Kilt Dress (women)

[Chaplain Harris]

I have a dilemma on my hand and I was wondering if this was the place to ask. I wanted to surprise my wife with a kilt dress. She is rather modest, but also has a figure to be proud of. She wouldn't ever wear a mini, but I think she would rather go with a longer skirt. I wasn't sure about getting the measurements, would I need just a dress size and measure her dress (one that she currently wears that I could have adjusted.) Her birthday is in may and I would like to get it for her, that means I need to start ordering.

Is there are tricky way to get this information; maybe some of the lasses from our board can help?

Chaplain Harris

[morrison]

Hi kilter bro Ch. Harris; welcome to XMTS

....surprise my wife with a kilt dress. She is rather modest, but also has a figure to be proud of. She wouldn't ever wear a mini, but I think she would rather go with a longer skirt. ... ... Her birthday is in may and I would like to get it for her, that means I need to start ordering. ....Chaplain Harris

My initial feeling in this Q is, Give her a gift she would truly appreciate and wear at least as frequently as any other clothing gift. Also, in the styling, if it's about or, at the same length as all of her other dresses and/or skirts, you'll likely ring true in a more prized garment than one that sets itself a bit too far apart from her other everyday clothing. Go on and ask her for the opportunity to measure her for a nicely fitted dress. Remember bro, not only is she your wife, she's female. A surprise may not go as well as you hope. Start now and fill her heart with a splendid idea of a nice tartan dress to wear when she feels good or bad or cheery or sad!

[Chaplain Harris]

Good advice. Married for 17 years this June. Still make mistakes, still have lots magic left.

[Sir Robert]

May I suggest that you just measure her clothes from her closet.

Do not spoil the supprise.

[M. A. C. Newsome]

Spoil the surprise and get her in on this. Please. You wouldn't believe how often I have wives who want to buy a kilt as a surprise for their husband. They end up guessing on the tartan he wants, guessing on how he wants it pleated, and worst of all, guessing on the measurements! Yikes!

I always try and convince them to forget about the surprise and get their hubbie in on the details. Why spend all that money on something that may not be in just the tartan he wants ("Thanks, dear, but I really wanted the ancient colors."), and worse of all, may not even fit right.

The type of skirt you want for your wife is usually called a "hostess skirt." Expect to pay around $300. You need the same three measurements as you would for a man's kilt -- waist, hips, and length. If you feel comfortable in taking these measurements from clothing she already has in her wardrobe, so be it, but I strongly urge you to get the measurements from her body directly. And ask her what tartan she wants!

I think she will still be thrilled with the gift, and best of all you will be guaranteed she is getting a properly fitting garment.

Aye,
Matt

[Graham]

Hi Chaplain, there is nothing finer to behold than our wives in a beautiful tartan pleated skirt.
I recently bought one for my wife, it wasn't a surprise, I involved her in the choice of tartan (Cornish Hunting) and she was no less pleased with the outcome.

I wish you well with this venture.

[Blu (Ontario)]

I also did this for my wife last year. And I made her aware of the plan right from the beginning. Although initially hesitant about the idea, she was thrilled with the finished garment. I'm sure she enjoyed the process of having a custom garment made and the fact that everything fit perfectly. If I had kept it a secret and the fit was wrong, the surprise would have been tarnished a bit.

[turpin]

Yes, share the jones together.

[Rusty]

Chaplain , Matt gave the best advice and I don't believe that anyone here could do better. Also Grahams comments are so true... I bought my wife a kilted skirt in Black Watch tartan here's a photo of her and I at the St Andrews banquest last year.

[Dirka Skene]

YOU HAVE TO ASK HER WHAT SIZE SHE WEARS!!!!! Least you make a grave and unforgivable mistake of getting her something too small, or worse, too big! You'd be in for a major :buttkick: if you buy her something nice that she can't wear. Don't measure ANYTHING in her closet. Women's clothes sizes run differently. If she wears a four in one brand, it'll be a six in another. You have to measure her, you have no choice. The worst mistake you can do is buy a woman something that doesn't fit her. It's best not to buy a woman clothes at all unless she's in on it and can try it on.