Attention all GOS (Gentlemen of Substance)....

[The Wizard of BC]

While not a Gentleman of Substance myself, I do make kilts for them. A well fitting kilt is a very slimming garment when worn at the natural waist.
Fitting a GOS is good exercise for my Engineer's mind and the looks of wonder from the men and the looks of admiration from the ladies is worth the effort.

Here is my advice to all GOS.
(BTW I am the person who coined the phrase 'Gentlemen of Substance' when I made Big Mikey's first kilt. 54" waist if I remember correctly.)

You can use strap extenders for the short term.

The issue is not the straps though. The issue is the aprons. The outer apron should over lap the under apron almost exactly or a little more.

What happens when you hang a kilt in the closet, and don't wear it, is that the kilt will become petulant and shrink. When this happens and you put the kilt on the outer apron no longer overlaps the under apron.

If there is about 1"-2" of under apron showing it is usually not too noticeable. The under apron looks like another pleat. Any more than and inch or two however and the under apron peeking out starts to be very noticeable.

Any more than 2" and the whole kilt is thrown off. The back is no longer centered when you center the front apron on your body. If your kilt has sporran loops they are very noticeably off center. If your kilt is pleated to the Sett the entire Tartan Pattern is now off center in the back.

Wearing a kilt 2" or more too small also affects how the aprons hang and move. You will probably notice that you have less effective coverage when moving and sitting.

I always advise customers who are experiencing a weight change to buy a kilt 2" too big. Moving the straps and buckles making the kilt smaller is very easy and does not compromise the internal integrity of the stabilizer and interfacing.

If you gain weight moving the straps and buckles back is just as easy.

By buying the kilt a bit big in the first place you do not have the problem of the aprons. The outer apron can overlap as much as you need without looking weird in the front. The back may still be off center slightly but at least the kilt will move and swish well.