How low is the waistcoat supposed to fall?

[Riverkilt]

For odd sized guys (like us beer belly types) you can have your waistcoat made-to-measure. Lochcarron and House of Edgar come to mind, and I'm sure there are many more vendors who will make a waistcoat to measure.

[Zardoz]

I think what we need to take away from this is that the kilt and sporran should not be worn any differently because a waistcoat is added. How they are gonna fit out of the box is going to depend on your proportions, personally I fall sort of in-between "short" and "regular" with jacket lengths (depending on the maker) but I've found even the 'short' waistcoats to a bit long. If the bottom (tips, notches ?) of the w/coat is/are too low compared to your sporran in it's normal position, I feel the w/coat should be altered. I generally get away with just shortening the 'tips' at the bottom, making the w/coat more horizontal across the front.

[kiltedsawyer]

Having purchased an "off the rack argyll and waistcoat" this past year I have been wondering about this very question. Can a tailor shorten a waistcoat while maintaining the look? Thanks,
David

[piperdbh]

Can a tailor shorten a waistcoat while maintaining the look? Thanks,
David

Yes, a competent tailor should be able to do this. I'd suggest wearing your kilt when you take the waistcoat to the tailor's, so he/she can see exactly how long you want the finished waistcoat to be.

[ThistleDown]

Pictures and thousands of words, but these two were taken roughly a hundred years apart and show exceptionally well the "correct" length for the kilt, the "correct" position for the day sporran, and the "correct" manner in which to wear a waistcoat, albeit in different styles.

[OC Richard]

I see Prince Charles wearing a straight-bottomed waistcoat there, which is nice with the kilt because you don't have those points sticking down to potentially hide the sporran.

I have a herringbone tweed waistcoat from a Western Wear place, the late 19th century style that buttons high, has full lapels like a jacket, four pockets, and straight bottom, and it's great with kilt and sporran.

[SoulFyre777]

*gasp!* Prince Charles has buttoned his bottom button!! Quick! What's 911 for the Kilt Police???

[Fit2BKilted]

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!

I apologize for having given the impression of offense having been taken---it's a hazzard of text vs. voice communication---my response was intended as a wry jest.

[Fit2BKilted]

Pictures and thousands of words, but these two were taken roughly a hundred years apart and show exceptionally well the "correct" length for the kilt, the "correct" position for the day sporran, and the "correct" manner in which to wear a waistcoat, albeit in different styles.

I think I should get a made-to-measure kilt before I commit to altering my new waistcoat... The girth is perfect AFAIK (if quite close at 44"), but I expect that the most logical means of changing the altitude of it's lower extremity would be to open the top-shoulder seams to shorten the back from the top. I've been wearing my kilt almost exclusively throughout the holidays, and I got a swath of new kit under-the-tree this year; so, I intend a kilt of finer pedigree will be my next objective.

[SoulFyre777]

...it's a hazard of text vs. voice communication...

Indeed! Never can tell sometimes... haha Would rather err on the side of caution if ever I think something I've said could have been misinterpreted...

*looks around in the awkward silence*

Well then.... *sits and resumes eating his half bucket of popcorn*