Length of vest or waistcoat

**War dog** · 12th October 13, 08:45 PM

As I mentioned in an earlier post, I purchased a Braemar jacket and vest ( or waistcoat) in Glasgow last January. I got them in long as I always do, having gorilla arms. At the time I was in Saxon clothes and wasn't wearing a sporran.

Now I find that the vest seems too long as it covers the top part of the sporran and must be tucked behind it. The jacket fits quite well for length but I will be having it taken in due to weight loss. I might as well shorten the vest at the same time but I'm not quite certain how much it should be shortened if at all. Can anyone enlighten me?

**Jock Scot** · 13th October 13, 12:40 AM

It all depends on where you wear your kilt and how it is made. If you wear the kilt traditionally somewhere around or above you navel then it makes wearing the waistcoat easier. However if you wear your kilt lower then it makes things a tad trickier. The thing that needs to be avoided at all costs is the dreaded gap between the bottom of the waistcoat and the top of the kilt and it sounds as though you have managed to avoid that.

So OK you may have to shorten your waistcoat a tad------not forgetting the "dreaded gap" problem----- and there are a couple of waistcoat styles without the "points"( that can get in the way) that help no end. Prince Charles, for example, wears a waistcoat cut striaght across the midrif. There are lots of pictures on this website of Prince Charles so you should find a picture of his waistcoat quite easily. My waistcoat has "points" too and if I am not careful they do get in the way sometimes.

Whatever style of "cut" you go for, can I strongly suggest that you wear your kilt and sporran to the person who may be doing the waistcoat alteration so that they can see at first hand the problem and take the appropriate measurements to rectify it.

**MacRobert's Reply** · 13th October 13, 07:20 AM

What Jock Scott said!

The actual measurements will also be dependent on your height and build and the style and cut of the jacket or doublet you are wearing with it. I am 5'7 and fairly slim. If I wear the kilt at my natural waist, the waistcoats come about two inches below the top of the kilt if they are cut straight across. If they have points, the points are about three inches from the top of the kilt. In other words, the bottom of the waistcoat comes to about the same place on the kilt as the bottom of a kilt belt (points a tad lower). Generally, with modern kilt wear the bottom of the waistcoat should not come lower than the jacket or doublet that is worn over it.

The height at which the sporran is worn could be part of the problem.

A photograph would probably help us to give better-informed advice.

**Liam** · 13th October 13, 09:01 AM

Would it be possible to wear your sporran lower? If you were to post a picture, the folks here would offer their opinions, (possibly conflicting, and generally more than you want)

Cheers....Bill

**Peter Lowe** · 13th October 13, 12:01 PM

Whatever style of "cut" you go for, can I strongly suggest that you wear your kilt and sporran to the person who may be doing the waistcoat alteration so that they can see at first hand the problem and take the appropriate measurements to rectify it.[/QUOTE]

I agree with Jock Scot that you must wear your kilt and sporran when meeting the person doing the alteration. I had exactly the same problem with a tweed waistcoat. The alteration was surprisingly small and now it does the job perfectly.

Good luck!

Peter

**OC Richard** · 14th October 13, 03:35 PM

This is a pet peeve of mine! In part because it is so common in the Pipe Band world. It's the combination of wearing the kilt too low (shoving it down around the hips as if the kilt were jeans) and wearing a waistcoat too short. "Gaposis" my old Pipe Major used to call it.

It's especially bad when the guy is wearing a dirk belt under his waistcoat, the belt now fully visible.

Here are some photos I have to hand

If you have your kilt made with a nice traditional "rise" and wear it correctly you have some room to work with as regards your waistcoat length, and any ordinary waistcoat (such as would be worn with trousers) will be fine. If your kilt has a skimpy rise or you wear it too low then problems are pretty much inevitable and you might have to get your waistcoats made extra long.

For example here I am wearing a vest I got at an ordinary mens shop... no gap!

**Deirachel** · 17th October 13, 07:38 PM

Very smart look, OC. I can second this advice as my waistcoats are from Burlington's and Men's Warehouse. Both have points, and they end a good couple of inches about my sporran.

Might I ask where you got the waistcoat? All the stores in my area don't seem to carry a collared waistcoat.

I also like your choice in photograph companions. The Spartan there has a number of complementary parts on the armor to your outfit. Buckles on your brogues? Square plate on the instep. Waistcoat? Breastplate. Gengarry? Crest on the helmet. Glasses? Mirrored Face plate. Perhaps the Spartans are 2620's Black Watch?

**tulloch** · 18th October 13, 08:22 PM

Orvis has some waistcoats with lapels. I have one in brown herringbone - no satin back but more a sleeveless jacket. I love it! I think they have several styles.

**Downunder Kilt** · 18th October 13, 11:30 PM

The Gentlemens Emporium also has many collared waistcoats.
http://www.gentlemansemporium.com/store/vests.php

**HarveyH** · 19th October 13, 03:45 AM

Originally Posted by War dog

Now I find that the vest seems too long as it covers the top part of the sporran and must be tucked behind it.

I only have one really long waistcoat which I can't easily wear with my kilt. But I do find several waistcoats do brush the sporran and I tuck behind as you describe, but the waistocoat often flaps around he sporran. I used to fret a bit about it but actually I don't find it an issue and it was certainly better than the dreaded gap! The attached pic shows the result.

Kilt at a formal dinner.jpg