How do leg proportions affect kilt proportions?

**Pleater** · 29th October 21, 12:42 PM

It might seem I'm being a bit, or more than a bit pedantic, but the shaping of the apron doesn't actually shape the kilt by widening the hemline of the garment below the hips.
The construction of a kilt is a straight tube lower edge to hip which narrows into the waist.
The apron is shaped and wraps around the body so as to look right, but it doesn't make the garment flare out in the way that the panels of an A line skirt behave.

Anne the Pleater

**Father Bill** · 29th October 21, 12:51 PM

That explains my A-line Cassock.

**Troglodyte** · 30th October 21, 04:32 AM

Originally Posted by Pleater

It might seem I'm being a bit, or more than a bit pedantic, but the shaping of the apron doesn't actually shape the kilt by widening the hemline of the garment below the hips.
The construction of a kilt is a straight tube lower edge to hip which narrows into the waist.
The apron is shaped and wraps around the body so as to look right, but it doesn't make the garment flare out in the way that the panels of an A line skirt behave.

Anne the Pleater

You're absolutely right...

The point I wanted to make with the pictures, was to show there is more to the shaping of the kilt than a simple pleated cone, flaring out fan-like and following an A-line.

However, I am surprised at the number of kilts being seen worn, that appear as if they are made as a pleated cylinder - little or no shaping at the waist - and that require an act of faith to keep them in place.

It seems to me that whilst there are obvious similarities that make 'standard' sizing possible to an acceptable degree, there are plenty of exceptions than prove the rule. A made-to-measure or fully-tailored kilt will always look like what it is, but the off-the-peg seldom does in my view.

**OC Richard** · 30th October 21, 07:03 AM

Originally Posted by Troglodyte

I am surprised at the number of kilts being seen worn, that appear as if they are made as a pleated cylinder...

Yes that was my point. I realise that a traditional kilt isn't a strict cone, yet it's clearly not cylindrical, as any photo will show.

The shape of the front upper apron is complex and is done by eye, with the kiltmakers I've seen at work.

Even with a person like me, who IS a cylinder (same waist and hip diameter) my kilts have a nice flair or inverted "V" shape to them.