So I got this kilt on Ebay...(help?)

**M. A. C. Newsome** · 11th July 06, 04:04 AM

From looking at the picture, it appears that you could easily move the two buckles on the right hip over a couple of inches and not adversely affect the look of the kilt -- look at how many pleats are there to the right of the buckles in the picture. Another two inches and you'd still have pleats all the way to the edge of the apron.

Just remember, what you do to one side, you have to do to the other. So if you move those buckles over by 2", you'll also have to move the leather strap on the inner apron out by 2" for the kilt to fit right. Since that doesn't show in your pictures, I can't tell you how easy that might be. If the leather strap is sewn in a few inches back from the apron edge, it's an easy job of moving it.

If it's already right on the edge of the apron -- well then you are talking about altering the kilt.

Aye,
Matt

**bubba** · 11th July 06, 06:53 AM

Originally Posted by M. A. C. Newsome

Since that doesn't show in your pictures, I can't tell you how easy that might be. If the leather strap is sewn in a few inches back from the apron edge, it's an easy job of moving it.

If it's already right on the edge of the apron -- well then you are talking about altering the kilt.

Aye,
Matt

The other option is replace the under apron strap with a longer one. Moving the right side buckles and adding a longer strap on the left might do the job.

**Moose McLennan** · 11th July 06, 06:59 AM

Originally Posted by M. A. C. Newsome

...Just remember, what you do to one side, you have to do to the other. So if you move those buckles over by 2", you'll also have to move the leather strap on the inner apron out by 2" for the kilt to fit right...

Not to barge in on this thread, but is that perhaps the reason that some MOD kilts only fasten on one side?
Incidentally, mine's labelled 29" but fits my 31" waist OK. Removing the lower buckle at the hip made the fit much better, I'm indebted to you for that particular tip. Might make a difference to that Gordon kilt - it certainly is stunning.

M.

**Alan H** · 12th July 06, 12:39 AM

Matt beat me to it, but I'd do what He suggested.

**Chefdave** · 17th July 06, 06:31 PM

Thanks for the advice so far guys.

I had a chance to snap some bad pics this evening to illustrate how it fits. Maybe alteration could help. I'm much happier than I appear in the pics too.

Also, check out the cool new belt.

It's the same as the Lowe's bargain tool belt only in black with silver hardware.

Inner apron can be seen over my left knee (that's as far as it reaches).

That's as far as the pleats will go on the right side

**KiltedCodeWarrior** · 17th July 06, 08:01 PM

Well, first thing .... SMILE... its a picture in a kilt not a hanging!

OK, got that out of my system, now on to the kilt. From the front on the recent set of pictures, I would never have known it did not fit correctly. You have pointe out the underapron, but most people will not see that, and you can just look in the mirror and insure you pull it up so the waistband keeps it high enough.

The picture of the right and the back look OK too, except it looks like you need to center the kilt on your body so that the pleats come the same distance around on both hips. However, is that a buckle hanging out strangely in the back on the last picture? And was this kilt purchased from What Price Glory? I seem to remember that they used that bright green liner at the waist.

**M. A. C. Newsome** · 21st July 06, 04:03 AM

I'm going to reevaluate my advise based on these new pictures. Seeing how it fits on you, we are talking about more than just a few inches. Even if the buckles on the right hip were moved all the way to the end of the pleats, the straps still look like they would need another 4" or so (my estimate) to close properly.

The picture of the inside of the kilt doesn't show how much hem there is in the apron edge, but I will assume it's not enough to allow for letting out by 4". That means that to properly alter this kilt, you'd have to take a pleat out of either side.

All of this is adding up to more and more work. Based on my hourly rate for alterations, you are probably looking at spending at least $120 or so. *And* there is another thing to consider. By doing this you would be increasing the width of the aprons by 4" (or whatever it has to be -- I'm just going on what it looks like in the pics). At the same time you would be decreasing the width of the pleats by 2 pleat widths (let's call it 1.5"). This means the apron to pleat ratio will no longer be proportional. Depending on the exact measurements we are talking about, this may or may not look right.

At this point I'd sit down and consider: how much did you pay for this kilt? How much are you willing to invest in altering it to properly fit? Rob mentioned What Price the Glory. You can get a kilt just like this in your size for about $295:
http://whatpriceglory.com/scot.htm

BTW, Rob, the kilt in question here is an old Regimental kilt made by Hector Russell (you can see by the label). What Price the Glory does reprouctions of these. All the regimental kilts were issued with that bright green waist band (not sure why). But it's meant to be there!
Aye,
Matt