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

**AJBryant** · 11th April 13, 05:53 PM

Originally Posted by Pleater

Adding a couple of inches to the length of the kilts you buy might help, if that is an option. It is likely to be more flattering and will not be so obvious as you might think, more importantly it could make you more at ease, which is the main thing.

I could see how that might work, but would that not go against the "top of the patella" standard?

Dang I wish this diet worked FASTER. (Exercise TOO? Are you KIDDING me?!)

Tony

**Katia** · 11th April 13, 07:44 PM

I have to admit I have never been much of a fan of wearing a lower-body garment whose waistline encircles my ribcage-- and yes, my "natural waist" falls at the bottom of my ribcage, 3-4" above my navel. My kilt is the only thing I will tolerate this from, and only because it's traditional. I envy those of you who can wear a shirt tucked INTO your kilt without it looking silly. I always wear something on top that I can wear over it, or it looks bloody ridiculous (and therefore, it wouldn't make a difference where the top fell at because it will be covered by a shirt or sweater).

Well, I suppose the other reason I'm a fan of my kilt being higher is because I'm long-waisted... so pretty much any secondhand dance waistcoat is going to be too short for me. The kilt sitting high up keeps me from having the oreo-cookie effect that MacMillan speaks of...

It just makes me feel... bound in. If I wanted that, I'd wear a corset! Never mind how it feels when I've eaten a medium-to-large-sized meal.

Of course, being a female of a certain shape, the booty makes the kilt quite secure, so it really doesn't matter where I wear it: it stays up, and the thought of requiring belts or suspenders/braces makes me giggle (and somewhat envious). I could hang my cat and several of her friends from the hem of it and there is just NO WAY it's budging downward (to my disappointment, since it is also, IMO, slightly too short but I am unable to adjust it downward. The rule may be "to the top of the knee" {though mine is slightly shorter than that} but it is an unforgiving length for those of us with funny-looking knees!).

(Unlike, say, my former partner, who is half-Scottish and made one foray into kilt-wearing to be the best man at his cousin's wedding. Considering my experience, it didn't even occur to me to suggest that he, who has practically no butt whatsoever, might want suspenders. Halfway through the reception I looked at him from across the room and was dismayed to discover his pleats started/fell ended halfway down his thighs... then realized it wasn't a badly-made kilt, it was just sliding down! {I made a bet with a friend as to whether it would fall off completely by the end of the night, but he did finally hike it up...} He never wore it again {*sob!*} so I never did have to suggest the suspenders.)

**Grae** · 12th April 13, 06:08 PM

It appears the wearers of the lower waisted "casual" kilts of whom there must be many are remarkably absent from this thread on the question of if that kilt is comfortable to wear, putting aside the G of S issue .

**unixken** · 12th April 13, 06:22 PM

I have a 16oz 5yd Casual, from Scotweb, that is worn at the p@nts waist, and I find it comfortable enough. It's also secure enough despite my stomach... err.. my "excessive personality"... to stay up without a belt. I have a pic of it in my photo album, here: http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/a...achmentid=9623

**tadyergey** · 12th April 13, 06:23 PM

Of my four kilts, I have three different styles... A traditional kilt from Edinburgh with a proper rise. I love it and wear it as often as possible, but it is not conducive to hiking, etc. I bought a sport kilt that is worn about the navel, I find that uncomfortable. I am going to have to hem it a bit to make it so I can wear it at the "jeans waist". I have made 2 xkilts and they have designed and sewn to fit at my jeans waist.

I find the lower waisted kilts feel like a less restrictive pair of jeans or dockers. Good for the intended purpose of comfort, lounging and hiking, etc. A traditional high rise tank is just as comfortable, but in a different way. Intended for a different use and it fits that bill very nicely. It is the ones in between that leave much to be desired.

**tundramanq** · 12th April 13, 06:24 PM

It is comfortable to most. But I am not the person to compare as I have a surgical issue that makes normal height quite uncomfortable. My only input to this thread is really the changes to get a normal traditional kilt to work at the low waist or hip bone level.

**Barb T** · 14th April 13, 07:37 AM

Originally Posted by Katia

Halfway through the reception I looked at him from across the room and was dismayed to discover his pleats started/fell ended halfway down his thighs... then realized it wasn't a badly-made kilt, it was just sliding down!

Even someone with a very flat caboose is smaller at the waist than at the hips, so a kilt made to his measurements and worn buckled tight enough will not slide down. Don't give up!

**unixken** · 14th April 13, 08:22 AM

Originally Posted by Barb T

Even someone with a very flat caboose is smaller at the waist than at the hips, so a kilt made to his measurements and worn buckled tight enough will not slide down. Don't give up!

A comment I once made to my tailor when he was taking my measurements...
"Thanks... I've always known I had a fat @ss. Now I know just exactly how fat."

**Pleater** · 14th April 13, 04:22 PM

Originally Posted by AJBryant

I could see how that might work, but would that not go against the "top of the patella" standard?
Dang I wish this diet worked FASTER. (Exercise TOO? Are you KIDDING me?!)

Tony

Those of a greater circumference really have to consider things other than the guidelines on length - and if the edge of the kilt is at some distance horizontally from the leg then a compromise is both advisable and less detectable.

Seen from a distance the extra width makes the perceived length shorter when standing still, and when moving there is more skin revealed as the kilt swings further in towards the thigh, so the addition of a couple of inches in length is advisable.

I only wish that I had had the ability to take instant photos when doing things to wear on stage - the lower angle that stage costumes are viewed from really makes getting the hem low enough absolutely vital.

Anne the Pleater :ootd:

**AJBryant** · 14th April 13, 08:20 PM

Well, heck.

Good advice, Anne. And, oh, my -- the stage thing. I hadn't thought of anything like that. I'm so used to kilts already looking long because people take pictures from so high up. ;)

Many thanks!

Tony