LOTS of questions

[MikiP]

Okay, so this is my very first post.

I'm after a Douglas Clan Kilt Package, to be sent to Canada in time for our wedding in 3rd week of May. I have very little knowledge of mills, wools, weights, textures etc.

I'm trying to decide who to order my Kilt from (well a partial package actually):

Kilt= Douglas DA Modern (as per Heritage of Scotland) 8 yard, Box pleat, to the stripe
Flashes= Douglas
Jacket= Contemporary & Vest, Black Barathea?
Sporran & Waist Chain= Something dressy, but not what everyone else has
Belt & Buckle= Contemporary, but classy
Sgian Dubh= Contemporary, but classy

I am a Morton, sept of Douglas. Which is the accurate Douglas Tartan for Morton?

My mum has told me we are a sept of the Black Douglas, and near as I can tell the Black Douglas has a red stripe, but the tartan she wears most often appears to be the Douglas Modern Green or Blue, or just Douglas Modern. Some of the sites that list all of these "Douglas Moder" varieties, look very similiar if not the same, and some look very different (Dark Blue and Green with White Stripe). Maybe its the lighting or photography?,

I believe we received scarves in this Tartan, made by Locharron, this Christmas from my mum, and it is this same Tartan for a Sash she will give my wife at the wedding. Should I just go with the Douglas Modern Green/Blue?

Next, what mill should I be looking for for the wool? I've been on a few websites now looking at the Douglas Modern Tartan, and I've seen:

Marton $$
Locharron $$$
House of Edgar $$$
Strathmore $$$$

What are the reputations of these mills, in terms of quality and consistency and why the price differences?

What I'm truly after is a dark Douglas Tartan, with the white stripe, modern I believe so as to match what my wife will be getting for her sash.

The other is, I need advice on either a 13 oz. or 16 oz. weight, as I'm concerned 16 oz. may be too heavy for all year (including summer) wear, but will 13 oz. be okay for winter use in Canada? Does the weight of the wool have a bearing on the colour as well?

The last question has to do with where I purchase from. I know there are advertisers/sponsors of this site such as Buy a Kilt.com, Burnett & Struth's (Canadian, big Bonus!), and Scotweb.com, which I have been to, but I have also been to the following:

Heritage of Scotland
Scotland Kilt Company
Kilts Direct
Geoffry Kilts

I'm seriously leaning to Heritage of Scotland, as they seem to have a lot of options for kilt pleat (box or knife) and sett/stripe in the rear, a massive inventory of accessories/acoutrements that I listed to help set me apart and be a bit more "contemporary", and also very reasonable prices, turn around times, and the like. It doesn't seem they offer Locharron wool/Tartan for Douglas, but do offer the Marton Mills, which is a better price point. This kind of goes back to the questions on which mills I should be looking at, but what am I sacrificing?

What I'm after is if anyone has experience with them, or "John Morrison" Kilts (Which seems to be their kilt maker), the quality and the like.

I'd like a Contemporary Jacket and Vest, and know nothing of Barathea, however some people have told me its quite smooth the touch, but a lesser form than Doe Skin used for Military Mess Dress. I'm after something my wife wants to feel on me, lol! The other sites I listed don't seem to offer much for what I'm looking for, except this at buy a kilt.com. They do also offer good kilt packages, but again not much selection for the things I want. Any advice?

I'd also like to get my oldest son (2) a PV kilt in the same Douglas Tartan, but that is proving hard to find. I could justify a wool one, as his younger brother (1 today!) will inherit it as he gets older, but at double the cost and knowing how I played in my "dress clothes" and looks I would get from my mum with her hair on fire when I wore them, I'm hesitiant to do so. My 1 year old can wear the kilt she fashioned out of a Douglas scarf for my oldest 2 years ago for now.

I think that's it.

It probably sounds like my mind is made up on Heritage of Scotland, but the quality of the kilt (I really want one kilt, in my proper family tartan to last me till I'm maybe buried in it), I'm thinking should be the driver where I get it from. I need some input here before I make this decision.

Take me to Scottish School, please!