Ok, you highland dress traditionalists out there -- I have an advice thread idea. I had given some thought to writing an article of sorts along these lines myself, but then I decided I would be more interested in hearing what the collected wisdom of this forum might come up with.

So, here's the idea. You are giving advice to someone with an interest in traditional Highland attire. They want to do it up right. They want to dress with style, and also with respect to the Highland tradition. How do you advise them?

And I want you to make two recommendations. The first, the IDEAL, is what you would suggest they acquire without any respect to cost, as if money were no object. The second, BUDGET, is what you would recommend to them, acknowledging the ideal for what it is, but simply being too pricey, if they had a rather limited budget available to them. Note, the object of the BUDGET recommendation is not to find the cheapest alternative, but to suggest what you would recommend as being an advisable, stylish and traditional choice for someone whose financial means preclude the IDEAL.

I suggest these categories:

1. The kilt itself.
2. Shoes, daywear.
3. Shoes, eveningwear.
4. Hose, daywear.
5. Hose, eveningwear.
6. Sporran, daywear.
7. Sporran, eveningwear.
8. Jacket and/or waistcoat, daywear.
9. Jacket and/or waistcoat, eveningwear.
10. (Because it has to be a round number), your one other piece of personal advice.

Let the fun begin!