Kilt packages?

[CMcG]

Not all packages are created equal, so it is hard to give a categorical "aye" or "nay." If there is an economic incentive, then it seems like a good idea. ForresterModern's comments, however, are an important consideration in terms of location and the real cost of a package that must be shipped internationally.

The other consideration is if everything in the package is actually desirable. If so, then it seems like a good idea. I am somewhat leery, however, of the idea of a package and the potential to end up looking like a cookie cutter kiltie. If someone was looking at a package as a way of facilitating their purchase, there is a real danger of looking like a one is wearing a rental outfit. For me, part of the joy of kilt ownership is putting my own personal flare into it. As RockyR said many vendors might allow upgrading of individual items.

[Laird_M]

From a purely personal point of view, I buy mine as seperates from various suppliers as I find I can get an outfot for a couple of hundred less.
OK, quality may possibly vary but so far I've been happy with my purchases and it means that I can buy items as and when I can afford them rather than having to save up for three years only to find the price has gone up, the supplier has gone bust or they've dropped stuff.

If you've got the money, get it in one go, if not piecemeal works for me.

[M. A. C. Newsome]

I've always tended to avoid "kilt packages." We toyed around with selling them at the museum gift shop some time back but I eventually abandoned the idea after nearly everyone wanted to make their own custom additions or upgrades to the packages, meaning I'd have to whip out my calculator and price list and adjust the "package price" for the difference. We just gave up on it. Instead we try to price everything as reasonably as we can and encourage people to select the items they want rather than simply get what someone else has predetermined should be in a "Casual Kilt Package" or "Semi-Formal Kilt Package," etc.

We do occasionally have people still ask about kilt packages, in which case I ask them why they would want to look like everyone else who bought the same package. When I describe the amazing variety sporrans, jackets, kilt hose, kilt styles, etc., people pretty quickly see the value in selecting everything individually.

And that is how I would go about it personally, if I were shopping for myself. Sure, I would try to get as many items from the same company as I could, for simplicity and to save on shipping. But my first concern would be that I was actually ordering the style and quality of item I wanted, and that may mean ordering from multiple companies or craftsmen.

[Chas]

The thing with kilt packages is that they are what the vendor wants to sell, rather than what the purchaser wants to buy.

On the face of it, it looks like a good deal. But not so when you break it down to the parts.

Ghillie brogues - not worn everyday, if at all. The word "rental" gets whispered.

White hose - Rental gets shouted.

Tartan flashes - can look very cheap - another sign of rental

Sgian Dubh - Too shiny. Says cheap rental.

Kilt pin - Swords, swords - everybody's got swords. Whispers cheap rental.

Bit of a trend starting here.

'Kilt package' kilts are never the best quality. They tend to be in generic or universal tartans. 5 yards rather than 8, 24" length and often acrylic rather than wool. You are never going to find MacKenzie Hunting, Brown, Weathered, 16oz in a kilt package.

Shirt - White cotton or polycotton. Probably the best value for money of the whole deal.

Black bow tie - These are usually awful - get someone else to throw it away, so you don't have to touch it. In the UK a quality pre-tied black bow tie starts at £25. The ones you get in kilt packages look as if they were made by child slave labour in China. Can you hear the big brass band playing "Rental, Rental, Rental"?

Waistcoat - Check that it matches the jacket. Sometimes the jacket and waistcoat are made in different factories, hundreds of miles apart from slightly different fabrics. Usually 3 button - OK for formal. Not OK for business or equivalent events.

Jacket - Check it matches. More often than not it will be a PC - black tie events only, after 6pm. Wear it during the day and the brass band is marching behind you again.

Almost forgot the sporran. Either a white, rabbit skin, full dress, with shiny cantle or leather and bovine and called semi-dress. Both are best left in the cupboard.

Sometimes, included is the fly plaid (how often will you wear it) and a plaid broach (often with a plastic "Cairngorme").

The whole package will work, but only for a few hours on one day of the year, but does not represent value for money.

Far better to buy the kilt and the accessories that you want, for the type of events that you attend.

Regards

Chas

[Jerry]

It sounds like you are doing research for your degree rather than actually looking to purchase. But if you do decide to purchase a "package" STAY AWAY FROM CLANSMAN KNITWEAR". Buy from one of the sponsors on this forum, or from someone that is highly recommended by the members and you can't go wrong.

[Lime]

get someone else to throw it away, so you don't have to touch it

This is the funniest thing I've read for ages!

[O'Callaghan]

Not one here to go for a package. I think it is for the person who needs a full outfit in a hurry, and is willing to put up with white socks and other telltale signs that they didn't choose items individually.

I was looking at Argyll jackets the other day, and I keep coming back to the fact that apparently the cheapest one available comes in a sort of package with a white rabbit sporran, a chain belt and a sgian dubh. Not only that, but the jacket has buttons with a Scottish lion, and my heritage is Irish.

It is still cheaper even with all that thrown in, and only about twice the local cost of renting a PC or an Argyll. I think if I really needed a formal outfit I would buy it, change the buttons, and not necessarily use the accessories.

There's still a problem, though. I already bought a faux fur white rabbit sporran, and didn't really want a rabbit killed on my behalf, although I used to eat rabbit pie back before miximatosis.

[piperdbh]

I wouldn't buy a package deal because
a) they're more money than the Mrs. would authorize me to spend at one time, and
b) I like to acquire my kit a piece at a time, and I prefer to trade/barter for my stuff. I've traded hose for a sporran, a gloriously beautiful sgian glas, tartan pens, etc.

By the way...
OP: why don't you go ahead and post this question as a poll? It might be easier to quantify the responses.

[Downunder Kilt]

Have you/would you buy a whole kilt outfit from one shop, or are their specific items you would definitely buy together?

If we go back to the OP's original question I see it as nothing to do with a package deal. I see it as buying everthing in one shop. A lot of difference in my view. Eg. if you go to STM and order a kilt, tweed jacket, sporran, hose, sgian dubh, garter flashes, tie, the whole lot, you are getting it from the one shop.

I say to the OP, if you are satified and comfortable with the level of service, the quality of the goods and the price at the one shop, go for it. As with many shops, when you buy a whole lot of stuff from them in one purchase you can usually do some kind of deal anyway.

[RockyR]

Before you lump all packages in a 'package', be aware that many vendors (UK and US) allow for different tartans, not just universal ones.

Many of the items you say 'smacks of rental' are offered b/c they are the MOST POPULAR items. We have kilt pins of all shapes and designs. Guess which sell the best? Sword shapes. We have sgian dubhs of many designs with and without stones, with wood, resin or stag horn handles. Guess which one sells best? Shiny metal bits. I wear Ghillie Brogues every time I wear kilt hose... no one has ever accused me of looking like a rental in my tweed jackets and ghillies. Tartan Flashes... many colors / styles of flashes are offered and all are cheaper than the Matching Flashes. Guess which we sell most of with wool kilts? Tartan Flashes.

Sporran... that's down to personal preference. Again, you stated that Semi Dress and Dress sporrans should both be left in the cupboard. That leaves relatively slim 'pickings' for formal events... day sporrans, hunting sporrans, full mask and horsehair sporrans (as general categories). I understand that Dress sporrans may not be your cuppa tea, but guess which is the most popular we sell for formal occasions? You guessed it... the standard dress sporran (and yes, we have several dozen sporrans available on display in the shop in all styles, many of which are original designs).

Does this mean that the general kilt wearing public is going to look ghastly when selecting an outfit? No... it means they have a different opinion than yours on what looks good.

Again, packages are put together to give the public a discount for buying everything at once. Some companies offer CHOICES on what tartan, what sporran (or even type of sporran), what kilt pin, what sgian dubh, what buckle, what kilt pin, etc to get. This ALLOWS the customer to personalize the package to their own taste. While not all companies do it, many do, so please don't 'poo poo' packages when they're not all 'cookie cutter'.

The thing with kilt packages is that they are what the vendor wants to sell, rather than what the purchaser wants to buy.

On the face of it, it looks like a good deal. But not so when you break it down to the parts.

Ghillie brogues - not worn everyday, if at all. The word "rental" gets whispered.

White hose - Rental gets shouted.

Tartan flashes - can look very cheap - another sign of rental

Sgian Dubh - Too shiny. Says cheap rental.

Kilt pin - Swords, swords - everybody's got swords. Whispers cheap rental.

Bit of a trend starting here.

'Kilt package' kilts are never the best quality. They tend to be in generic or universal tartans. 5 yards rather than 8, 24" length and often acrylic rather than wool. You are never going to find MacKenzie Hunting, Brown, Weathered, 16oz in a kilt package.

Shirt - White cotton or polycotton. Probably the best value for money of the whole deal.

Black bow tie - These are usually awful - get someone else to throw it away, so you don't have to touch it. In the UK a quality pre-tied black bow tie starts at £25. The ones you get in kilt packages look as if they were made by child slave labour in China. Can you hear the big brass band playing "Rental, Rental, Rental"?

Waistcoat - Check that it matches the jacket. Sometimes the jacket and waistcoat are made in different factories, hundreds of miles apart from slightly different fabrics. Usually 3 button - OK for formal. Not OK for business or equivalent events.

Jacket - Check it matches. More often than not it will be a PC - black tie events only, after 6pm. Wear it during the day and the brass band is marching behind you again.

Almost forgot the sporran. Either a white, rabbit skin, full dress, with shiny cantle or leather and bovine and called semi-dress. Both are best left in the cupboard.

Sometimes, included is the fly plaid (how often will you wear it) and a plaid broach (often with a plastic "Cairngorme").

The whole package will work, but only for a few hours on one day of the year, but does not represent value for money.

Far better to buy the kilt and the accessories that you want, for the type of events that you attend.

Regards

Chas