FYI: Gordon nicholson ex-hire sale

[OC Richard]

Was probably folded nicely when packaged (just placed in a box), but considering distance, not bad.

I've often had jackets and kilts arrive from the UK just put in a plastic bag.

Though it seems a bit dodgy I've never experienced damages.

I began getting the feeling that they'd ship a 52L jacket with a 52R vest, which is what happened.

This could be a very good thing!

Why? Because the waistline of men's clothing has been dropping for many years.

Highland Dress, at least UK-made Highland Dress, has been less impacted than "Saxon" clothing, still men (especially American men) have been ordering kilts shorter and shorter and therefore requiring waistcoats to be lower and lower.

All waistcoats, "Saxon" suit waistcoats, used to be the length that most UK-made Highland waistcoats still are. But due to waistline-dropping "Saxon" waistcoats in "Regular" length are generally two to four inches longer than most UK-made Highland waistcoats.

Still, I've recently seen bespoke kilt jackets of the highest quality come with waistcoats an inch or two longer than traditional waistcoats are. It's the fashion now.

So a shorter waistcoat could be a blessing IF you wear your kilts at the traditional height (not blue-jeans and modern trousers height) and IF the maker of your kilt waistcoat has uniformly lengthened all their sizes.

[OC Richard]

Here's the lowering of men's waistline I mentioned.

The older one, coming to the "natural waist", is still how traditional style kilts, kilt jackets, and their waistcoats are made.

The newer one has been increasingly adopted by kilt-wearers recently, especially in the USA.

[SF Jeff]

I've often had jackets and kilts arrive from the UK just put in a plastic bag.

Same here. An Argyll jacket stuffed (not even rolled) into a thin plastic bag (think 4 gal trash bag) and shipped from Scotland. Got here just fine with no damage and the shipping was free, so I can't complain.

Regarding Nicholson, I had a different experience. After this thread first appeared, I went to their website and browsed the used hire items. I emailed them with some questions about sizing on a few jackets and vests. The initial response took about a week and had the "sorry we're very busy now" line, but with that email and a few follow ups, they were very responsive and answered every question I had, even measuring a few items and sending me the exact measurements, overall condition and their opinion on what would fit me and what wouldn't. In the end I didn't buy anything, but i thought the customer service was very good.

BTW they are next door to, and either own or are invested in, Kilberry bagpipes. They make custom tartan bag covers if black velvet doesn't appeal to you.

[OC Richard]

BTW they are next door to, and either own or are invested in, Kilberry bagpipes. They make custom tartan bag covers if black velvet doesn't appeal to you.

Like this?

[SF Jeff]

Those are some wild bag covers. I've never seen a leopard skin cover but I suppose they are out there. Might clash with the bass drummer though.