Advice on first kilt

**jordanjm** · 11th February 10, 11:17 PM

I did find Combe on a list of septs of Clan Macintosh. That said here are some tartan possiblities:

Macintosh:

Ancient Macintosh:

Hunting:

Ancient Hunting:

Chattan

I personally like the Chattan tartan, and want to have my 5th kilt made out of it.

**longhuntr74** · 12th February 10, 04:57 AM

Originally Posted by Farlander

There is some great advice here! It may or may not be very practical advice for everyone though. A beautiful custom handmade kilt will run many hundreds. If you want to make this sort of investment on an heirloom that you will treasure for the rest of you life, then by all means go for it! Consider this though before making such an investment. How much are you likely to wear the kilt? A couple times a year is typical. (Perhaps not typical for the regulars on the forum, but let us face it. We are NOT typical!)

Perhaps a more practical idea is to start with an inexpensive kilt, and learn to love it! Wear it out! While you do that, you will learn more about the kilt, how to wear it, is the kilt really for you, what tartans you like, and so on. Then when you have decided that the kilt is for you... Then you will be ready to invest in this treasure!

Farlander has a valid point as well...from an economics standpoint...yet I felt the need to comment nonetheless. Firstly I wanted to say that, while some custom made, handsewn kilts could run you close to $1000 (custom woven tartan & made by an overpriced kiltmaker), you can get one for much less than that. Most kiltmakers on here could get you a kilt in the $500 range or possibly less...I realize that still qualifies as "many hundreds", but the tone of Farlander's post implied $600+ to me and I didn't want you misinterpreting the actual cost.

If you weren't concerned about hand-sewn and just wanted one that was made to your correct measurements, Burnetts & Struth has machine sewn ones at a VERY reasonable price (in the $200s range on their sale items, which are abundant and constant). Also, USAK and Skye Highland outfitters both offer made-to-measure kilts in the $250-400 range.

The "buy a cheap kilt and see how you like it" technique works out for some. It can be a wise investment or it can be a waste of money. A cheap, ill-fitted kilt is likely to turn you off on the idea of going kilted. Depending on your body proportions (specifically height, waist, and hip proportions), an off the rack kilt may fit you just fine. That is not the case with me (I have a bubble butt!!) My message is that you can afford a kilt that fits...so please don't think you can't and spend $200 on a kilt that you haven't tried on, just to own a kilt. Take your time, explore your options, try some on if you have an opportunity, and then make an informed decision.

**Micric** · 12th February 10, 07:32 AM

Thank you all for the most helpful replies!!
It'll take me a while to digest the information, and look up all the links.
I must say though, I never expected such a response!

Suppose I should add to my profile, but I'm originally from England and now in Alberta, Canada, so a heavyweight wouldn't be such a problem as some places in the world.

Re. trying a cheap kilt for a start;
Trouble is, a friend loaned me a rather used up old Lochcarron heavyweight Strome kilt for Burns night, (it was made for a pipe band) and though getting a bit past its best now, it felt Fantastic!...and fit like a glove.
This sort of spoiled me, as I now know how a good kilt should feel. I don't think I've ever worn anything that felt better!... and there and then I was completely sold on getting one of my own.
With this old Lochcarron being a good one (at one time!) it would now be hard to go for something less, if you see what I mean.
The idea of the ex-MOD kilt, was just my idea of getting assured quality at a reasonable price.
I did notice that ebay has a lot of rather poor stuff listed, but I had seen an ex m.o.d that looked fantastic, but it was a newer colour, and not the Gordon, Black Watch, or such.
Probably the looking is half the fun, so probably shouldn't rush it!

Jordanjm,

Thank you for the tartan pics!
I see also MacCombe has a tartan as well, and in a way that would be very nice, but probably special order, with the associated costs!

Thank you all again for contributing so freely!!

All the best,
R.

**ForresterModern** · 12th February 10, 07:58 AM

I would second the advice of Longhuntr and Brice and advise shopping for a conventional 8yd wool kilt in a tartan you like and can afford (some tartans are REAL expensive). There are numerous vendors who can put you in a nice tartan 8yd 13 or 16 oz wool standard knife pleat kilt for under $400 (Skye, Keltoi, Tartanweb, Scotweb and some of the less well known but still quality individual kiltmakers like Bonnie Heather and Chattancat, these last being nearly completely handsewn if not completely handsewn) if you choose a reasonably priced tartan. Marton Mills and Batley tend to be the most reasonably priced tartans, so if you find one you like in their stables I would go for it. As said above, nothing fits or wears like a custom made kilt.

I have also done the start inexpensive, learn the facts about the art, then later buy your expensive kit in other areas of my life---flyfishing, cycling, snowboarding and skiing, photography---and have in every instance found very quickly that starting with low budget low quality equipment may get you started quicker but in the end you actually spend more to get less, then end up either throwing it away, giving it away, or trying to sell the cheap stuff in order to buy what you know is good stuff in the end, and probably what you should have bought in the first place. If you are serious about getting into a kilt, be that for sentimental purposes or for frequent wear, do your homework here on the forum and try to buy a good quality medium budget traditional wool kilt in a tartan that has some significant meaning to you---it will fit better and therefore be more likely to be worn more often, and can remain something to be proud of for a long time, instead of being a cheap poor fitting castoff in your closet, possibly turn you off to kilts altogether, and a waste of money.

I just recently recieved an ebay kilt in PV I bought just for grins and because it was on a special sale of an unusual (my) size in a tartan I liked the look of----I have tried it on but not even removed the basting stitches, and will likely turn around and sell it for less than I paid, because it is ill fitting, poorly made, and overall unattractive despite how pretty the tartan is itself.

Buy decent quality stuff and you will not regret it. Such in a kilt does not have to be $600 or more to get it though, if you are a smart and thorough shopper.

Jeff

**bricelythgoe** · 12th February 10, 08:38 AM

Good luck with your kilt research!

**NewGuise** · 12th February 10, 10:46 AM

First off: welcome to XMarks,from a fellow Albertan.

Originally Posted by Micric

...I'm originally from England and now in Alberta, Canada, so a heavyweight wouldn't be such a problem as some places in the world.

Indeed. Where in Alberta?

This sort of spoiled me, as I now know how a good kilt should feel. I don't think I've ever worn anything that felt better!... and there and then I was completely sold on getting one of my own.

You're hooked. So it goes. You'll need to get a good one. And there are some fine kiltmakers right here on this forum who will be willing to help you out.

But Burnett's & Struth has been mentioned: if you want something quickly, and relatively cheap, put in an order for one of their $199.99 machine-sewn "heavyweight casual" kilts. It will fit you well, and look good, and keep you from overjonesing while you wait for the perfect handsewn kilt to arrive.

**seanachie** · 12th February 10, 05:11 PM

There is a difference.... I wore my heavyweight wool kilt from Stillwater Kilts (and a XMarks advertiser) last Saturday night to a formal dinner with my wife, this is a very nice kilt and I am well pleased with the quality. I am sure matched up against a made to measure tank there will be some discrepancies, but I also did not pay big bucks for it.

I make this point not to dispute any of the valid, well thought out, experiential opinions here. I just wanted to make sure the idea was planted that a low price point does not necessarily mean crap product. I have seen some low priced kilts that were also crap product, but such is not always the case. Specific to Stillwater you also get phenomenal service, Jerry is great.

**Micric** · 12th February 10, 09:40 PM

Garrett,

I'm west of Innisfail farming in the boonies.

I'm hooked?.........yes, I have seen it before, and may again, but I think you're right!
I'll look at the makers represented here, and the one you suggested.

Seanachie,

Stillwater looks very tempting, and my head is full of all the possibilities... will have to do some figuring! Thanks for the suggestions!
Tonight I did hear of a lassy who will convert a sports jacket to an Argyle for a Very reasonable price, so this is a step in the right direction as well.

Thank you all again!

Richard.