Looking for the best casual kilt

**FossilHunter** · 29th October 21, 07:09 AM

I would suggest using usakilts. My son wears a usak kids kilt which is made similarly to the casual and looks very good for the intended purpose.

Furthermore, if you have the budget and want to bump things up, the usak semi trad uses more material and a more traditional strap closure and is a good option for the budget minded who want a better looking kilt.

Two advantages of usak is that their non wool tartan is still high quality, Scottish made fabric from Marton mills. Second they are based in the USA and shipping is a flat rate and very low. Even small items shipped from the UK will often have large shipping costs. This is also important if you have to send it back for any reason.

**MichiganKyle** · 29th October 21, 02:21 PM

I can't speak to the others, but I've gotten a lot of mileage out of my USA Kilts casuals. If you have them made to full height to be worn at the waist, they don't fit a whole lot different than the semi-trad I've got. For everyday purposes, I love the Velcro. Their semi-trad is a good option, too, though - more and smaller pleats than on my casuals, much heavier-duty build, and the apron construction is much heavier. The whole thing is just, well, heavier and sturdier all over than any of my casuals.

That said, I've been awfully tempted to try one of the Clan.com ones sometime. Just have yet to actually go for it.

**OC Richard** · 30th October 21, 07:11 AM

I've never owned a "casual kilt" but I did recently purchase a USA Kilts "semi-trad" kilt.

The kilt I got does a good job at looking like a traditional kilt on the outside, while on the inside you can see major differences in construction. I think some of these differences affect how the kilt fits.

The main issue is that the pleats aren't cut out, and the pleats are stitched in a parallel way. This prevents the kilt from contouring itself into the small of your back which (seems to me) is the key to a kilt staying up without needing help from a belt or braces. I'm guessing that all "casual kilts" share this construction.

In any case it's a great-looking kilt!

**KennethSime** · 30th October 21, 04:29 PM

Originally Posted by OC Richard

I've never owned a "casual kilt" but I did recently purchase a USA Kilts "semi-trad" kilt.

To be fair to USA Kilts, I think that they use the term "Semi-Trad" to refer exclusively to their Polyviscose 5-yard kilt. I believe what you purchased could be purchased as either a "tweed kilt" or a "5-yard wool kilt" from USAK. Either way, I think the construction on all three is the same, and your point about the shaping (or lack thereof) is crucial.

**AustinDiver** · 31st October 21, 04:00 PM

I have several USA Casual Kilts. They are pretty good in the price category. They do not have 5 yards. I would say maybe 3 yards.

Correction: My USA Casual kilts use 3 1/2 yards or so.

Clan.com also sells an essential 8 yard kilt. They have buckles, sit at natural waist, have canvas lining, etc. They are pretty much traditional kilts but made from Marton Mills Polyviscose material. They cost around $250 before using the xmarks the Scott discount.

They have a blind hem stitch at the bottom. Would I call them a bespoke kilt, no. They seem to have the interfacings that the 5 yard kilts usually do not have.

The kilts that I have from the UK in this category are all sewn with hidden stitching in the pleats. None(hand or machine sewn) are top stitched.

I decided against a Scottish kilt maker because they offered 3 different machine finishes on an 8 yard wool kilt. I took them off of my list

**kilted2000** · 31st October 21, 04:13 PM

Originally Posted by AustinDiver

I have several USA Casual Kilts. They are pretty good in the price category. They do not have 5 yards.

Clan.com also sells an essential 8 yard kilt. They have buckles, sit at natural waist, have canvas lining, etc. They are pretty much traditional kilts but made from Marton Mills Polyviscose material. They cost around $250 before using the xmarks the Scott discount.

They have a blind hem stitch at the bottom. Would I call them a bespoke kilt, no. They seem to have the interfacings that the 5 yard kilts usually do not have.

The only real issue with the Clan.com essential 8 yard kilt, is that it cost $150 more for the kilt not including the higher shipping from Scotland. All for roughly the same material. 8 yards is definitely better than 5 or fewer yards, but is it worth all the extra expense? It might be better just to save up for a traditional 8 yard wool kilt.

**gsmacleod** · 31st October 21, 05:02 PM

Originally Posted by AustinDiver

I have several USA Casual Kilts. They are pretty good in the price category. They do not have 5 yards. I would say maybe 3 yards.

Having made a box pleated kilt out of just under 4 yards of material with seven pleats for a 36.5" waist, I'm having trouble seeing how a knife pleated kilt could be constructed with only 3 yards of material unless one cut out the underapron or were making it for someone with an incredibly slim waist.

Granted I have no experience with these kilts and would be curious to see if they're actually made with only 3 yards of material.

Shane

**kilted2000** · 31st October 21, 05:42 PM

Originally Posted by AustinDiver

I have several USA Casual Kilts. They are pretty good in the price category. They do not have 5 yards. I would say maybe 3 yards.

Correction: My USA Casual kilts use 3 1/2 yards or so.

Clan.com also sells an essential 8 yard kilt. They have buckles, sit at natural waist, have canvas lining, etc. They are pretty much traditional kilts but made from Marton Mills Polyviscose material. They cost around $250 before using the xmarks the Scott discount.

They have a blind hem stitch at the bottom. Would I call them a bespoke kilt, no. They seem to have the interfacings that the 5 yard kilts usually do not have.

The kilts that I have from the UK in this category are all sewn with hidden stitching in the pleats. None(hand or machine sewn) are top stitched.

I decided against a Scottish kilt maker because they offered 3 different machine finishes on an 8 yard wool kilt. I took them off of my list

Only 3 1/2 yards? The website says 4-6 yards. If you don’t mind me asking, are you very slim? That might explain the low yardage.

**Jock Scot** · 1st November 21, 02:18 AM

Or.............

You could go down the traditional route and use your 20 year old kilt for general everyday occasions or, the more rough and tumble occasions such as gardening, hiking, the pub, etc., and sport yourself to a smart new traditional kilt for best.

**kilted2000** · 1st November 21, 02:31 AM

Originally Posted by Jock Scot

Or.............

You could go down the traditional route and use your 20 year old kilt for general everyday occasions or, the more rough and tumble occasions such as gardening, hiking, the pub, etc., and sport yourself to a smart new traditional kilt for best.

The problem is I seem to have misplaced my old kilt. I’m still looking for it, but I’m not too optimistic.