Advice on Kilt Rental (for Groomsmen)

**Declan Rowan** · 17th February 09, 12:39 PM

Dressel's is great as well. If you want to grab a pint while you're in town, just let me know - I'll send you a message with contact info.

**HeathBar** · 17th February 09, 05:10 PM

Whoever you choose to rent the kilts from, I would use their instructions for measuring and make sure your guys follow the instructions to the "T". They are most likely not used to wearing kilts and not used to the extra rise that comes with the kilt. What jacket style are you going with? Also, point your guys to xmarks. They need to look at the formal and dressy pic threads so they can see how the kilt is properly worn.

Best of luck!

**Declan Rowan** · 18th February 09, 03:50 PM

Here is the basic style:

For the Groom (that's me

)
O'Reilly Tartan Premier Kilt from USAK
Matching Flashes
Fly plaid+broach
Brian Boru (made to order)
Rabbit Fur Sporran
Black Hose
Ghilies

For the Groomsmen

Most likely Irish National Tartan kilts (unless they are inclined to buy their own)
PC Jackets+Vest
Creme or Black Hose (undecided)
Sporran/Flashes and all that.

Figure that A) the attention will be drawn to me anyways I can be different and B) we're only going to be standing together for 30 minutes, it's not too big a deal that the kilts will all be different. Leaning towards PC because the vest and that it is an evening wedding.

And thanks for the advice - I'll definitely write in caps and bolds about the measuring. Will also put together a bit of a "How to dress" guide via links for them.

**sathor** · 18th February 09, 04:04 PM

See through paper kilts? now I'm curious.

**Declan Rowan** · 19th February 09, 12:42 PM

Originally Posted by sathor

See through paper kilts? now I'm curious.

See Through paper Kilt (n) A kilt of poor quality, most often manufactured by machines in a location where they have never really seen a kilt, out of material so thin you can hold it up to the light and read signage through it, and god forbid if it gets wet, it might come undone like wet paper.

These are the kilts that they sell in low quality "Irish" or "Scottish" shops, the retail equivalent of Bennigan's "Irish" Pub, which are vendors of plastic baubles trying to cash in on the holidays with green beer dyes and Irish Mardi Gras beads. The kilts are usually off to the side with signs that say "Scottish Kilts - $79" but on closer inspection the "Scottish Kilt" has a tag that says "Made in Pakistan"

While I have some understanding about the complexity of the market and that we need international trade, I prefer kilts to be made by someone who knows how the kilt should fall and has worn kilts before, rather than someone shifting the machine's production switch from "Women's Skirts" to "Men's Kilts."

Having briefly owned one RTPKilt that was given to me as a gift, I put it on once for their benefit, said to myself "oh hell no", and quietly returned it, saying that it just wasn't the right size. Been very particular about them since.

**Declan Rowan** · 22nd February 09, 10:04 AM

Update - Kilt rental place has been located - Wearing globally, renting locally from Thistle and Clover, an Irish/Scottish/Welsh shop in St. Charles (20-30 min from St. Louis)

Have the Irish National Tartan for the guys, PC &Vest, Sporran, SD, Belt and Buckle (though most likely will not use these since we have dress sporran, Kilt Pin, Flashes and Hose for $175. Plus, when the gents all come up for the weekend in May, they will all get measured at the store. So no "whoops, I bent down to measure my naval" or "what do you mean I was supposed to measure to my knee on the ground?"

Thanks Todd for the Referral, I also ended up getting two pairs of Hose on sale, a sporran chain, and flashes with Shamrocks on them. Not a bad day, all in all.

**HeathBar** · 23rd February 09, 06:18 AM

Originally Posted by Declan Rowan

Have the Irish National Tartan for the guys, PC &Vest, Sporran, SD, Belt and Buckle (though most likely will not use these since we have dress sporran, Kilt Pin, Flashes and Hose for $175.

Have your guys try the kit on without the kilt belt. Since they are wearing PC and vest, the belt will just get in the way. I don't know if the shop will lower your rental without it, but it will make them look smartly dressed.

**macwilkin** · 23rd February 09, 07:18 AM

Originally Posted by Declan Rowan

Update - Kilt rental place has been located - Wearing globally, renting locally from Thistle and Clover, an Irish/Scottish/Welsh shop in St. Charles (20-30 min from St. Louis)

Have the Irish National Tartan for the guys, PC &Vest, Sporran, SD, Belt and Buckle (though most likely will not use these since we have dress sporran, Kilt Pin, Flashes and Hose for $175. Plus, when the gents all come up for the weekend in May, they will all get measured at the store. So no "whoops, I bent down to measure my naval" or "what do you mean I was supposed to measure to my knee on the ground?"

Thanks Todd for the Referral, I also ended up getting two pairs of Hose on sale, a sporran chain, and flashes with Shamrocks on them. Not a bad day, all in all.

Declan,

You're most welcome for the referral, and sorry I didn't get a chance to call you on Saturday for a pint at Dressel's -- as it turns out, they are no longer offering Welsh beer (at a Welsh pub no less!), so it was a bit disappointing.

If I'm able to make it up for Tartan Day in April we'll have to arrange for an Xmarks get-together at the Trailhead Brewery at the end of Main Street in St. Charles.

T.

**Declan Rowan** · 25th February 09, 10:20 AM

Originally Posted by HeathBar

Have your guys try the kit on without the kilt belt. Since they are wearing PC and vest, the belt will just get in the way. I don't know if the shop will lower your rental without it, but it will make them look smartly dressed.

Especially since I will be going belt less - my dress sporran has a metal clasp on the top, and I figure I'll save the "CLINK CLINK CLINK" sound for the toast, not the walking through the party

**Declan Rowan** · 25th February 09, 10:24 AM

Originally Posted by cajunscot

Declan,

You're most welcome for the referral, and sorry I didn't get a chance to call you on Saturday for a pint at Dressel's -- as it turns out, they are no longer offering Welsh beer (at a Welsh pub no less!), so it was a bit disappointing.

As much as I know it is going to hurt the local economy, I kinda hope that the transfer of AB to Belgian/Brazilian hands will encourage people to drink other beer that is not made with rice... Maybe get some of the old time stuff...

Originally Posted by cajunscot

If I'm able to make it up for Tartan Day in April we'll have to arrange for an Xmarks get-together at the Trailhead Brewery at the end of Main Street in St. Charles.

T.

Unfortunately we have our Dash for DC's Cherry Blossoms that weekend, so I'll be leading 20-40 Senior Citizens through our nation's capital. I do have St. Charles' River Fest in the summer and in the fall on the calendar, however.