A Lady's Kilted Skirt

[Carolina Kiltman]

My Lady and I have been looking at the kilted skirts worn by other ladies. There seems to be something of a lack of uniformity of which apron is on top. Some have the left apron, as does a man's kilt. Others have the right apron, like the lap on a lady's coat. Rocky's web site states that the ladie's kilted shirts (formal) fasten with velcro on the left. That would mean the left apron would be on top. Can anyone clarify this for us?

[Barb T]

A ladies kilted skirt (which is made from light weight tartan, typically has shallow pleats, and doesn't have the interior construction of a trad kilt) typically opens on the left side (opposite from a trad kilt).

Women who wear kilts for Highland dancing, piping, or drumming, however, wear a full traditional kilt, which opens on the right hand side as viewed from the wearer's perspective.

[Macman]

FWIW, all my wife's kilted skirts are the opposite of a man's kilt; they all open on the left.

[Lily]

I only have kilts that opens on the lefthand side, and yes they have very small pleats.
Mostly in buy them in Edinburgh.

[Arlen]

Honestly, it just depends on who makes it.
Traditionally speaking they would have a right over left apron, opposite to mens.
However, not everyone makes them that way.
I recently bought my wife one which opens like a men's kilt but from the shallow pleats and general shape is most definitely a ladies skirt.

[Pleater]

If the item is an obviously delicate item of clothing, of no more than medium weight fabric with small pleats, and particularly if it is worn longer than knee length, then it might be more correct to have it fasten on the left, and call it a pleated skirt.

However - if it is more traditional and very like a man's kilt, then I would think it would look wrong to fasten it on the left.

Personally, despite being on the distaff side, I only wear 6 to 8 yard kilts with deep pleats and usually a fairly heavy belt - so I close them on the right. I sometimes wear them over a kimono style garment and that is always closed left over right, so it would look rather odd to have the kilt the other way.

Another distinction I'd make is that with a kilt, should I need protection from the weather, I would put on a cloak or cape, with a pleated skirt I'd wear a coat. I don't know why I'd make the distinction - but I can't recall ever putting on a coat with a kilt. Perhaps it is again the not mixing of 'sides', as the coat would be the other way to the kilt.

[Prester John]

What Barb said.

My wife has a wonderful kilted skirt in Robertson Red, and it looks fantastic.

[Carolina Kiltman]

Thanks, all. We'll specify the right apron on top, I think. (Haven't checked with the wife yet!) I might add that she is a bit unusual dresser herself, having worn ankle length skirts for the last 40 years or so, just likes them. This kilted skirt will be ankle length. As far as a coat is concerned, I do not think she owns one any more! All capes! (Of course she usually makes all her own clothes. That way they fit!) We are planning to ask Rocky to make this one, as her arthritis is getting the best of her at times now. When we get all this, I'll post pictures, promise!