I don't know that this is pertinent or not but I have a kilt that is a little too big for me even though it was supposedly made to my measurements by Scotweb.

I can cinch it up well enough and redistribute the bunching around my waist with a belt but if I wear it with a vest and jacket i will be very worried about it sliding off my waist--I have a 36" waist and 37" hips. So I've been toying with the idea of adding buttons interior to the waist band so that I can put a pair of braces on the kilt when I'm wearing it with a vest (the vest will hide the braces).

Maybe you could do the same...or maybe three inches is too much?