Quote Originally Posted by The Wizard of BC View Post
To properly answer your question I would need to ask you one in return.

When and how is your kilt made?

Prior to about 10 years ago almost all kilts were made in the traditional style. The top strap was designed to snug into your natural waist.
It's a 22-year-old 13-oz wool MacDuff (red) tank made for me by Strathmore.

To find your natural waist - open your hand and place your thumb at your side just under your ribs. Then bend into your thumb. Do you feel a hollow there? That is your natural waist.
It occurs to me that, in another "reality" (that of my medieval re-enacting), I am constantly telling people that their armour has *WAY* too low a waist, as they aim for pants-waist rather than as you point out, the "under the ribs where your body bends" waist. Our medieval forebears knew about that, and made what we would think of as "high-waisted" armours.

I have to think that way about kilts.


<snip>
So, do you have a traditional style kilt?
Very much so, yes. It was made smidge over 22 years ago by Strathmore. I haven't been able to wear that one for about 15 or 20 years, either. I swear, there was a time when I had a 36" waist. Not lately, but there *WAS* a time...

So since I'm doing the diet thing, I've decided to get a few less "hardcore" trad kilts (but still as "traditional" in terms of cut and style as I can) that I can wear for the next year until the diet is done. -- At which time the old tank will again fit (if the bloody moth holes aren't too obvious ;) ) and I"ll buy another tank anyway.

I really appreciated the heck out of this post, Steve. You're aces.

Oh...

And, Charles, DAMNED good point about the southward-bound navel. I totally failed to take my arch-enemy, gravity, into account!

Tony