Attention all GOS (Gentlemen of Substance)....

[MizzouScotsman]

As a GOS I have a question for others of you who are of substance. Do you use kilt extenders? I have a kilt that is a wee bit smaller around than I am at this time. So, I ordered kilt extenders. I put them on, then put on my kilt. My quandry is this - While they allow me to wear the kilt, they look a bit...off to me. When I observed myself in the mirror on the right side, there's so much..well...strap.

So I guess my question or concern is, do you other GOS wear kilt extenders? If you do, do you have the same problem that I am having? I'm thinking of putting this kilt away for a bit while I am trying to reduce my substance but I really do love my kilt. I think I made a mistake in buying it to begin with as the size was slightly smaller than my actual measurements but the site informed me that the sizes listed were on the smaller side, so that with the belts they would actually be larger. Maybe I read it wrong, who knows?

Besides, this is my first kilt that actually has the belts. I know that the casual kilts that I do wear are not considered, by some, to be real kilts as they don't have the three belts but instead use velcro. I am not a kilt snob and I love my causal kilts and will continue to buy them and wear them. But I do wish to have kilts that are more traditional and this is the only way I can see doing it.

Any opinions, answers, anything?

[Tartan Tess]

Check out a thread for moving buckles and underapron strap. I bet you can do it yourself!

[Friday]

[QUOTE=MizzouScotsman;1170394I know that the casual kilts that I do wear are not considered, by some, to be real kilts as they don't have the three belts but instead use velcro.
Any opinions, answers, anything?[/QUOTE]

If my memory serves me correctly Matt Newsome once posted that he had a kilt (woo) that did not have any straps/belts. He used a belt to keep it in place. Generally, the belt is not used to hold the kilt up or at least should not be necessary to hold the kilt up. However, I dare anyone to tell Matt that he is not wearing a kilt because it doesn't have straps.

[Friday]

moving straps threads

http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/f304/moving-buckles-make-kilt-smaller-larger-78931/

http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/f...buckles-77793/

[The Wizard of BC]

While not a Gentleman of Substance myself, I do make kilts for them. A well fitting kilt is a very slimming garment when worn at the natural waist.
Fitting a GOS is good exercise for my Engineer's mind and the looks of wonder from the men and the looks of admiration from the ladies is worth the effort.

Here is my advice to all GOS.
(BTW I am the person who coined the phrase 'Gentlemen of Substance' when I made Big Mikey's first kilt. 54" waist if I remember correctly.)

You can use strap extenders for the short term.

The issue is not the straps though. The issue is the aprons. The outer apron should over lap the under apron almost exactly or a little more.

What happens when you hang a kilt in the closet, and don't wear it, is that the kilt will become petulant and shrink. When this happens and you put the kilt on the outer apron no longer overlaps the under apron.

If there is about 1"-2" of under apron showing it is usually not too noticeable. The under apron looks like another pleat. Any more than and inch or two however and the under apron peeking out starts to be very noticeable.

Any more than 2" and the whole kilt is thrown off. The back is no longer centered when you center the front apron on your body. If your kilt has sporran loops they are very noticeably off center. If your kilt is pleated to the Sett the entire Tartan Pattern is now off center in the back.

Wearing a kilt 2" or more too small also affects how the aprons hang and move. You will probably notice that you have less effective coverage when moving and sitting.

I always advise customers who are experiencing a weight change to buy a kilt 2" too big. Moving the straps and buckles making the kilt smaller is very easy and does not compromise the internal integrity of the stabilizer and interfacing.

If you gain weight moving the straps and buckles back is just as easy.

By buying the kilt a bit big in the first place you do not have the problem of the aprons. The outer apron can overlap as much as you need without looking weird in the front. The back may still be off center slightly but at least the kilt will move and swish well.

[Grizzly]

Excellent advice Steve. Thank you for the insight.

[KiltFitz]

Thanks Steve. I have to echo that. I just gave away what was my favourite kilt for many years. I now wear approx 54" but my old kilt was 46 and I managed to get away with it until I went over 48". Apart from the gap at the side where the front apron doesn't quite reach the other issue is that if your waist gets bigger, it's likely that the breach will increase dramatically too, meaning that picking up dropped items in the street is somewhat perilous. Best to trade up in my opinion.

On the up side, my best mate just got himself a lovely Angus Ancient for his first kilt. Although he is more like a 42", I will have the buckles moved and it will fit him a lot better than it did me in the last 5 years. And I get to add him to my list of kilted friends too. In my opinion, this was better than selling it for less than what I think it is worth. Win/Win.