I ordered my first kilt yesterday. It's a Black Watch Thrifty Kilt from StillwaterKilts.com - and it shipped within an hour of my order. I ordered the kilt, sporran, sporran hanger, and flashes. The price was definitely right. I already have a belt that I bought from Excalibur Leather at Bristol last weekend. I'll post pictures when it gets here, and let you know what I think about my new kilt.
I have this same kilt and love it. I wore it the first time to faire in like 95 plus weather and it was great.
Good for you! Can't go wrong with Stillwater Kilts, great value at very reasonable prices! And Jerry's shipping speeds bend time and space, I think he ships most stuff before you order it!
Quote from: Zardoz on August 24, 2010, 05:12:08 PM
Good for you! Can't go wrong with Stillwater Kilts, great value at very reasonable prices! And Jerry's shipping speeds bend time and space, I think he ships most stuff before you order it!
That's no joke! The first kilt I ever bought for myself was a Stillwater heavyweight. They're excellent value for the money. Just one little suggestion... The acrylic that the thrifty kilts are made from burns- voraciously. Trust me, I know from experience. Keep it away from any and all open flame! I highly reccomend their heavies, though- those are awesome! Can't wait to see your pictures, too.
It arrived in the mail today. Boy, was that fast! I'm busy taking the tacking stitches out of the pleats, and I plan to wear it out to dinner tonight. Any suggestion on a shirt to wear with it for casual wear?
Quote from: Dustin on August 25, 2010, 02:52:25 PM
It arrived in the mail today. Boy, was that fast! I plan to wear it out to dinner tonight. Any suggestion on a shirt to wear with it for casual wear?
Told ya' the shipping was fast!
I'd just wear whatever shirt you'd normally wear for "casual wear". I'd likely go with a polo this time of year.
I'm wearing it now. It fits great. I decided on a navy blue henley t-shirt, the kind with buttons, matches the blue in the tartan. Wearing my new kilt, my new 2" Excalibur Leather belt, my new Stillwater sporran, and my new Stillwater sock flashes. I haven't decided on footwear yet, either my Birkenstock-like sandals, or these brown leather low top hikers I have.
sounds great Dustin, what are you running for socks?
Quote from: Zardoz on August 25, 2010, 04:03:27 PM
sounds great Dustin, what are you running for socks?
Some thick greyish-black work socks. I couldn't afford to add kilt hose to the order.
I am looking to buy my second kilt have been looking at stillwaterkilts nightstalker kilt in there standard kilts but also with finding out i have a couple clans in me i am looking to have a kilt from the Macfarlane tartan which covers both clans.
The only clan I've found for me (McNew/MacNew/MacKnew) uses the Edinborough District tartan, which is awfully pricey most places.
On not ordering the kilt hose; I remember when I got strarted with kilt wearing, just you get used to having paid $XX for the kilt, you realize you need another $XXX worth of stuff to look right wearing it! :o
I have quite a few pairs of hose from W.Brewin Sock Co. http://stores.channeladvisor.com/wbsocks/Kilt%20Hose/
They are not heavy duty wooly hose like granny knits, but a good quality reasonably priced option, and nice in warmer weather. A pair in Navy and in Bottle Green would match the B/W kilt pretty well.
Dustin, Don't know what "awfully pricey" is to you, but USA Kilts can do you their "5 Yard Wool" kilt in the Edinburgh Ancient (13oz) tartan for around $320- $350 depending on your size. you might check them out, http://www.usakilts.com/store/5yardwool_kiltpage.php
You might also look at some of USA's "Semi-Traditionals" in a 'Universal' Scot tartan like Caledonia, Holyrood or Isle of Skye .
I have looked at usa kilt and they have great reviews but for me to get an 8 yard kilt of one of the Macfarlane was going to run around $550, i also got a quote from a company that was at a highland games a few weeks back for the same thing but at $350. For me its do i go with someone i know people have ordered from and have great reviews or someone at a festival that was doing good business and what he had there was great quality.
On another note i have the estes park games coming up in september so i could wait and see what is there.
Garath; Well I've never ordered a Premium 8 Yard from USA Kilts, but $550 is not a bad price for a hand-sewn. Based on the 5 other kilts I have from them, I do know you'll get a good kilt for the money.
There are places online I'd recomend like scotweb.com or scottishkilts.net that do nice 8 yard kilts for 350 -400 bucks. Sometimes the price depends on the tartan, there are a few different Macfarlane setts, some are likely more than others, depending on the weight, mill, popularity etc.. also, there are a ton of kiltmakers all over, I'd suggest lurking or joining a forum site like Xmarksthescot.com or thescotsforum.com and looking at the opinions there. More on that below....
Let me leave you with two cautions;
1. Whatever vendor you chose, be sure you are getting the tartan you want, order by the STA registry number if you have to! You don't want to pay for ordering Macfarlane Red and end up with Macfarlane Hunting two months later!
2. Be very careful who you order from, especially at games or Celtic fests! There are a bunch of good vendors out there, but there are some ripoff artists too. There's a company called 'Clansman Knitwear' that does a lot of fests, they also do business as 'Scottish Kilt Rental'. We hear about them all the time on the kilt forums, not fulfilling orders, not answering calls and emails, folks waiting a year to get the wrong kilt, etc. These guys have about the worst reputation of any Highlandwear vendor, but they continue to do fests and games around the country. I guess I'd run any 'new to me' vendors by the kilt forums or a Google search before I handed over my money!
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v299/italiandaddy/100_4446.jpg)
Very nice, Dustin. You look great!
Looking spiffy there my brother (http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2424/3883186762_a514ef9105_o.jpg)
Aha! I was just about to post, "Pic please!" and there it is. Looks fantastic on you!
Looks nice Dustin! I really like the belt buckle.
One little nit picky piece of advice, The low socks are cool with the casual look, but I wouldn't run the flashes with them. Wait till you get some tall kilt hose.
As I told you in chat last night, Looking good Dustin! =)
Quote from: Zardoz on August 26, 2010, 10:00:23 AM
Looks nice Dustin! I really like the belt buckle.
One little nit picky piece of advice, The low socks are cool with the casual look, but I wouldn't run the flashes with them. Wait till you get some tall kilt hose.
Thanks for the advice. I'm new to this game.
Very nice, Dustin. Glad you posted a pic.
Quote from: Zardoz on August 26, 2010, 10:00:23 AM
Looks nice Dustin! I really like the belt buckle.
One little nit picky piece of advice, The low socks are cool with the casual look, but I wouldn't run the flashes with them. Wait till you get some tall kilt hose.
Seconded! Flashes don't look right on low casual socks. Otherwise, that's a good look.
Oh, and listen to what Zardoz says about vendors, as well. Zardoz iz wize; Zardoz iz good. I can't tell you how many times I've read or been told bad things about Clansman Knitwear. I have, by contrast, heard as many good things about USA Kilts. I am part of a Celtic wedding business, and I always recommend USA Kilts without hesitation. Yes, they are a little more expensive, but when it comes to Scottish clothing, you get what you pay for (Stillwater Kilts being the exception.)
So on the subject of hose- check these out:
http://www.sockdreams.com/products/diamond-rib-knee-highs
I know they're shown on lady's legs, but they make great kilt socks for the summer. I wear Lewis Rich in the winter and Sock Dreams in the summer. WB Socks kilt hose are certainly good, too, but they wear out really quickly with regular wear. And if you want to spruce up the inexpensive hose and make them look more formal, you could get some hose toppers. There are 2 excellent sources that I know of. First is Big Mikey Originals: http://www.bigmikeyoriginals.com/apps/webstore/products/show/1198414 I have 2 pairs from him. Second is Flamingo Kilts: http://www.flamingokilts.biz/4.html I have one pair from Flamingo. Only thing with Flamingo is that the lady who makes the toppers uses a lighter weight yarn. I prefer the look of the heavier yarn that Big Mikey uses. You can't go wrong with either, though, and both will make cuffs to match any tartan you have.
Quote from: Nighthawk on August 26, 2010, 06:00:29 PM
Quote from: Zardoz on August 26, 2010, 10:00:23 AM
Looks nice Dustin! I really like the belt buckle.
One little nit picky piece of advice, The low socks are cool with the casual look, but I wouldn't run the flashes with them. Wait till you get some tall kilt hose.
Seconded! Flashes don't look right on low casual socks. Otherwise, that's a good look.
Oh, and listen to what Zardoz says about vendors, as well. Zardoz iz wize; Zardoz iz good.
Wow! Thanks Hawk! :-[
(http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg301/olmark/zardoz-head-1.jpg)
Really though, I don't know if I'm wise or good, but I wear the kilt more than p*nts, so I've found stuff that works for me. Dustin is off to a good start and I think he knows the rest of us kilt guys are around to help a brother out!
Quote from: Zardoz on August 26, 2010, 10:00:23 AM
Looks nice Dustin! I really like the belt buckle.
That's an Excalibur Leather belt that I bought at Bristol last weekend.
i think i should dig up the pic of me the first time i wore my kilt to faire. I didn't have a sporan so i used a gritchel bag as my sporan was interesting. For shoes i wore rope sandels
Quote from: Zardoz on August 26, 2010, 10:48:25 PM
Wow! Thanks Hawk! :-[
(http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg301/olmark/zardoz-head-1.jpg)
Really though, I don't know if I'm wise or good, but I wear the kilt more than p*nts, so I've found stuff that works for me. Dustin is off to a good start and I think he knows the rest of us kilt guys are around to help a brother out!
Yeah, I don't that you're wise either. It's s quote from some movie or other that I always thought was funny. You did give good advice on the vendors, though!
Quote from: Sir Garath on August 27, 2010, 09:15:14 AM
i think i should dig up the pic of me the first time i wore my kilt to faire. I didn't have a sporan so i used a gritchel bag as my sporan was interesting. For shoes i wore rope sandels
You know what? In spite of what certain old carmudgeons will tell you, that not wrong! I have a good friend who's right out the Highlands who wears a small possibles bag as a sporran. I mentioned to him once that the traditionalists I know would give him no end of hell for it. His reply? "F^&K the traditionalists! It works for me!"
found the pic
http://picasaweb.google.com/Hikadaf/Kilt#5510484795782854274
Enjoy
Well, at the Celtic Festival and Highland Games, I ended up buying a pair of navy kilt hose and a cheap sgian dubh. I want to eventually get a better sgian dubh, but this one serves the purpose for now. I also bought a solid navy tie to wear to a Celtic church service. I'll also be wearing the kilt, dress shirt & tie combo to the "Kirkin' O' the Tartan" next month. I should have new pictures to post then. Here I am from the Celtic Festival, where I was doing demos with a Medieval/Renaissance living history group.
(http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs645.snc4/60514_783107823651_17028200_43076134_4182199_n.jpg)
Not the best picture, but I am holding a pretty cool weapon.
That's a good look. Basic and simple is always good way to go. Lacking period footwear myself, I tend to be a Redshanks- a barefoot Gillie. One of these days, I'll get a nice pair of Argyle hose and buckle brogues. That's on my To Do list for next year...
I also just got my first kilt and was able to wear it at the last weekend of the MDRF. It is the Irish national from USA Kilts. Rocky and crew did a great job and I highly recommend them.