Measuring a beer gut for a kilt

[orangehaggis]

Hi everybody:

Just need a little reassurance (or correction, as appropriate). Most of my lodge are getting kilts made from a custom tartan being woven for us at the moment. One member in particular has a pronounced beer gut, but is trim and fit in every other respect (he's a copper, after all). At his navel (that is, over the beer gut) I got 46", and 46" for the seat at widest.

He normally wears a size 40 in trousers (midnight blue police issue) and has protested my 46" waist measurement. I've never seen him in uniform, but suspect he wears his trousers at the ledge of the hip, rather than at his "empire waist."

So, did I measure him in the correct spot, or is there a special way to measure beerguts??

Mark O - Ohio

[Erisianmonkey]

It depends on if you measured where he was going to wear the kilt or not. I'm assuming you measured where he will be wearing his kilt and got the measurement correct. I'd show him a couple of the websites where it says that your pants size is not your kilt size.

[McMurdo]

I am almost certain that your measurement is correct, perhaps a kiltmaker will chime in but if you are going for a traditional kilt you measure from your navel. The first time you are measured for a kilt is sure to be an eye opening experience as most people are surprised at the difference, I am sure that Ronpaul just went through this with his first USAKilt, and if I recall he sent it back to be fixed. The thing is when measuring for a kilt don't be vain, don't kid yourself nobody else has to know what the measurement is you will only end up with an ill-fitting kilt.

Also you should assure your friend that a properly fitting kilt will make him look slimmer in comparison to his police issue blues.

[auld argonian]

I'd direct him to Fredom Kilts page about how to measure:

http://www.freedomkilts.com/store/wizard/1/3

...that ought to sum it up and it's coming from an authority so he'll have to believe it.

How many of our kiltmaker forum members have stressed being honest about that waist measurement instead of yielding to vanity and ending up with a very expensive kilt that doesn't fit?

And as to his being a cop...dude, I know lots of cops who started out slim, trim and able to leap six foot fences while in pursuit of evildoers and who let themselves go over the years...and passing the department physical didn't ever really factor into it.

It's also a sort of factoid that p*nts manufacturers chippy on those waist measurements to make the customers feel better.

Best

AA

[Tattoo Bradley]

It sound's right to me.

[Shriner]

Most of my lodge are getting kilts made from a custom tartan being woven for us at the moment.

Mark O - Ohio

Mark, would you be talking about the Masonic Tartan ?? From the GrandLodge of Utah.

John

[Barb T]

Steve's instructions are specifically for a Freedom Kilt. The instructions aren't, in fact, what a traditional kiltmaker would use. We don't measure slope - instead, we just use one waist measurement, one hip measurement, and a length measurement. No criticism intended!! It's just that Steve's kilts are shaped a bit differently from the traditional wool kilt.

Anyone making a trad kilt will assume that you will wear your kilt at your true waist, where a trad kilt is supposed to be worn, not under a belly. The kiltmaker will then add a 2" rise so that the top of the kilt is actually 2" above the true waist.

If you were to measure under the belly, the kilt would be too small. And, if you measure the length properly and then _wear_ the kilt under the belly, it will be too long.

Most men with a bit of a corporation wear their pants under their bellies, and the waist size is not an accurate reflection of what circumference they need for kilts.

Cheers,

B

[auld argonian]

Steve's instructions are specifically for a Freedom Kilt. The instructions aren't, in fact, what a traditional kiltmaker would use. We don't measure slope - instead, we just use one waist measurement, one hip measurement, and a length measurement. No criticism intended!! It's just that Steve's kilts are shaped a bit differently from the traditional wool kilt.

Anyone making a trad kilt will assume that you will wear your kilt at your true waist, where a trad kilt is supposed to be worn, not under a belly. The kiltmaker will then add a 2" rise so that the top of the kilt is actually 2" above the true waist.

B

I'm sorry if my citing Steve's system was in any way misleading. I just think that it pointed out the distinction between the waist size of one's pants and the point at which one measures their true waist. As I understood it, the guy in question was having a hard time accepting the difference between his pants size and what the measurement was at his true waist. I can see where Steve's distinctions between low, mid and high waist measurements might muddy the water a bit but I figgered that the guy would get the point that he had to measure at the high point and not around his hips...and consequently under the "beer belly".

Best

AA

[The Wizard of BC]

Many clothing companies use what is known as vanity sizing. This means that they list the size two sizes too small so that you think you are a smaller size. Ask any woman about this and she will tell you how hard it is to know the actual size of clothing. Blue jean companies are famous for this vanity sizing.

Barb is absolutely correct! My video was made specifically for my style of kilt. And it is true that you should use the measuring system of your kiltmaker. Don't cheat. Don't suck-in.

However I talk in the video about not sending your trouser size to your kiltmaker. I also mention one method for measuring for what I call "Gentlemen of substance. I show how wearing the kilt at your natural waist can be very slimming. So for a general overview of measuring just the waist and hip your friend may find the video helpful.

It is not uncommon for first time kilt buyers to be shocked when they are first measured. Your friend has probably never been measured for custom clothing before so he has only his listed trouser size to go on. We in the business are used to the shock and try to soften the blow as best we can. Be understanding and tell your friend about vanity sizing.

[ccga3359]

Get your friend to browse XMarks for this thread and others. He doesn't need to sign up but may end up doing just that after all the info floating around.