Pleating advice

[The F-H.C.A.G.]

My humble opinion:

It would seem better to pleat to a stripe. The second set of pleats in the picture (with no stripe) looks unusual to me because it's neither pleated to sett nor stripe. If you like the dark look with a burst of red when walking, then you can perhaps at least pleat to the white/yellow stripe near the edge of the pleat (with the red hidden right at the edge).

I personally agree with this option. Then you put the red stripe (flanked by the white/yellow stripe) in the center of the front apron.

I pleated my first kilt (for my son) to "no stripe", and I think it looks just fine. Therefore, as second choice I would choose your second choice, just because it's unusual.

I like unusual.

Be well,