Impulse purchase

[Benning Boy]

I told myself early this morning no more kilts for a while, save the money. Then I went doodling around the internet looking at things Scottish. Stopped at the Heritage of Scotland web site, just to see what they might have in hose. The kilts caught my eye. They have a 5-yard Hamilton Gray kilt (they say it's p/v, but it's probably acrylic) for 17.49 GBP. That's cheap. I went ahead and ordered one, despite my earlier reminder to myself. With shipping, I selected the 20GBP rate (more than the kilt price) it comes to right at $63 US. I don't know where in the US you can get something similar for the money. Comparable items would likely run higher, plus shipping. I liked the fact it's a 5-yard kilt. It will make a light kilt that can get dirty, even stained, and not be much worried about. I'll wear it taking long vigorous walks these hot summer days. I could get nasty between washes. Hamilton Gray is a fashion tartan, I believe, and wearing it shouldn't require justification with the Kilt Kops. If you're wanting a kilt, but don't want to spend a lot of money, this might be just the thing for you.

[mookien]

Sounds like you got the type of kilt you were looking for and within your price bounds. I hope you will share with us some pictures of the kilt and how you like it.

[Benning Boy]

Well, the kilt arrived promptly last week. It wasn't such a good deal after all, but as I'm not adverse to spending occasionally to satisfy curiosity, let's say I broke even on this gamble.

The Heritage of Scotland kilt isn't a whole lot different from a Stillwater Thrifty Kilt. The thrifty closes with velcro. the HoS kilt closes with two straps and buckles. On neither kilt is the fell stitched down , they are open pleats all the way up to the waist band. So you could buy a thrifty kilt for essentialy $30 and add seven or eight dollars for postage and have an inexpensive kilt for much less than what I paid for the HoS version.


You could go a step up and get a Stillwater economy kilt, pay postage, and still get a kilt for a dollar or two less than what I paid, and it would look more traditional. Although, there isn't much choice of tartan in the economy kilt.


The next step up would be a Stillwater standard kilt, or a Midwestern KIlt Co. offering, but although not expensive, these kilts are compared to other offerings a big jump up in price plus postage.


I've long though I'd like a Hamilton Gray kilt for just knocking around, and a five-yarder would be ideal. I could always stitch the fell myself. But, would it be worth the bother?


I really messed up ordering from HoS. They do have what seem nice hose at low prices. I shouldn't have jumped the gun, and added a few pairs of hose to the order, then for the relatively high shipping cost I might be able to say I got a good deal.

Check out the HoS, and do some comparison. If you order enough, you might end up saving a lot of money. However, If you just want to order one inexpensive kilt, Stillwater is probably the place to go.

[James Hood]

Treat it like a pair of trousers for the same cost, but much hipper-cooler-funner.

Drink beer, barbeque in it, sack out with a book or musical instrument, mow the lawn or trim the hedges.

Life is much too precious for incredibly minor regrets of any sort.

And BTW, 'have all three flavours of Stillwaters you mentioned, Thrifty, Economy and Standard. In each instance one received precisely what was paid for, three kilts for the price of a few tanks of petrol.

"Proper" kilts deserve and get more research.

Ones the cost of a dinner out with the bride or S.O., they are life's little treasures of minor long-term-price-consequence.

Have fun.