Under Apron On Modern Kilts

[liammaclean]

I've been more interested in Modern Kilts recently because of the convenience of pockets, but one thing has really be holding me back. The only narrow apron kilt I own currently is a standard 1 from UT Kilts. I love the way it looks and I hate the way the under apron is designed. For some weird reason it has a pleat right in the middle which makes it rub weirdly against my inner thigh. Moreover, the under apron only covers half of my leg, so there is a constant threat of exposing that which I don't want to be exposed. At first I figured this was just bad designed on the part of UT Kilt, but after poking around here (specifically http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/f...towaway-88606/) I found someone with the same problem.

My question I posit to you is this: Is the weird under apron a problem with all off-the-rack modern style kilts or just particular ones? Does anyone else have experience with this?

[Steve Ashton]

The Utilikilt are who started the current thing with narrow aprons. Those who copied the UK have almost universally kept the narrow apron. Some makers have changed the under apron in some small way or another like UT.
In general, if the garment has a narrow outer apron it will probably have a corresponding narrow under apron.

And for the record a kilt made in the traditional manner will have aprons which are slightly greater than 1/2 of the wearers waist circumference. A traditional style kilt will also have aprons which are wider at the bottom than at the waist. This is a design feature to allow the side edges of the aprons to hang straight down, vertically, when viewed from the side and not gape open.

[Dollander]

I had the opposite problem. When I made my first kilt out of denim, I copied the medium-apron RevK style of the UT standard. But I excluded the under apron pleat because I assumed it was just a sizing issue, i.e. making the pleated portion in fewer sizes and adding the pleat as needed to fit smaller waistbands (my size 40 UTs are indeed slightly asymmetrical). But I quickly noticed that the denim kilt's inner edge has a tendency to fall behind my left thigh as I walk. I've thus included that pleat on every wool and PV kilt I've made since, so the under apron can expand as I move and stay on the front of my leg.

[Steve Ashton]

And I make kilts with the full width aprons that over time has proven to work really well. I don't have any of the problems experienced with narrow aprons.

There is a myth that the narrow aprons fall between the legs easier when you sit. Well, sorry, it is the pleats to each side of the aprons that does that. A well designed kilt with full width aprons and generous deep and revers pleats will fall between the legs perfectly fine even if you squat.
I always have problems with modesty sitting in my Utilikilt. I have never once had a problem with a full width apron.

[Dollander]

For me it's not a matter of practicality; I just happen to prefer the style. And I agree that I'd be too worried about flashing my skivvies in the likes of a Utilikilt or 511 (again, not to mention the inner edge getting on my nerves as I walk). But the medium-apron style, which is about 1/3 of the circumference, has never given me that problem. Literally the only time my modesty has been compromised was once when I was "Marilyn Monroed" by a really strong gust of wind...and that was the pleats, not the apron.

Here you can clearly see the difference. On the left is a Utilikilt, while on the right is a utility kilt from Celtic Croft in the same overall style as the UTs that liammaclean is talking about.

[Taskr]

Modern kilts arent the only ones with pockets. Steve builds them into his if you want them.
The narrow apron might be a sizing compounding styling issue. I tried on a couple of whatever brand utility kits and found that the construction for fitting waist size simply didn't fit my shape very well, causing for odd fall of the aprons.

[liammaclean]

For me it's not a matter of practicality; I just happen to prefer the style. And I agree that I'd be too worried about flashing my skivvies in the likes of a Utilikilt or 511 (again, not to mention the inner edge getting on my nerves as I walk). But the medium-apron style, which is about 1/3 of the circumference, has never given me that problem. Literally the only time my modesty has been compromised was once when I was "Marilyn Monroed" by a really strong gust of wind...and that was the pleats, not the apron.

Here you can clearly see the difference. On the left is a Utilikilt, while on the right is a utility kilt from Celtic Croft in the same overall style as the UTs that liammaclean is talking about.

Are you saying that the 5.11 is actually worse than the UT Kilt in this arena? I was thinking about picking up a 5.11 as my next kilt, but specifically because I thought it'd be better. My main issue with the UT Kilt was the under apron being difficult to manage when I was sitting on the ground cross legged or on a windy day, and (far less major) the pockets not being able to carry my kindle. But if I'm getting more crotch security with Brice's product I will just snag another, especially given that it's 15 dollars cheaper and comes in tartan.

[kiltedcontractor]

I have 5 5.11 kilts. 2 are slightly small and 3 that are slightly large. I wear them almost every day and work in them as a contractor.....never had a problem. Perhaps it is me not recognizing a problem

[DotDLL]

I've been more interested in Modern Kilts recently because of the convenience of pockets, but one thing has really be holding me back. The only narrow apron kilt I own currently is a standard 1 from UT Kilts. I love the way it looks and I hate the way the under apron is designed. For some weird reason it has a pleat right in the middle which makes it rub weirdly against my inner thigh. Moreover, the under apron only covers half of my leg, so there is a constant threat of exposing that which I don't want to be exposed. At first I figured this was just bad designed on the part of UT Kilt, but after poking around here (specifically http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/f...towaway-88606/) I found someone with the same problem.

My question I posit to you is this: Is the weird under apron a problem with all off-the-rack modern style kilts or just particular ones? Does anyone else have experience with this?

I had a first-generation kilt from UT Kilts, had the same problem with it, but have not had that problem with all modern, utility kilts. Many of them do seem to suffer from this, to one degree or another, but not all.

Utilikilts, somewhat ironically, seem to have both caused, and solved this problem, in my observation and opinion. Their initial, narrow-aproned kilts did this, in my experience. I bought one of them in the early-'2000s, and had similar problems. A wrong movement, or a well-placed bit of wind, would blow the front open, exposing at least half of my lower-self (usually my right side). Their newest model kilts, on the other hand, add clasps to hook the left and right sides of the front together. I've have a few of the newest model ones, and have yet to have one of these blow open in the front.

A few side-notes to the above, regarding Utilikilts' latest models: they do add some extra folds of material to the front-center, underneath the (narrow) apron. I've found this extra material to help with sitting modestly, however, if you find your UT Kilt's middle-material to feel uncomfortable, you might want to take caution if getting a Utilikilt. I find it to be useful, as I can sit modestly with it with a tad bit less effort, but your mileage may vary.

Regarding my 1st-generation UT Kilt, I've found it to be practically unwearable. I bought it with hopes of having an extra, inexpensive kilt, that I could wear in situations I might've previously worn shorts or jeans, but the design, and overall build quality, were bad enough that I ended up not wearing all that often. The front would either fly open with just a mild breeze, or slide open, if I did something like sit a bit wide. I found it hard to sit in, walk around in, or do pretty much anything in that involved being out in the public, for even a short period of time. I tried 'fixing' it by pinning the front aprons together, but found that other parts of the kilt would usually slide a bit too far upwards, if I adopted a wide-legged stance. The pleats never seemed to spread like they should.

Regarding other models of kilts, I've found it to be a mixed bag. Some are better than others. Some have aprons that fly open, but pinning, or otherwise connecting the front to the back (adding a bit of velcro can help, here), works well enough.

In general, the worst utility kilt I've bought was probably the 1st-gen UT Kilt. The best one, has been a newer model Utilikilt.

For ANYTHING you get that is 'over the rack', I would *HIGHLY* recommend being able to try one on, beforehand! Walk around in it a bit. Try sitting down. Give it a bit of thought before getting it. Alternatively, consider getting something that is both custom fitted (making sure they get more than just a waist and length measurement!), and from a widely well-regarded source.

Best of luck!