Normal, or typical of mass produced kilts?

**Luke MacGillie** · 1st February 17, 07:01 PM

So a question on the sizing and such of modern kilts, This is a "Normal" 24 inch kilt, no idea the maker honestly. Im pointing to my navel, do they normally, in civilian dress, come up so high, Its about 2 inches below the bottom of my shirt pocket.

Secondly, It would seem that this has a whole lot of excess, that when I put on my sporran belt, it pulls it to the front, and I have these large folds at the edges of my hips, do not know if you can see what I mean in this photo or not.

If all of this is just normal, great, but if not, going the bespoke route ASAP.

**ratspike** · 1st February 17, 09:31 PM

Yeah, pretty much. Those things fit some bodies better than others. It's really hard to see much from your photos but I'm guessing your kilt is way too big in the hips, so the sporran belt it making it bunch up.

**Manu** · 1st February 17, 09:58 PM

A full rise traditional kilt goes 2 inches above your natural waistline, which would put the top of the kilt to about 3 or 4 inches below the sternum, so if your kikt is made with a full traditional rise it seems to fit about right. Rocky has a height/kilt length ratio guide on his website that has worked out for me in the past.

As far as the bunching of material, I agree with ratspike, the hips are too big, so the material has to go somewhere.

**The Wizard of BC** · 2nd February 17, 12:09 AM

All traditional style kilts, and that includes mass produced ones, are designed for the top strap to cinch into the anatomical waist.
This is right up under the ribs. There is then a 2" rise above the top strap so this kilt looks just about right.

I do think though that your sporran is too low. You are wearing a very long vest so this may be the reason.

The sporran is not a crotch protector. To keep the sporran and strap from falling under the belly and causing the aprons to pucker may I suggest that you lift the sporran up until it rests on the stomach. (About least an inch above your finger in your first photo.) This will allow the aprons to fall naturally straight down without the pucker.

**Jock Scot** · 2nd February 17, 04:14 AM

I also think that the kilt and the sporran would hang better if the now obsolete dirk(sorry) was left at home. But whilst that may help, I don't think that you can escape the fact that by the looks of it, the kilt is too big for you around the hips.

**Luke MacGillie** · 2nd February 17, 06:20 AM

Thanks to all for your honest feedback.

To Jock, the Overt Dirk I dare say will remain till I figure out exactly how to more covertly appeal to a Higher Power, or better yet replace it with something from say the 11th year of the 20th Century.

But I will say no more about that.

**ForresterModern** · 2nd February 17, 05:58 PM

Losing the dirk and swapping the chain for a flat leather sporran strap, and wearing the sporran and strap higher, would allow for the flat strap to hold down the tartan above your hips and minimize the bunching. Hope this helps.

**Luke MacGillie** · 2nd February 17, 06:17 PM

Originally Posted by ForresterModern

Losing the dirk and swapping the chain for a flat leather sporran strap, and wearing the sporran and strap higher, would allow for the flat strap to hold down the tartan above your hips and minimize the bunching. Hope this helps.

It is a flat leather sporran strap, now I did thread it they the. Ely loops on the back of the kilt before buckling.

**ratspike** · 3rd February 17, 07:33 AM

Remember though, even if moving the sporran up prevents all that bunching you'll just get a pronounced shower curtain look 'round the back. They're both equally undesirable, but at least you can pretend the shower curtain doesn't exist because you won't be able to see it.