kilts cut to the jeans waist vs kilts cut with a rise to natural waist

**Bearded Man Brew** · 10th April 13, 12:44 PM

I usually wear mine just above the jeans waist. I find it more comfortable. I make my own, so I have the ability to make it fit specifically for me. I donthave a fully traditional kilt right now, but the way I wear it may change with a different style of kilt.

**tundramanq** · 10th April 13, 01:37 PM

Thinking kilt, I forgot about the rest of the question. Yes, I have to buy longer slim fit vests that are intended for jeans waist and the Spenser jacket conversion I did required that I buy an extra long jacket or look like an Oreo.

**Pleater** · 10th April 13, 01:56 PM

Now I have this little scenario running in my head of gentleman of substance wearing kilt, sauntering at his ease, attractive lady comes tripping along, G of S steps back, sucks in gut and - fwumff.

Sorry your honour, I have now bought some braces (suspenders)

Anne the Pleater :ootd:

**Barb T** · 10th April 13, 02:05 PM

The critical thing is to wear a kilt where it was made to be worn. If a kilt is made with a traditional rise (typically 2"), it's made to be worn with the top edge of the kilt 2" above the waist (not 2" above jeans waist, but 2" above true waist). This is _a lot_ higher than guys wear their jeans. If you have a kilt made with a 2" rise and you wear it at your jeans waist (which is what lots of people do), the bottom of the kilt will graze the tops of your kilt hose, and you won't have any knee showing. This makes it look like you're wearing granny's skirt. In addition, the bottom of the fell (the stitched part of the pleats) will ride a couple inches below your butt cheeks, and your butt will look like a sausage stuffed into a pair of nylons. Not attractive.

Personally, I think that guys with a substantial "corporation" look slimmer when they wear their kilts around the belly than below it. I've made kilts for guys with 50"+ waists, and they look a lot slimmer in a kilt than they do in a pair of jeans, provided they wrap the kilt around the belly at the right level. Because the top edge of a trad kilt with a rise is the same "elevation" front and back (i.e., it's cut parallel to a horizontal stripe in the tartan), wearing the back at waist level and the front below the belly makes a big fold in the front of the kilt below the belly, which really accentuates the belly (at least in my estimation).

So, bottom line - a kilt will fit properly and be the right length if you wear it where it was made to be worn. If you don't want to wear it at that level, ask to have it made differently.

**tundramanq** · 10th April 13, 02:30 PM

Anne - Mine stay up without a belt but it is loose enough that sliding into the truck seat is rotating the whole kilt. Ergo always wear my belt rather than over strain the kilt belts.

Barb, I have noticed the corset effect when belting a kilt at the natural waist. Kind of irons out the love handles quite well.

**Barb T** · 10th April 13, 02:31 PM

Originally Posted by tundramanq

Barb, I have noticed the corset effect when belting a kilt at the natural waist. Kind of irons out the love handles quite well.

Indeed! I agree!

**Geoff Withnell** · 10th April 13, 02:33 PM

I'm one of those GoS that Barb has made kilts for. My true waist is 53", and I think I look a lot more athletic with the kilt at my true waist than jeans just above my hips.

Originally Posted by Barb T

...
Personally, I think that guys with a substantial "corporation" look slimmer when they wear their kilts around the belly than below it. I've made kilts for guys with 50"+ waists, and they look a lot slimmer in a kilt than they do in a pair of jeans, provided they wrap the kilt around the belly at the right level. Because the top edge of a trad kilt with a rise is the same "elevation" front and back (i.e., it's cut parallel to a horizontal stripe in the tartan), wearing the back at waist level and the front below the belly makes a big fold in the front of the kilt below the belly, which really accentuates the belly (at least in my estimation).

So, bottom line - a kilt will fit properly and be the right length if you wear it where it was made to be worn. If you don't want to wear it at that level, ask to have it made differently.

**Pleater** · 10th April 13, 04:50 PM

There is also the optical illusion of a rectangle with the long sides vertical - the kilt with the higher rise, being perceived as narrower than it actually is.

A low cut kilt looks like a rectangle with long sides horizontal and is seen as wider and shorter than the true shape - not a good thing in this circumstance.

Anne the Pleater :ootd:

**JohntheBiker** · 10th April 13, 06:44 PM

Originally Posted by Pleater

Now I have this little scenario running in my head of gentleman of substance wearing kilt, sauntering at his ease, attractive lady comes tripping along, G of S steps back, sucks in gut and - fwumff.

Sorry your honour, I have now bought some braces (suspenders)

Anne the Pleater :ootd:

See what I mean! Not a pretty image!

kiltedwolfman · 10th April 13, 08:06 PM

I'd like to echo Barb and say that if your kilt is made properly and to the spot you want it then regardless of where to waistline is it will look right. This pic for example...

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The kilt is made to mid rise, about two and a half to three inches below my natural waist and yet my PC still covers enough of the kilt as to not show any of my shirt.
Or this one

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This one is made to low rise just above my hips ( pants waist ) although the sweater hides the top of the kilt it isn't hiding much.

The key is making sure the kilt is made to measure, and then worn where it's made to fit. Getting the hem parrellel to the floor is another matter; one that requires building what we call "slope" into the kilt. That however is a story for the Wizard to tell.