A little help for a little man...

**troxel87** · 17th September 10, 02:05 PM

As I said in the peeves thread, I am 5'5", 130lbs on a good day, and I have a hard time keeping my kilt up unless I tighten a belt so tight it scallops or is uncomfortable. Canuck of NI suggested I wear suspenders (aka "braces" in places other than the US). Now, not that this is a bad thing for some people, but I have worn suspenders/braces before, and they look absolutely garish on me. I mean, horrible. I wear my kilt casually (only casually right now, I don't have the means to get a full "tuxedo" ensemble).

Any other suggestion? I still wear it, albeit not so properly...

**ShaunMaxwell** · 17th September 10, 02:08 PM

Have you considered having the straps moved a bit? That might solve your problem.

**Pleater** · 17th September 10, 02:22 PM

A waistcoat would hide braces, or conceal buttons to join the kilt to using some loops of cord or tape.

I wonder if your kilt is made without a rise, so that the narrowest part is the very top of it rather than a couple of inches below that. It could be why your kilt goes South.

Anne the Pleater :ootd:

**Tobus** · 17th September 10, 02:49 PM

When you say that you cinch it up so tight it scallops, I assume you mean that's with the belt? What about the hip buckles? Are they already as tight as they'll go? If so, you need a kilt that fits you properly.

Even if you're a slim guy, you should still be able to adjust your kilt so that it is a little tighter at the waist and can't slip down.

But yeah, a waistcoat or jacket or even a sweater can hide braces if that's your only option.

**troxel87** · 17th September 10, 03:03 PM

Well, I'll be honest: the first kilt I got (and still wear) is a velcro fastener. Looks alright when I belt it right, but after a minute, it scallops under the belt. I'm afraid of moving the velcro (I'm none too good with the sewing needle), as I might ruin everything... maybe I can take it to a seamstress and have them put buckles on it a little further over.

**The Wizard of BC** · 17th September 10, 03:04 PM

A good test to see if your body shape will accept a kilt is to do the towel thing.

Just after you get out of a shower wrap a towel around yourself right under your ribs. If it stays in place you can wear a kilt.

The only thing you need then is a properly fitting Kilt.

**xman** · 17th September 10, 03:26 PM

I used to be that small and I found then that the sometimes dreaded third buckle at the hip of a wool kilt was just the ticket to keep the kilt snug, but not constricting. Perhaps a little extra Velcro lower down on the right side or something of that nature would solve your problem.

**troxel87** · 17th September 10, 03:31 PM

I have NO problem with putting a third buckle down. I'm actually going to see if my wife can help me putting buckles on in lieu of the velcro... I feel so tacky with velcro now that I've gotten involved in this forum! But I'm upgrading VERY soon, I've got two new kilts a-comin'!

**Barb T** · 20th September 10, 03:03 PM

Originally Posted by The Wizard of BC

A good test to see if your body shape will accept a kilt is to do the towel thing. Just after you get out of a shower wrap a towel around yourself right under your ribs. If it stays in place you can wear a kilt. The only thing you need then is a properly fitting Kilt.

Oooh - I just *hate* it when I disagree with the Wiz. But, actually, a kilt can be made to fit any body shape. I'm a piper, and I have to wear a kilt with the band. I definitely do not meet the towel rule - I have a 26" waist and 42" hips. I can't pass the "towel" test (yeh, it fits my hips, but it's miles too big around my rib cage), but I certainly made myself a kilt that fits just fine.

The person on the left also would not meet the towel test, but her kilt fits great:

What's critical is getting the right measurements and finding a kiltmaker who's willing to work with those measurements if they aren't sort of standard.

**Standard** · 20th September 10, 07:56 PM

Originally Posted by Barb T.

but I certainly made myself a kilt that fits just fine.

The person on the left also would not meet the towel test, but her kilt fits great:

What's critical is getting the right measurements and finding a kiltmaker who's willing to work with those measurements if they aren't sort of standard.

Meaning absolutely no disrespect, but seeing both your kilt, and your daughter's kilt next to a man's kilt, the taper really took some talent to get just right. Well done!