How snug to snug?

[millar]

Thanks for your helpful advice. I'm likely going to exchange it if I can - but now that I've seen how nice these Stillwaters are, its tough putting it back in the box!

Phil in Idaho

Phil
The nice thing about Stillwater is that Jerry really moves quickly so if you return for another the jones shouldn't be too long.

[pdcorlis]

I'm amazed by the quality of the kilt - and by Jerry's customer service. We've already exchanged a couple of emails - I wish every store I did business was like Stillwater. He's a class act.

Phil - jonesing in Idaho

[Barb T]

Hi guys

A trad kilt is meant to be buckled tightly, so "snug" is how it should fit. If you don't buckle it tightly, it sags, particularly in the back. Having said that, it's the _waist_ buckles that should be tight. The hip buckle should be loose, especially if you have a bit of a corporation. Whether a kilt lies flat from waist to knees depends largely on your shape., but you don't want the kilt front to pull in under your tum because you've cinched the hip buckle up too much. In fact, traditionally-speaking, many men's kilts don't have hip buckles, probably for that very reason.

When I wander around our bands hauling on peoples' kilt straps to get them to buckle their kilts tighter, I tell them that their kilts should be tight enough that they really have to suck in their tummies if they want to twist the kilt around on their bodies. A properly-buckled kilt keeps the center stripe centered, because it's tight enough not to wander around on the body!

Happy holidays,

Barb

[GlassMan]

I actually prefer my kilts to only have 2 buckles. The hip buckle always seems to cause more trouble than good.

When I had a kilt made at Hector Russell I told them that I only wanted the top 2 and that's what I got.

[Macman]

Welcome to the board, Phil. You live in a beautiful place!

[pdcorlis]

MacMan - thanks for the kind words - this is a nice "neck of the woods."

Barb - thank you for your detailed advice - its very helpful. I do want the kilt to fit right, being a first timer makes this pretty much a guessing game. Just so I'm clear, when I set the straps at their tightest on the kilt I ordered I can't take anything like a full deep breath - At its loosest, its much better, but now the lower hip strap can't be set any looser to avoid a tum buldge. By the way, I'm 5' 10" and 184 - maybe that will help you visualize me better.

I am so glad I found this happy little group - I can't imagine trying to figure this out on my own - so thanks again one and all. Please keep posting -I really can use all the help I can get.

Phil in Idaho

[Riverkilt]

Hey Phil,

Tell you what, the only way I've ever solved the problem of long distance kilt sizing has been to buy a kilt from a kiltmaker based on their measuring instructions, then adjust from there. Its sort of like artillary bracketing.

Even then, things vary. So as your addiction grows and you accumulate kilts you'll probably wind up with a size range within your kilt collection that also allows for weight fluctuation.

Its mental anguish sometimes...when I'm thin I get to wear some kilts I haven't worn lately...but then others are too large....the straps are a nice feature for changes in size...don't know that I'm brave enough to try moving any yet.

Ron
Another hot springs addict...

[mudd]

Just do what I did. When the 36" came it was a little tight. I kept it and got a 38" as well. The other day the 38" was too loose on the tightest hole, so I wore the 36".
Then you should get a 34" and a 40", just in case. :mrgreen:

[pdcorlis]

Come to think of it, there is that spare closet downstairs now that the kids have left the nest...

Phil in Idaho

[Barb T]

You definitely want to be able to take a deep breath!! But I hear what you mean about setting the waist looser and not having the hip fit quite properly. You could move the hip buckle quite easily. But the the question is, does the underapron show if you were to move the hip buckle? If so, the kilt's too small. You'd be better off with one size larger and moving the waist buckle so that you could buckle it tighter.

A custom-made kilt can help if you aren't quite the right shape for one ready-made. But, they sure cost a lot more!!

Barb