though a pair of low-cut hikers is still something I need to add), and have even managed a couple walking sticks for when my back gives out or my Gout flares up (including a Ram's Horn Shepherds Crook I found on eBay, expected in a week or so.)

But there are some obvious gaps in my wardrobe. Namely, a few nice wool sweaters, a tweed jacket, a decent casual belt and a buckle or two of different levels of dress.

I have about $200-$300 USD each month to play with, including item cost, shipping, any import duties, and so on. But given what I already have listed above, I'm wondering what the group's thoughts are for prioritization of future purchases, to fill out the broadest range of options. Would a sweater or two provide greater flexibility than diced hose?... Would a couple casual belts/buckles give more bang-for-the-buck than a semi-dress sporran, and so on?

Of course it helps to know what kinds of events I am looking to cover. There are the usual banquets, weddings, and similar black-tie events, a smattering of Celtic Festivals and Highland Games gatherings, hiking (keeps my cardiologist happy), puttering around the house, and possibly an IDPA pistol match or two (if I can work out holster and magazine carriage issues, while kilted.) Additionally, I've been looking into local area Scottish ancestry societies here in Northeast Ohio, which I suspect will open my eyes to additional venues or events.

Ultimately, I'd like to invest in a couple more really nice wool kilts representing the "Sangster" (Aberdeen) and "Ellis" (Welsh) sides of the family, but feel I need to address the gaps I currently have, before I opt for additional kilts (apologies, to my great grandmothers - your time will come.)

So... given what I already have, and the types of occasions I'd like to attend, what thoughts do The Rabble have regarding how I might most rapidly broaden the effective breadth of my wardrobe?

[brewerpaul]

Hello, to The Rabble!



I have about $200-$300 USD each month to play with, including item cost, shipping, any import duties, and so on. But given what I already have listed above, I'm wondering what the group's thoughts are for prioritization of future purchases, to fill out the broadest range of options. Would a sweater or two provide greater flexibility than diced hose?... Would a couple casual belts/buckles give more bang-for-the-buck than a semi-dress sporran, and so on?

Though I would like and will eventually get some dice or tartan hose for me a few really nice sweaters is the easiest way to casual up a kilt. You can go from heavy cable knit to argyle sweater vests that will take a tie and maybe a tweed jacket. I can always dress up my 7 or so pairs of kilt hose with the hand woven garter ties I make. Belts, I have a large classic brown and black with buckles but for casual I have a 1 1/2 inch belt with a silver and brass buckle from a trail race I ran. Keeps it more causal that way. I dont care for the chrome buckles so popular in some stores. There are some great leather workers and belt buckle forgers in the group here that can make you some very nice items. Im making a hemp/organic cotton corduroy kilt and will adorn it with woven jute straps and a woven jute belt with rings for buckle. Have a hemp back for a sporran already. Id say look at what you have most, be it for dress or casual, and fill in from there. For me I attend very little dress so I tend to have quite a casual collection. Though I do have the charcoal tweed jacket and waist coat to clean up when needed. Enjoy .. this stuff is way too fun.

[Cygnus]

I would actually go for a tweed jacket (and waistcoat) first and foremost - you just can't beat them for versatility. You can wear it with a white shirt and tie for nicer events, or you can wear it without a tie and the top shirt button undone for more of a sport-jacket look.

After that, a good-quality casual belt would be the order for when it's too hot for a waistcoat under your jacket. Then some custom diced hose.

I would skip the "semi-dress" sporrans altogether. If you really want something that covers that middle ground (as well as casual and formal events), invest in a full-mask sporran. Muskrat is a popular and nice-looking choice these days, though I am quite fond of badger sporrans.

That is what I would do - I understand your thoughts and priorities might be different than my own.

Good luck with whatever you decide!

[Nighthawk]

You know what? People overthink this! What would you wear with a pair of jeans? If you want to casual things up, all you have to do is swap out your jeans with a kilt. Presto- instant wardrobe. And you already have the clothes, so no need to buy anything new.

As for the sporran, sounds like you're already set.

Casual belts... Well, just wear your kilt belt! No need for anything else. But if you do feel a need for a high quality casual belt, you won't be able to beat these: http://www.renleather.com/index.php?...&cPath=122_126

[davidlpope]

Here's what I suggest for a basic Highland wardrobe, in priority order:

1. 8yd knife pleat kilt
2. Brown day sporran and strap
3. Lovat blue, lovat green, bottle green, and claret/dark red kilt hose
4. Red flashes
5. Tweed jacket and waistcoat

6. Regulation doublet and waistcoat
7. Evening sporran
8. Argyle or diced hose
9. Bar buckle brogues

Optional:
10. Balmoral bonnet
11. Day waistbelt
12. Day Sgian Dubh
13. Evening Sgian Dubh

The other items you might need are not specific to Highland attire (shirts, ties, fomal shirt, bowtie, full brogue shoes, v-neck sweater, etc.).

I see no reason to purchase more than one of the above (except for the kilt hose), though perhaps a second kilt or kilt jacket/waistcoat might be on your wishlist...

If I were you, I think I would consider "paring down" and "trading up".

Best of luck!

David

[MacLowlife]

I agree with Mr Pope.

If you intend to go kilted full time, you may wear out the ones you have. If you don't, I think you may have enough kilts for a while. Upgrading is always a good plan- the trick is to make sure you send out one item for every new item you take in.

Have you looked at the rest of your wardrobe to see how much of it will work nicely with a kilt already? I don't think you can go wrong with a tweed jacket, if your life is a tweed jacket one...

I am at least as guilty as most people, but I think we spend too much time (and energy, and money) getting and not enough time having.

I hope you get a lot of chances to wear and enjoy what you have.

When in doubt, consider saving your money and waiting at least 60 days before making any purchase. I expect far more opportunities will reveal themselves than you will need.

[unixken]

As I read everyone's responses, I'm thinking that a nice tweed (no waistecoat), a couple sweaters (one v-neck, for a tie... and one crew-neck for without), and a decent casual belt will sufficiently flesh out the wardrobe.

Most of my non-kilting wardrobe is either 5.11/Woolrich tactical type stuff (I'm a firearms instructor, among other things), and a handful of sport shirts on the casual side, two suits, one wool sport jacket, and some dress shirts on the dressier side, and that's it. For shoes, I own a pair of tactical boots for the range, a pair of deck shoes for the boats, dress shoes for the Coast Guard uniforms (I'm also a public education & boating safety instructor), and a pair of Oxfords for the office. My non-kilting wardrobe really isn't well suited (so to speak) for adaptation to a kilt.

I can do the extremes, with sneakers, a t-shirt, my Sportskilt and Stillwater cargo sporran on one end... and the Prince Charlie, with Fly Plaid, at the other extreme. But I think a sport-jacketish tweed, and a couple sweaters (with something more appropriate than a "Luxury Clan Crest Buckle", or my gun belt, at the casual end), would flesh out my options for the middle ground.

I think I have enough hats, flashes, and other related bits... my sgian is neutral enough to fill any role, and I think I can wait on any diced hose, etc.

So I'll go for the tweed, a couple good sweaters, and a good casual belt and buckle (thanks for that renleather link, Nighthawk!)

"Tanks" to everyone for the great input! It is very much appreciated!