new to the kilt

**dyfed** · 1st August 05, 10:24 AM

I was wondering if there is a difference between the mens kilt and the ladys kilt.

**Dreadbelly** · 1st August 05, 10:27 AM

On a man, it is a kilt. On a woman, it is a mistake. **Ducks**

Ok, seriously. Some of the so called female kilts have pleats and an apron that opens clockwise, while the male kilt opens and has pleats counter clockwise.

**Barb T** · 1st August 05, 10:33 AM

Hi!

Lot's has been written on this subject here on this forum. Basically, a kilt is a man's garment, and there is no such thing as a "lady's kilt". So, if you see something that looks like a kilt but is worn by a woman, you're seeing one of two things:

-If you see kilts worn by women who play the pipes or drums or compete in Scottish Highland dancing, they are wearing a traditional kilt (a man's garment) that is made exactly the same way that a kilt is made for male members of the band or for a male Highland dancer. Same construction, same opening edge, custom made, hand sewn, 7-8 yards of tartan, etc. Even the young dancers dance in kilts that are made exactly the same way that a male piper's kilt is made, although it's impossible to squeeze 7-8 yards of tartan into such a small kilt. Even so, the little dancers still have at least 5 yards of tartan in their kilts.

-If you see a woman's pleated garment of lightweight tartan that is typically below-the-knee or longer, opens on the left (rather than on the right), isn't pleated either to the stripe or to the sett, and has much less tartan than a traditional kilt, that garment is referred to as a kilt skirt or kilted skirt. It isn't a kilt.

Cheers!

Barb

**cavscout** · 1st August 05, 10:34 AM

I think also traditionaly a mens kilt comes to the top or middle of the knee where as a womens kilted skilt is below the knee. Loosely speaking ;)

You are gonna get some great insight onthis web site! Probably not from me but definitely from the many members who make a living working with this stuff.