Kilts, The Wise Financial Choice

[kiltedpride]

You can't bow out now, you have been sucked into the vortex that is Xmarks!

RJI

Yes - it must me your charm and your powers of suction (or seduction)

[kiltedpride]

Well one problem seems to be that all the good tailors in Scottland are making kilts and nothing else if a $200 suit only lasts a year (I have two, one over ten and one nearly 10 - granted in the last 4 I've worn a kilt most of the time I would have worn a suit in the past.

Adam

Another thought - I think £100 suits are massed produced by machine whereas a kilt is handmade. And just by way of further observation I have noticed that the time taken to have a trad. kilt made up is taking longer and longer (not just from my regular kilt shop but seems to be universal in Scotland). My kilt shop says it is the Mills that are servicing the increased requirements of local demand and also increased orders from the large US highland games. Anyway it is now somewhere between 2-8 weeks minimum and can be even longer - a couple of years ago I could get a kilt made up in a month.

[leathercubby]

Wow, take a break for a trip to Scotland and I miss one of the best threads that I have ever seen on here. I would have to second Kiltedpride's views. A proper heavy weight tartan kilt is the way to go. I started out with one and now am happier than ever that I did not try to cheap out and buy a knock off. I am not even going to approach Utilikilts and their virtues (although the defense that getting a guy into a kilt, if even a UK is better than nothing has its merits).

Walking down the Royal Mile and Prince's Street, I looked at the cheap kilts. I don't like to wear a $600 garment to the pubs or for just working around the house. Like the reference to blue jeans earlier, I would not buy a cheap pair of new jeans for that either. I would wear a more expensive pari that are older and starting to wear. I even looked at the Breacan by Kinloch Anderson (just guessing, but with a royal warrant, they probably know what they are doing and are a fine kilt maker) and decided that I didnt want to pay nearly $300 for a garment that was kilt-like. I have decided that my current kilt will suffice for a couple of years and then I can get a new, hand made, kilt for formal wear and Scottish Country Dancing. I will then have my first kilt for wearing, with decreased concern, to pubs or hiking or whatever. I do intend on doing that anyway and if I have to purchase a new kilt for formal wear, so be it. At least I am wearing my kilt.

Scots are probably more accepting of the price of a kilt than Americans. The exchange rate inflates the price for us (even though we dont have to pay VAT). They pay the equivalent of $75 to fill their cars. Visiting family and friends, and seeing how actual Scots live, it seems to me that they pay for quality. In the US, we pay for quantity. We pay less for most items, but we buy more of them, and replace them more frequently. That is why we have big box stores and Walmart. Really, a disposable society.

Grat thread guys!
Eric

[kiltedpride]

Wow, take a break for a trip to Scotland and I miss one of the best threads that I have ever seen on here. I would have to second Kiltedpride's views. Grat thread guys!
Eric

Well you would have seen a more interesting on earlier today had it not been censored (the subject matter touched on Queen Victoria's husband alleged PA ). You have a more controlled board here. For more liberal threads (but also including Scottish history and culture ) with over 3000 positngs over 80 topics the Sporran Clan may be he answer to those guys who like guys in kilts (Hell can I even mention that ?)
Glad you enjoyed your trip to Scotland - do come back again.

[KiltedCodeWarrior]

Yes - it must me your charm and your powers of suction (or seduction)

STOP! Don't do that when I am taking a drink! Not only is it bad for the monitor, but it is a waste of a good adult beverage!

Leathercubby, welcome back. Hope you enjoyed your trip. I would love to visit some time in the next few years.

[GMan]

STOP! Don't do that when I am taking a drink! Not only is it bad for the monitor, but it is a waste of a good adult beverage!

Leathercubby, welcome back. Hope you enjoyed your trip. I would love to visit some time in the next few years.

How many times have I heard something to the effect that not while I was drinking, now my monitor is all messed up.

I am now resolved not to drink anything while reading these posts!

We now return to your regularly scheduled thread!

[James]

To go back to the original message-practical experience of the traditional kilt is that it will firstly stand up to all the wear possible, yet also remain smart enough for formal wear.

In my case for many years I only had the one kilt-and it worked it's passsage from formal [black tie] events-clan affairs-gatherings: then backpacking in northen Sweden and Norway-as well as throughout the UK. So it was a kilt that stood up to the rigours of wading waist deep streams-and the really tough stuff like a dinner or dance.

The point being that I;d have required several pairs of trousers to carry out that range of functions, and by the same logic more than one of the modern kilts.

So in the end it was cheaper-much cheaper.

James

[kiltedpride]

The point being that I;d have required several pairs of trousers to carry out that range of functions, and by the same logic more than one of the modern kilts.So in the end it was cheaper-much cheaper.
James

Thank you James - At last someone who understands the fundamental difference between traditional kilts and the "other varieties". You get what you pay for in life but the traditional kilt is by far the best value. I'm off to Dublin tomorrow for a rnage of activities over the weekend. I can wear on kilt for travelling, going out on the town pubbing, "ferreting", shopping, going to the theatre and attending a formal dinner. It will cope with all those situations and look formal or casual depending on how I match it to other items of clothing. Hung up overnight it will look as good as new the next day. The 'other varieties' would crease and not stand up to the pressure and also are unlikely to look right for both formal and informal wear.

[KiltedCodeWarrior]

Well, I may not give up my other kilts, but I wore my new SW HW yesterday and there is a definite difference between it and my other kilts. I may actually coming around to the point of view that a traditional tank has some advantages in weight, swing, fit, etc. over the off the rack kilts. I still think that there is room for both in my closet, but thought I would offer this since I now have something closer to a traditional kilt to compare with.

See my post comparing the 3 kilts I now own for more info.

[filman]

howdy all

I am new to your site. And do forgive me if I am repating anything some else has said.. As for speanding the amount on jeans i never spend more than $25 on them and as bing 6'4" it is a pain to find them long enough at the local mart stores. As for dropping $300 to $500 on a kilt that is a lot of savings for me.. (I did bye one though) as for the other kilts like Utilikilt,,USA Kilts and the like I have seen them but not had any.. I do have Stillwater Kilt and a Pittsburgh Kilt witch I beleve is now AmeriKilt. As fo the still water it is nice not to bad for under $100 ,, the other i think is a little shy on the cloth but agien not bad for under $100.. As for my other kilts I made them and let me tell you i spent about $100 on 16 oz kakhi duck and made two ,, both are about 8 yrd. and they are what i like to were daily .. I know that they do not hang just so on the appron but I am the only one that seems to notice this... So as for a real kilt the all are real .. not traditional or formal but a kilt none the less. As for some not to bye stay away from the sportkilt..