Irelands National Tartan?

[unixken]

I would disagree with the pants waist comment. I own a few of Rocky's casual kilts and I wear them at the true waist not the hips. Certainly if one chooses to wear them at the pants waist that is their prerogative. I just don't believe it is "meant" to be worn lower.

Well, I did qualify my statement by first saying that I dont personally own one of Rocky's kilts. But I will also call attention to this statement on the USA Kilts web site (in the measuring instructions for the casual kilt):

"USA Kilts Casuals can either be worn at the "Jeans Waist" or at the "True Waist" (just above your naval) like a traditional kilt. PICK ONE OF THOSE 2 SPOTS and measure yourself at that height. This is where the top of the kilt will sit. See above pictures for reference."

Now if we apply this to my point... Should you choose to measure at the pants waist, and should your kilt then be built for wear at the pants waist... then it will not work well if deliberately hiked up to wear with dressier dress. If you have it made "for the pants waist", that's where it'll be designed to be worn, and that's where it will fit best. But don't be stunned or disappointed when your kilt-cut jackets leave a huge gap of exposed shirt between your jacket and the top of your kilt, if you then try to dress it up. In all cases, wear the kilt where it was designed to be worn. But know that a kilt designed to be worn low will not work well with conventional levels of elevated dress. That was my point.

[Riverkilt]

Well, for sure you can't go wrong with USA Kilts. I heard so much hype about how good they were I waited over a year to order my first one - fearing some scam. Today, I've owned 14 Casuals, 13 Semi-Trads, and 2 5yard wool USA Kilts. Sold me eh?

I chose to get my Ireland's National in semi-trad.





Worth the wait.

[McElmurry]

I would disagree with the pants waist comment. I own a few of Rocky's casual kilts and I wear them at the true waist not the hips. Certainly if one chooses to wear them at the pants waist that is their prerogative. I just don't believe it is "meant" to be worn lower.

If a kilties waist and rump measurements are similar I agree. However, in my case with a waist of 36 and rump of 44 the construction of the casual kilt limits the wearing to below the true waist. This is because the casual kilt tapers continuously to the very top of the kilt. It does not have a cylindrical waist band. On my tank the taper ends two inches below the top of the kilt and the waistband actually flairs out a bit to buckle at the true waist.

If I use a belt I can cinch the casual kilt at the true waist but the pleats pucker at the bottom of the belt because the circumference of the kilt is two inches greater at the bottom of the belt than the top.

So if a kiltie has a significant hourglass shape and wants to wear a kilt buckled at the true waist the semi-trad would be a better choice.

[McElmurry]

"USA Kilts Casuals can either be worn at the "Jeans Waist" or at the "True Waist" (just above your naval) like a traditional kilt. PICK ONE OF THOSE 2 SPOTS and measure yourself at that height. This is where the top of the kilt will sit. See above pictures for reference."

This statement reinforces my point that the casual kilt has no waistband or what a kiltmaker calls rise.

There is confusion about what folks mean when they say they wear their kilt at the true waist. What I mean is the buckle and strap are at the narrowest part of my torso and the top of the kilt is two inches above my true waist.

[TheOfficialBren]

Some great points raised.

Since these are entry-level kilts there is a certain uniformity to the taper (as very well-stated by McElmurry).

I have found that the term 'casual' when applied to kilts can be very, very deceptive. It conjures up images of cheap horseblankets worn at the jeans waist.

USAK casuals are not horseblankets. They are lightweight, for sure, but they are pretty sharp kilts considering their price-point.

[TJ Kelley]

As I figured, I will wait to order a Semi-Traditional... thanks for the feed back and photos to back my decision.

This will be my 5th kilt, I own 2 wool and 2 acrylic. All are worn in a traditional manner at true waist level. More often I wear them for dress than casual but its nice to have the versatility of both. I do agree the name "casual kilt" probably doesn't do the product justice.

Thanks again for your input, your help always makes my decisions a lil' easier.

[TJ Kelley]

BTW Rocky, Thanks for the video link, nicely done.

[O'Callaghan]

I have always assumed casual to mean of low yardage, and nothing to do with at what height they are worn atall.

Kilts advertised as casual normally use 4 to 5 yards of material, and otherwise the traditional 7 to 8 yards.

[unixken]

I have always assumed casual to mean of low yardage, and nothing to do with at what height they are worn atall.

Kilts advertised as casual normally use 4 to 5 yards of material, and otherwise the traditional 7 to 8 yards.

Matt Newsome might argue that a 4yd box pleat is *more* traditional than an 8yd, deep-pleated kilt. ;)

[O'Callaghan]

Matt Newsome might argue that a 4yd box pleat is *more* traditional than an 8yd, deep-pleated kilt. ;)

That could be. What I was meaning was a knife pleated kilt of low yardage. And actually, box pleats are more like older than more traditional.