casual kilts, work kilts, and nice kilts

[RockyR]

Rocky has a good point. Take Lochcarron's "casual kilts." They are machine stitched from four yards of cloth. But they are made from the same woolen tartan as any of their other kilts. They are knife pleated, have the same leather straps and buckles. In other words, the only difference between it and one of their normal kilts is that it has half as much cloth (and so fewer pleats) and is machine stitched. From a distance, most people would not notice a big difference.

I wouldn't recommend getting one of these in light weight cloth, but in a medium or heavy weight wool it does quite well. And wear it with a nice black Argyle jacket or even a Prince Charlie, with ghillie brouges and a formal sporran, and you'll look quite nice. If you had the choice between this and a hand tailored kilt, I'd say wear your hand tailored one -- but if this was all you had, you'd be fine.

Now the more you start to deviate from the standard, the less likely it is that you'd want to wear it to a formal event. A machine stitched kilt, made from only four yards of a light weight acrylic cloth, with a smaller than usual sett, designed to sit on the hips, etc., etc., would not work. In other words, if the kilt is designed specifically to be casual wear, I wouldn't wear it outside of that context.

But I still stand by my earlier statement that a mark of a good kilt is that it can be worn casually or formally, depending on the accessories.

Aye,
Matt

Matt... I think we're close in thoughts and on the other small points, we can agree to disagree.

The point I was trying to make above... the MATERIAL ALONE does not (IMHO) dictate whether a kilt is "dressy enough" to wear to a formal event. It's a combination of the material AND the way it's made. I wasn't aware that Lochcarron's 4 yarders were made to sit on the hips. That's too low to wear with an Argyl Jkt. Conversely, if a PV or Solid color Cotton blend (or whatever) kilt is sewn up "traditionally" so that it gives the appearance of a "traditional wool kilt", it would be more than acceptable to dress up for a GOOD percentage of the kilt wearing public. He11... UK had (or has) a "Tuxedo Model" kilt. I think that saying THAT isn't dressy enough to wear to a formal event (with jacket, bowtie, etc) might raise an eyebrow or two.

Also, as Iain points out, people posting on XMARKS generally know a GOOD DEAL more than the average Joe on the street. There are differing schools of thought on what is "dressy enough" to wear with a jacket and tie and this is where we'll "agree to disagree".

I'm sure that MANY people (of the "old school") will INSIST that ONLY an 8 yard wool kilt worn with ALL of the proper accessories would be acceptable enough to wear at a wedding or funeral. If that's how they feel, that's FINE for them! They will look FANTASTIC at all times! Personally, I would only wear an 8 yard wool kilt to a formal event (because I have 7 of them) and have all of the other things to complete the outfit.

However, with the average "beginner" to "moderate" kilt wearer (who may not have $1500 + to spend on a complete top of the line outfit), the more affordable PV version of an 8 yard wool kilt is a VERY viable option for dress occasions and most times, attendees of the event will not even KNOW it's not wool, much less a "Handsewn 8 yard kilt".

On a slight tangent...

This is what debates should be... a friendly exchange of ideas which can be boiled down to figure out where the differences lie. At that point, one of the people may change their mind. If not, then we HAPPILY agree to disagree and know that this is what makes freedom of speech great! My hat's off to you Matt.

[M. A. C. Newsome]

Just one point of clarification -- Lochcarron's casual kilts are not made to sit on the hips. Sorry if I gave that impression. My point was in fact that they are made exactly like a standard kilt except that they only use half the cloth, and they are machine stitched, rather than hand stitched. Most uninformed observers never notice the difference.

Aye,
Matt

[yoippari]

I agree that the amount of material doesn't matter as much as the construction. Most knife pleated 4 yard kilts are the cheaper machine stiched but there are of course exceptions. From everything I have read a box pleated kilt can be a "full" kilt at four yards or less. Knife pleated does not seem to be "complete" at four yards because of how the yardage is used. Once again, its the construction that counts.

The family tartan is for the other side of the family. The tartan is buchanan where my ties to buchanan are my mothers family which is gibson (a sept of buchanan). My fathers grandmother is Steward. My grandmother has Robson in her but I can't find any tartan for them. Possibly because they were a lowlander/border family. Oh and that side of my family is fairly redneck. I don't mean this in a derogitory manner, but even my dad calls himself and family redneck. Most of that side of the family dislikes my long hair and doesn't understand why I make maille and my interest in swords. I don't expect most of them to like the kilt, but I may be plesently suprised.

The question of where to wear something like a stillwater (or other budget kilt) is somewhat unanswered. With this it isn't just an issue of color/pattern or of material but of quality of construction. It isn't tailored, so they don't fit quite as well.