How low is the waistcoat supposed to fall?

[Fit2BKilted]

I have an off-the-rack waistcoat, that I feel needs to be altered slightly... It's how much that I'm unsure of...

I like to wear my sporran somewhat higher (top edge above the pubic bone), and I presume that the waistcoat should not fall low enough to touch it; but, is the guideline anchored elsewhere, say relative to the waistline of the man or the top edge of the kilt? Do I just have to lower the altitude of my purse relative to the length of my vest?

[SoulFyre777]

Ya know, I'm in the same predicament! I'm interested to see what the rabble come back with.... I'll just wait here..... *grabs a bucket of popcorn and relaxes*

[The Guy in the Kilt at UC]

Your waistcoat should rest on your shoulders on top, and cover your waist on the bottom.

[EagleJCS]

I'm sure I'll be corrected for this...

Since the guideline for sporran wearing when wearing a standard kilt belt is about one hand's-breadth beneath the belt buckle to the top of the sporran, and a waistcoat generally covers the belt buckle (which is why one should not wear the belt with a waistcoat), I'd say the sporran should fall about one hand's-breadth below the bottom of the waistcoat. This should be about 4.5 - 5 inches below the top edge of the kilt.

[NewEnglander]

I'd say the sporran should fall about one hand's-breadth below the bottom of the waistcoat. This should be about 4.5 - 5 inches below the top edge of the kilt.

Sounds good to me...though pictures, of course, would be a good way for the rabble to nit-pick, I mean, assess your wardrobe challenge.

[The Wizard of BC]

Well, first of all let's assume that you are wearing your Kilt at Traditional waist height.

To find your natural waist place your hand with the fingertips just at your spine and about the height of your kidneys. Your thumb should be along your side just under the ribs . Now bend into your hand and you will feel an indentation where your thumb goes in just under your ribs. That is your natural waist and that is where the top straps of your kilt cinch into. It is also the height of the Kilt Belt.

Now strap on your Waistbelt at that level. Then put on your Waistcoat. The front notches of the Waistcoat should come to just the bottom of the Belt buckle.
(If you don't have a traditional Waistbelt and Waistplate use any belt and measure down about 1.5" below the center of the belt.)

Now to the position of the sporran. Remember, the sporran is not a crotch protector. It should rest lightly on the stomach. If it is worn too low the strap will catch under your belly and cause a pucker in the aprons. When worn properly the top of the sporran should be about at the level of the naval. This allows the sporran to hang free from the belly and not ride under it.

[Fit2BKilted]

Well, first of all let's assume that you are wearing your Kilt at Traditional waist height.

To find your natural waist place your hand with the fingertips just at your spine and about the height of your kidneys. Your thumb should be along your side just under the ribs . Now bend into your hand and you will feel an indentation where your thumb goes in just under your ribs. That is your natural waist and that is where the top straps of your kilt cinch into. It is also the height of the Kilt Belt.

Now strap on your Waistbelt at that level. Then put on your Waistcoat. The front notches of the Waistcoat should come to just the bottom of the Belt buckle.
(If you don't have a traditional Waistbelt and Waistplate use any belt and measure down about 1.5" below the center of the belt.)

Now to the position of the sporran. Remember, the sporran is not a crotch protector. It should rest lightly on the stomach. If it is worn too low the strap will catch under your belly and cause a pucker in the aprons. When worn properly the top of the sporran should be about at the level of the naval. This allows the sporran to hang free from the belly and not ride under it.

Well, you've assumed correctly for the most part, I imagine... When my Heavyweight SWK falls to my mid-knee, the top is nearly 3" above my navel---about 1" or so above my natural waist (I have a long torso). Now... Do you mean the 'points' of the waistcoat's front notch should be at the bottom edge of my standard belt [if I chose to wear it in the conventional manner]? I *do* tend to wear my sporran rather high (by modern standards?) with the strap resting just below my navel---any lower and, given the usual mass of its contents, I'd be liable to injure myself were I to move at anything more than a stately pace [quite the opposite of a 'crotch protector']. Perhaps I'll have time to take some photos, shortly, to better illustrate the issue; but, I don't have any available just now.

[Fit2BKilted]

Ya know, I'm in the same predicament! I'm interested to see what the rabble come back with.... I'll just wait here..... *grabs a bucket of popcorn and relaxes*

I never really thought of myself as a 'spectacle'... I stand corrected. :-/

[SoulFyre777]

I never really thought of myself as a 'spectacle'... I stand corrected. :-/

Forgive me, sir! My meaning was that I had the same question and hoped I might haunt this thread for a while and gather wisdom from the rabble. Nothing slanderous meant, I assure you!

[OC Richard]

It's extremely popular for pipe bands to wear waistcoats nowadays (gives a bit of a dressy look but cooler and cheaper than jackets) and I very often see the waistcoats worn too long or too short.

To my eye anyhow, it's not rocket science: if the waistcoat is covering up the sporran it's too long, if you can see a gap between the top of the kilt and the bottom of the waistcoat it's too short.

Our band gets our waistcoats from Higgins and what's nice is they come in several lengths so everyone can get one that's right for them.

Here's a band wearing waistcoats nicely: you can see the sporran and chain.



Now here's something I hate hate HATE and that's somebody wearing a belt under their waistcoat and the belt showing. Lose the belt!!! If you need support use braces. He could wear the sporran a tad higher and get a waistcoat that's a tad longer.



Here's a waistcoat that's too short combined with a kilt worn too low:



(Note the current fad for black socks in the pipe band world.)