Vertically, I'm a pretty small guy. Horizontally, that used to not be the case.

I'm also a retired physician, and yesterday I read a very amusing post that talked about physicians attending annual meetings where they'd renew acquaintances, often at fancy dinners. It's been noted that a fairly common phenomenon these days is that docs are showing up for such affairs looking SMALLER than they used to, and not only that, but that when they gather at their fancy dinners, those same shrinking people obviously have shrinking APPETITES, with plates left laden with uneaten delicacies.

Being retired, I no longer attend those meetings, but I'm certainly aware of the phenomenon, having lost > 20 pounds and 5 inches of circumference during the last six months. Some kilts are now supported by suspenders; others (including my latest acquisition) will get their straps and buckles moved. But, I've ALWAYS been short, and many kilted Scotsman are much bigger than I vertically. One question that comes from all of this is "why should a little guy need 8 yds of fabric for a small body?" Said differently, are there differences in the basic CONSTRUCTION of what's called an "8 yard" vs. "5 yard" kilt?