Flattering kilts for ladies?

[CMcG]

I do quite fancy a longish, midcalf maybe, straight walking skirt with a back pleat or split, that might look rather nice in tartan and might be quite adaptable to different occasions. I do like something that looks just as good with hiking boots as it does with dress shoes

Depending on what type of walking/hiking you are doing, mid-calf might be too long. The reasons are that A) it could impede your movement and B) that the tartan could chafe your calf. I would suggest instead that the bottom of the kilt fall just above your knee for a good combination of modesty and freedom of movement.

For a full figure, there are several considerations to avoid lumpiness. The top of the kilt would be more flattering at your natural waist rather than at the lower, pants waist because it will smoothly cover the whole area. Pleats will be more forgiving that a straight back with a slit because they allow more movement. The weight of the material will drape better around your hips if it is light (10oz) or medium (13oz) rather than heavy (16oz +).

As I read that, it sounds a lot like a man's kilt made to fit a woman's figure, with lighter weight tartan, and the apron opening on the left side. Wow, am I ever biased!

[Danaidh]

At the risk of being banned from the forum, the shorter the better for women in kilts (woo-hoo!). Okay, I'll admit, any woman in any length of kilt looks good and I encourage it, even if it is a male-oriented garment. The long lengths (down to the ankle) look elegant and proper. Mid-thigh's are nice (please see my gallery of misc. pics). My wife is six years older than me, but won't wear hers out of the house {sigh...}. I like all the responses you've received and encourage you to once again don da kilt and join us in full force!

[BonnetMaker]

Lots of great ideas to consider there, thanks everyone, will let you know how I progress once I've decided what to make.

[sydnie7]

[snip]
I do love the idea of a tailored tartan skirt with walking pleats. There's some very nice patterns that are particularly suited to tartans:

http://mccallpattern.mccall.com/m552...hp?page_id=113
and
http://voguepatterns.mccall.com/v860...hp?page_id=263

If, like me, you like the looks of that first one -- be advised that Joanne's has McCall's patterns on sale for 99 cents starting today (not sure how long it lasts). Just picked one up for future use.

Thanks, Dixiecat!

[piperdbh]

-- be advised that Joanne's has McCall's patterns on sale for 99 cents starting today (not sure how long it lasts).

... Hancock's will have them for 99 cents starting the 20th of April. However, the OP is in Wales, so that might be a bit of an obstacle for her. The rest of us can get the patterns during these sales.

[Paul Henry]

I recieved in my post this morning a collection of retailers promotional materials from the early 1960's , one of the pages might be of interest

If you are interested I can do a proper scanned copy if you like

[Dale-of-Cedars]

I recieved in my post this morning a collection of retailers promotional materials from the early 1960's , one of the pages might be of interest

If you are interested I can do a proper scanned copy if you like

If you could, I would appreciate it. And possibly the vendor/publication info page, if there is one?
Thanks!

[BonnetMaker]

Those look just the sort of thing I had in mind for a long skirt, especially the bottom left and top fight, that slim shape with the deep pleats from the knee down looks very practical and adaptable

[Paul Henry]

better quality pics


and the title page as well

[unaspenser]

I particularly like tartan skirts cut on the bias. I have one that's calf length and similar in shape to number 6 in Paul's post above. I also have one traditional ladies' kilted skirt that is below the knee/high-calf length that I like (there's pics on my profile). I think the important thing about kilted/pleated skirts is that the must take the curve of the hips into account. Women wearing mens' kilts look a bit funny in my opinion. The pleats tend to splay out and look awkward.