An XMTS Game: Ranking quality of Kilt & Kit

**Alan H** · 9th March 12, 01:51 PM

This is kind of fun!

The way I'd go about it, would be to think of what I'd wear the most. I hardly ever will wear a jacket and waistcoat, so low quality is fine. I personally, essentially NEVER wear a sgian dubh, so a piece of junk is fine with me. What will I wear ALL the time? ... The kilt, the belt, the sporran and the hose.

SO.

Top drawer? The kilt. This is just me, but of all the Highland Kit, the one thing that I appreciate the most is the kilt, itself. I suppose this is because I make them, so I appreciate them more.

Good quality ... sporran, strap and belt, but probably I would choose a more informal combination over something fancy, simply because I will wear it more.

moderate quality .... hose and flashes

average quality .... jacket and waistcoat

low quality... sgian dubh and kilt pin.

I also agree with Matt, regarding "Hey, I could make a --fill in the blank-- myself". Maybe someone figured out that they could knit really nice kilt hose, so hmmm...bump that down a notch and I'll get a nicer jacket...and so on.

But that's really more along the lines how I think and your typical newb college student might not see it that way.

**gary meakin** · 9th March 12, 06:15 PM

One item may be of the very finest quality (bespoke to your specifications) Kilt. I have one in my clan's tartan.
It's the one I wear with anything and everything else so it needs to be the best.
One item will be of very good quality.Jacket. A good quality black argyle will go a long way.
One item will be of good quality Hose. Foot comfort is very important to me. "you take care of your feet and your feet will take care of you."
One item will be of average quality Sporran. I have an economy sporran, a handmade sporran, an expensive dress sporran.
I think as long as it's not poorly made and not hideous, it will look ok.
One item will be of low quality sgain dubh. Would probably stay in my dresser drawer.

**ThistleDown** · 9th March 12, 06:29 PM

1. Kilt because its the base (and it carries into the next generaion)
2. Sporran because I have to have some place to keep the gilt that's left after buying all this stuff (and it, too, will carry on)
3. Hose because with the preceding two they complete what's needed to make this kilted wear
4. Jacket/vest because they are not always worn (where's the shirt, tie and shoes, Jamie?)
5. Sgian dubh because I'm still dressed without it.

**Panache** · 9th March 12, 06:34 PM

Originally Posted by ThistleDown

(where's the shirt, tie and shoes, Jamie?)

Rex,

I know that generation "Y" is pretty casual in their attire but I would like to imagine that the average male college student owns at least 1 dress shirt, one tie, and a decent pair of shoes. If they only have a t-shirt, pajama bottoms, and slippers...well....let's not go there!

Cheers

Jamie

**Alan H** · 9th March 12, 06:42 PM

Originally Posted by Panache

Rex,

I know that generation "Y" is pretty casual in their attire but I would like to imagine that the average male college student owns at least 1 dress shirt, one tie, and a decent pair of shoes. If they only have a t-shirt, pajama bottoms, and slippers...well....let's not go there!

Cheers

Jamie

[[threadjack]]James, until about 4 years ago I supervised undergraduate networking and IT support techs. In the 6 years I did this, I probably hired and supervised about 90 undergraduates, of which probably 80 were guys. I can tell you without reservation that the vast majority of those guys did not own a dress shirt and a tie, or at the least, they might have owned them, but they were "back home" and not in their dorm room.

This is Stanford, of course, and the majority of my students were some sort of tech majors, which might skew the sample.

What might cheer you up though, is that the Social Dancing class/club at Stanford is IMMENSELY popular, and every year they put on a Viennese Ball in San Francisco. They invite the Austrian Consul, who always comes.

While you will not see kilts there, you WILL see Stanford students dressed to the nines, having fun, and dancing. You will ALSO see some of the girls going barefoot, whacky ties, running shoes with evening dresses and general hilarity.

http://vienneseball.stanford.edu/

[[/threadjack]]

**OC Richard** · 9th March 12, 06:44 PM

What a clever proposition! I like it!

It took very little thought to perform my triage...

item of the very finest quality (bespoke to your specifications)

The kilt of course! It's the very heart of any outfit of Highland Dress. I would have a bespoke 8-yard heavyweight all-wool handsewn kilt of course.
(I posted this before I read the other posts... people are evidently saying that a kilt such as I describe can be listed as "good quality", which changes the equation I think.)

item of very good quality.

The Jacket, because a well tailored jacket made of good material is so important to the overall look of the kit. I would get a black Argyll because as a piper that's what I would wear the most.

item of good quality

The sporran. It needs to stand up to lots of use and still look good. I would rather have a standard-quality Scottish-made sporran and a top-notch kilt, than a rare bespoke "boutique" sporran and an inferior kilt. I would get a standard sporran type, probably Evening Dress black rabbit with white tassels, a sporran popular amongst many pipers and which sets off most tartans very well.

item of average quality

Hose and flashes. The hose will wear out and need replacing in time anyhow, whereas the kilt, jacket, and sporran will last a lifetime. I'd be fine with the basic UK made plain hose in a colour which went well with my kilt.

item of low quality

This is too easy! I would go with the cheapest sgian dubh possible... and leave it in the drawer, just as I do with my fine antique military Sgian.

**Panache** · 9th March 12, 07:32 PM

Originally Posted by Alan H

[[threadjack]]What might cheer you up though, is that the Social Dancing class/club at Stanford is IMMENSELY popular, and every year they put on a Viennese Ball in San Francisco. They invite the Austrian Consul, who always comes.

While you will not see kilts there, you WILL see Stanford students dressed to the nines, having fun, and dancing. [[/threadjack]]

Certainly you don't wear a kilt to a Viennese Ball!

Something more like this perhaps...

Cheers

Jamie

**xman** · 9th March 12, 07:37 PM

very finest quality kilt
very good quality sporran (it can hardly be separated from the kilt)
good quality jacket
average quality hose
low quality sgian dubh (it still irks me that noone has asked to see my custom sgian)

**artificer** · 9th March 12, 07:45 PM

Originally Posted by xman

low quality sgian dubh (it still irks me that noone has asked to see my custom sgian)

Was I aware of said custom sgian?! Is it Drac's work??! Pix please!!!!

ith:

**Cowher** · 9th March 12, 08:23 PM

Great idea this thread

item of the very finest quality (bespoke to your specifications)

The kilt. the best made Kilts are a thing to behold. Besides a top end kilt can't be beat.

item of very good quality.

this was close for first but second I choose a Ferguson Britt bobcat inverlochy. I made myself a sporran with the inverlochy as my inspiration I can wear that sporran out to the pub or to a fancy wedding and it gets complements in each situation. One day I'll own the real thing

item of good quality

A nice tweed Argyll jacket and waistcoat probably in a deep moss green or a dark charcoal
Mostly because it is a item that can last a long time and can add greatly to the look of a highland outfit
item of average quality

Hose and garters. Simply because the other top three are filled

item of low quality

Kilt knife (my new phone won't let me type the real word for it)