Bobilishious Kilt - a review

**ThistleDown** · 5th February 09, 11:36 AM

Originally Posted by irishrob

I purchased a kilt a year or so ago after a good review from our own Arlen. Mine came with paperwork from Gaelic Themes inadvertently left in the kilt and I am most happy with my purchase of a 13 oz, 5 yard beautiful wool kilt.Rob

Bob Chalmers is an independant manufacturer working through Gaelic Themes. He is not, I think, a kiltmaker himself, but hires cottage industry makers. Gaelic Themes is the holding group for a number of such small folk (our own XMTS cap badge is made by one of them).

I have just received a Lochcarron IoS from him. Machine-stitched, fits perfectly. His communication is excellent and his willingness to please even greater than that!

**freddie** · 7th February 09, 03:38 PM

Here are the pics of my 16oz heavyweight MacDonald of The Isles pleated to stripe which I bought from him a couple of weeks ago. The delivery time was much faster than anticipated and it really is a top quality kilt which fits perfectly. His communication by email was very professional and friendly and I can't praise him enough. It also came with matching flashes which were far superior to any that I have received from other kiltmakers (not all of them do this)

**pastorsteve** · 8th February 09, 10:08 AM

Great looking kilt but.............. no pictures of it being worn? Too shy?

**English Bloke** · 15th February 09, 05:01 PM

Well I know it's been a while but I've finally got around to getting some pictures of me wearing my new kilt from Bob Chalmers. It's not that I've not had it on, it's just that taking pictures isn't always my top priority so I apologise that it's been so long. I was visiting my mate Dave near York last weekend and had it on alot there. I was also wearing my Bruce that weekend and on the Saturday we both ventured into town kilted to pick up some socks and then go for a pint. It turned into a bit more than one pint and we had a great day in the pub watching two games of 6 Nations Rugby on the tele and then a live band in the evening (Bit of a jazz/folk fusion to sound arty... which was interesting). Long time since we got into an all day sesh. We did pace ourselves so we weren't hammered but we did manage to find everthing on the walk home at midnight hilarious.

The shop we went to for the socks is a local huntin'shootin'fishin' shop and I picked up a beautiful pair of loden green, argyle topped hunting socks with green/red, wool, garter ties. They really are a special pair of socks and I am most chuffed with them. I usually wear 'WB Brewin & Co.' kilt hose, mainly because they are cheap and cheerful so I have managed to accumulate a reasonable variety for a modest outlay. I'd rate the Brewins as adequate but these hose from 'House of Cheviot' are in a whole different league. I love the colour and the rich background green with red diamond and yellow criss-cross of the argyle top is wonderful. The quality speaks for itself.

They are a wool mix so it says machine washable at 30c in the packaging but I think I'll stick to hand washing just to be on the safe side. I'd hate to ruin them. They are not cheap but they are not exorbitant either. They were £24 including ties, probably because they are, I think, machine made rather than hand knitted. I'll not be buying a pair a week at the price but more of them is certainly something I aspire to. I've never paid so much for a pair of socks in my life by the way but they go perfectly with my Bruce Modern.

Anyway onto the pictures.

I'm wearing a royal blue, unbadged rugby shirt with a dark navy and white cross stripe (and I just noticed a bit of a wonky collar... more attention to detail required. I'm obviously out of practice). I also have a white Tee shirt underneath. The Johnstone Kilt (It's an 8 yard, 13oz and I think it's Strathmore Mills) is a deep green with a broad dark mauve cross stripe enclosing 3 thin black lines. It also has a gold narrow cross stripe enclosed by thin black lines. It's pleated to the gold stripe which you'll see in a minute. I'm also wearing brown belt and spozz with the shooting socks and garters mentioned above and after obtaining a special dispensation from Madam EB. I've got brown trainery-type shoes on rather than the usual indoor crocs. We're going for a casual look here. I'm not a great one for dressing up anymore and tend to wear a kilt instead of, but in the same way I'd wear a pair of jeans. Casual but not scruffy (although depending on your personal standard could be a matter of opinion

)

More of the same...

Bit of a side-on look. You can see the stocking tops and garters clearly here.

And finally from the back showing clearly the stripe pleating.

It's Blinkin' gorgeous. As I say, an impulse buy and one I was almost regreting when I saw the scottishkilts.com sale offer on an 8 yard Isle of Skye that came out just after New Year but this Kilt is stupendous and I love it...

I'm learning so much from the experience of others on this forum. I still believe that a £40 PV is a great starter Kilt for someone new to kilting but you're all absolutely spot on when you say there is nothing like a wooly. I now have a 16oz and a 13oz, both 8 yarders and they knock my PV's into a cocked hat!!

**McMurdo** · 15th February 09, 05:18 PM

Great photos, I really like the hose too, congratulations again, you wear it well.

**English Bloke** · 15th February 09, 05:27 PM

Thanks Glen.

I actually threw it all together just to get pictures of the Kilt when worn but thought I'd put the hose on and give them a bit of coverage at the same time. I must admit they weren't bought for this Kilt but the Bruce Modern which I had on at time of purchase to get a good match. Much more pleasant buying experience than ebay/internet it must be said. The hose and garters go perfectly with the Bruce which has Green, Red and yellow in it.

Thanks for the compliments. I'm glad you approve. As I said, I'm still learning and I trust your judgement implicitly.

**English Bloke** · 15th February 09, 05:32 PM

By the way Freddie...

That's a cracking Kilt as well. He makes (or arranges?) a great finshed article wouldn't you agree?

**turpin** · 15th February 09, 08:46 PM

That is a beaut of a tartan, EB. very subtle. And a well-executed kilt. I need to keep my eye on the tartans he offers.

**freddie** · 17th February 09, 12:26 AM

Originally Posted by English Bloke

By the way Freddie...

That's a cracking Kilt as well. He makes (or arranges?) a great finshed article wouldn't you agree?

Yes, It really is a properly made kilt in the best materials. I was going to wait until later in the year to buy a new kilt but saw his auction on ebay and at that price decided to take a gamble which certainly paid off

!. The cheapest kilt I'd bought before this one was £199.99 from Gleniff Highlandwear, a Glasgow based 'on line' dealer, which sadly now seems to have dissapeared, and that is top quality as well.

**bricelythgoe** · 17th February 09, 01:09 PM

Originally Posted by freddie

Yes, It really is a properly made kilt in the best materials. I was going to wait until later in the year to buy a new kilt but saw his auction on ebay and at that price decided to take a gamble which certainly paid off

!. The cheapest kilt I'd bought before this one was £199.99 from Gleniff Highlandwear, a Glasgow based 'on line' dealer, which sadly now seems to have dissapeared, and that is top quality as well.

Do you have any pictures of yours?