Looking to purchase a new first time Kilt.

[manavark]

thank you Richrail, I am looking at the USA kilts right now, but still have many questions, I cant seem to find the tartan that I like, but I could settle for about 3 or 4. I have email them and got a response, but not to informative. I am trying for a formal outfit or kilt. Still not convinced entirely on the type of fabric, although wool probably is the best avenue. I thought the fly plaid dressed up some, but I see your point, my wife agrees with you and she usually is right here. As for the $15 price, I was being sarcastic to a sarcastic price I was quoted. I don't want to offend anyone but they cannot convince me that a hand stitched kilt is any more valuable that a machine stitched where all the stitches are the same with the same tension. But I leave that to each individual. Again, I have a problem ordering something I cant see and feel. I have learned over the years, that you cant trust anyone or place where money is involved, they will get you every time. Larry

[manavark]

Thank you Bonnie, for your reply, as far as your advise about not being too slow to return. I am having a tailored pin stripe suit made from one of the top shops in America, they are on 5th street in New York, the 5th suit I returned today, one the pin stripes on the lapels didn't match the stripes on the jacket. The one I returned today was because there are 7 belt loops on a mans pants. I found one was 1/8 inch shorter and another was 1/16 inch shorter than the other 5. And when examined on the specter microscope, you could see the thread in the material were not straight. So sadly I returned the 5th suit and cancelled my order. thank you Larry

[ASinclair]

Hello Larry!

[BCAC]

There are top notch kiltmakers who are members on here (and some who are not) who will be recommended by "the rabble", and where you can buy a kilt with your eyes closed. People who have earned their reputation. Everyone has their favourite. Their "own" kiltmaker. You've come to the right place to find a top notch atisan kilt maker. Remember, some of these people are so good (and most work alone) that their waiting list is long and you must get your order in a long time in advance. My kiltmaker is Paul Henry who works out of England, but there are some top quality kiltmakers in your country too.

I honestly don't see what your problem is. You could go to Rocky at USA kilts, Bonnie Heather Greene, Matt Newsome, Barb Tewksbury, Steve Ashton in fact there are many. One point, always try to deal directly with your kiltmaker and not go through any "middlemen". The people that I listed all deal directly with the customer.

Edited to add: The chap that you met had ordered his kilt through kings of kilts which happens to be the firm of MacGREGOR and MacDUFF, who are probably middlemen that "farm out" the making of the kilts that they sell to other local kiltmakers. They do not, in my opinion, come in the category of "top notch artisan kilt makers".

[Nathan]

Welcome!

When purchasing a Highland black tie formal rig, here are a few ways to save money off the top:

1) As mentioned, don't buy a fly plaid or plaid brooch.
2) Don't buy ghillie brogues. They are fine if you already own them, but are not necessary and regular dress oxfords or brogues that you already wear with suits will serve as well or better.
3) Don't buy the rouche scrunchy tie thingie - a self-tie black bowtie that one would wear with a tuxedo is better.
4) Don't fall for the semi-dress sporran sales pitch - it won't serve for both country day and formal evening, it really only fills the niche in between. You'll end up buying two more sporrans later, so better to leave this one on the shelf because it's never really required.
5) Don't buy the cheap white hose. You'll look like you rented your outfit and while they're a few bucks cheaper, you'll end up replacing them and spending more. Solid coloured hose are fine for black tie.
6) Look for a tuxedo shirt with a lay flat collar rather than a pointed one as this look is preferable for black tie.
7) Ask yourself if you have enough black tie events to justify a prince charlie outfit. You might find a black silver buttoned Argyll jacket with both a 5 button waistcoat and a three button waistcoat is a more versatile outfit that will give you more bang for your buck. The Argyll works for black tie but can be worn with a long tie and dressed down for less formal events. It can also be worn correctly for formal events that take place in the daylight hours.

[manavark]

Thank you BCAC, your points are well taken, for a first timer, I didn't realize how difficult this could be ha ha. should have know, I have email 2 of the persons you recommended and both would only talk about the top of the line kilts, they would even consider a lesser price one, maybe that goes with the territory. But I appreciate your advice. Larry

[manavark]

Thank you Nathan, your advise carries a lot of merit, and makes good since, I will re-route some of my thinking and check on the articles you advised. Thank you for your kindness and care for someone who is in the dark and out of his league. Larry

[rlloyd]

Thank you BCAC, your points are well taken, for a first timer, I didn't realize how difficult this could be ha ha. should have know, I have email 2 of the persons you recommended and both would only talk about the top of the line kilts, they would even consider a lesser price one, maybe that goes with the territory. But I appreciate your advice. Larry

Given your posts in this topic, they were discussing their "top of the line" models because that is what you were inquiring about - a "Prince Charlie outfit" and such. If what you're wanting isn't actually top of the line, as you've so heavily implied in this topic, try to be more clear with the professionals you're corresponding with. Rocky of USA Kilts, of which I speak because he is "my kiltmaker", has on every ocassion provided me with the best customer service I've ever received from anyone in regards to anything.

[manavark]

Thank you rlloyd, you are probably correct, I did ask for the Prince Charlie Jacked, it looked to be the more formal of what there is to pick from, I guess I was expecting more. What I was referring to was the kilt, the kilt makers I have talked to as I understand them is not to use standard tartan, but have one specially woven to make a kilt. And the price starts at $1000 and goes up, maybe it is my fault for asking for a Prince Charlie Jacket, which I said is nice from what is available, but it is not that formal in comparison to a regular American tux custom made. thank you Larry

[MacLowlife]

Hi Larry,

Clearly, you have spent some time thinking about this. What I am about to offer will sound counter-intuitive, but I hope you will consider it.

Go ahead and buy something.

If you are like most kilt wearers, the education process starts when you ask some gent about his kilt, but here is the unexpected part: IT NEVER ENDS. Now I am ordinarily a great fan of the measure twice cut once school, but I think your best knowledge will come from experience. Go ahead and buy a kilt and a PC. spend as little or as much as you dare, but do so as an educational experience, subject to revision later. You may end up keeping it all or you may end up getting rid of it. Just jump in.

Poke around a little bit and see if you can find a reasonable and reliable means of measuring yourself for a kilt- bearing in mind that the measurements may be different from your trouser measurements. Then, assuming you have already worked your way around the tartan selection question, go ahead and buy ( yes, off the internet) a kilt. Now, you can buy a nice one from eBay for $100- $150 if you are lucky. Or you can get one from one of the suppliers here on X Marks at all kinds of price points. But just go ahead and buy one. Forever more, that will be your first kilt, and, while it will have some drawbacks, it will give you a much better idea of what to expect. It may move you to have one made just for you, or it may move you to consider another off-the-rack kilt. Or it may give you years of satisfaction.

Next, figure out what size Prince Charlie you need. Remember, some UK sizing does not match US sizing exactly. Be prepared for tailoring. Check out the for sale forum here. Look on eBay. Look everywhere you can. Go ahead and get Charles Thompson's book SO YOU'RE GOING TO WEAR THE KILT. Consider having your tailor make you a PC. Consider having your tailor convert a tailcoat. And then consider buying one. By my reckoning, you will be out somewhere close to $300 -$500 or so, with a kilt and a jacket. If it works, great. If it doesn't, consider it to be like the muslin pattern a tailor uses. It is a preliminary step and a preliminary cost. One XMarks advertiser has Prince Charlies on sale right now.

And so, you will have your kilt and your PC. Get some hose and a sporran. Get the fly plaid if you must. Give it a whirl. Live with it. Then decide how many mistakes you made and how eager you are to correct them. Sell off or give away what doesn't please you. Talk with some kilt makers. Have fun. And let us know how it works out, but remember- If There is no Picture, it Didn't Happen.