As cold weather grips the region again, I am needing a heavyweight wool kilt. Several times in the past, I had the inclination to buy a Stillwater heavyweight, but when I see the picture on the web site, I am turned off by how high the waistband is. It wouldn't be quite so bad if I a bit younger and thinner. In my case, wearing a kilt that high with a sporran just doesn't work. The kilt appears as though it is wrapped around a beach ball. What I really need to know is if a Stillwater kilt can be worn lower without cramping the hips. I can't tell from the pictures if the tapering of the pleats is long and narrow, making it tight on the hips so it wants to ride high. Can the waistband bee loosened to let it ride lower, without the stitched down parts of the pleats being too low for comfort? If this can be done, what size of kilt would I order; my waist size, the size a few inches down from my belly button - where the kilt will be worn (which is a couple inches less than my waist size) or maybe a couple inches larger than my waist size?
If you have the excess material at the top of the pleats (inside) trimmed away as it always is in a handmade kilt the kilt will settle nicely farther down. I had that done to mine, and had the pleat stitching relieved about an inch and a half. I found the result very satisfactory. I also order my Stillwaters an inch or so smaller than my actual waist size which allows for a snug, but not too tight, fit.
I wear mine low, around the same place as my UK's (a bit higher) and it's fine.
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