Big guys in kilts.

**Gaisgeil** · 3rd February 07, 12:28 AM

I'm a bit of a large man myself at 6'0" 275 lbs. (though I'm trying to get that second number down). I've got a fair share of fat but alot of it is muscle mass, that's just how the men in my family are built; broad and solid. I've got to agree that I look much better in a kilt, the only thing I can think is all the vertical lines on a tartan combined with the vertical pleats may have something to do with it, plus since you typically wear a kilt higher it makes your waist appear higher and hence your legs appear longer.

One big thing for me (without getting too graphic) is in a kilt I am not so... constricted down below. In pants I literally have to do some very strategic personal arranging in order to get myself into pants every day.

Unfortunately, I live in an area where if I wore a kilt everyday, the comments and problems associated would be an every day problem. I once did a parade in downtown Detroit and was standing around beforehand when I was surrounded by a group of young urban gents (I use that term loosely) who were quite offensive and threatening to say the least, kind of put me off the idea of wearing one every day. I admire those of you who can and do.

One problem I often have in a kilt is because I'm wearing the kilt at my navel (I personally think kilts worn below the navel don't look quite right, no offense intended, just one bloke's opinion) my sporran often sort of gets hung up under my belly and causing some serious bunching between my belt and my sporran. The only thing I can do is keep my sporran chain so tight to keep it higher but that constricts the hanging effect at the top of the kilt. I wish I had a better option or could find some way to make this stop happening at least until I can get rid of this blasted beer gut I've developed.

**cacunn** · 3rd February 07, 03:38 AM

Gaisgeil have you tried the sporran straps as offered by USAK? You can see then at:

http://www.usakilts.com/sporrans.php

**ckelly327** · 3rd February 07, 05:24 AM

Unfortunately at 5'11" I still weigh 250 even though I was up to 300 at one point. Most of the excess is in my (beer)belly. I can't find a pair of pants to fit me properly. With a 42" waste I still have no butt. Pants makers seem to think that if you have a large waist that you are large everywhere so I have this mass of extra material in the back that my wife calls droopybutt. Kilts obviously don't have that problem. My main problem is that with my belly the size it is it is hard to keep the kilt riding around my naval. It tends to want to fall to my hips even with a good belt. Pulling up the kilt is still better than having my backside slipping off.

**Jerry** · 3rd February 07, 05:53 AM

I'm not as big as a lot of guys, 5'9"+ and just under 230 pounds, but most of the 230 is in my gut. Like a lot of you, I have no butt, my hip measurement is just about the same as my waist. Since I've been wearing kilts I've gotten more compliments than ever before. Most of the compliments have been from younger women that never even looked at me before I started wearing kilts.

**Warlock** · 3rd February 07, 05:55 AM

I'm 5'8" and 240. I'm shaped like a barrel. Short and fat. Oh, and UGLY! However, because of the KILT, I still get hit on! It amazes me!

**David in Maryland** · 3rd February 07, 06:24 AM

I am 6'4", 340lbs. When I ordered by traditional wool kilt from a Scottish kilt maker, I weighed alot less, and had a much smaller waist. At the time, my waist was a 47" with 51" hips. I am now 54" waist with 56" hips. Somehow, I can still get that kilt on. I am at the first hole in the buckle and straps, but I can still get it on and the kilt still look right. I have an interesting body shape. My stomach sticks out in the front, and my butt sticks out in the back, which puts the hips and waist measurements close.

**RockyR** · 3rd February 07, 07:16 AM

Originally Posted by Gaisgeil

One problem I often have in a kilt is because I'm wearing the kilt at my navel (I personally think kilts worn below the navel don't look quite right, no offense intended, just one bloke's opinion) my sporran often sort of gets hung up under my belly and causing some serious bunching between my belt and my sporran. The only thing I can do is keep my sporran chain so tight to keep it higher but that constricts the hanging effect at the top of the kilt. I wish I had a better option or could find some way to make this stop happening at least until I can get rid of this blasted beer gut I've developed.

Thanks cacunn, I was just going to point those out.

whether you get them from us or someone else, these are PERFECT for solving that problem.

The only NEW problem you'll have is if you keep a lot of heavy stuff in your sporran, your belt wants to slip down a bit, so you have to have it on tight.

I'm not trying to make a sale (or sound like a salesman), just trying to help big guys with the "front apron bunching" problem. Our AVERAGE customer is about a 44" waist (about 250 at 6') and we see this problem ALL the time.

**cloves** · 3rd February 07, 07:36 AM

A knee length garment looks good on my extra-large female form as well. A mini wouldn't look so great on my big thighs

But if the kilt (or kilted skirt) hangs around at my knee level it seems to pull the eye downward or something. It must be some sort "proportional" thing where you look longer compared to your width.

Thanks E.Monkey for starting the thread!

**Erisianmonkey** · 3rd February 07, 09:10 AM

Steve, having made my own kilt I know this one thing that might help you and other kiltmakers when fitting us big guys. If you're fitting a kilt at the traditional spot to wear one, expect to add about an inch to the length of the kilt from what the basic measurement reads. The belly and butt tend to act as a shelf that pull the selvedge up by about that much. It isn't a hard and fast rule, but it's what I had to do to get my kilt the right length. Of course, I'm sure you already know this, but it never hurts to say it.

Edit to add: I don't have that much of a bunching problem with the sporran. Then again, since I'm about 5 1/2 feet tall and 330 lbs, I've got belly droop that gives my sporran someplace to sit.

**cacunn** · 3rd February 07, 09:37 AM

Originally Posted by RockyR

Thanks cacunn, I was just going to point those out.

I'm not trying to make a sale (or sound like a salesman), just trying to help big guys with the "front apron bunching" problem. Our AVERAGE customer is about a 44" waist (about 250 at 6') and we see this problem ALL the time.

Rocky
This is one of the things that has impressed me the most about this forum. There are a lot of vendors of various kilt related product here, they ALL are willing to help the new guy (gal) and the old (read as more experienced) if they have a question. If they have something that helps they mention it, if they know of someone else that has it they mention it. The desire is to help. They realize that the more often kilts are seen the larger the market and they are a great group.

Chris