Questions on the Newsome 4yrd Box Pleat or 8yrd Knife Pleat?

[M. A. C. Newsome]

Each to their own... but in my opinion having seen, but not worn a box pleat kilt, the look is more skirtlike than the knife pleat and to me a box pleat when worn does not have the splendor and swing. When worn it often forms more of a barrel shape when dancing walking and moving etc and reminds me and others, of girls' school uniform skirts in tartan. A look with which I would not like to be associated. To me it looks like a half hearted attempt at a kilt. I know this will ruffle many feathers but it is my opinion, and feel it should be consigned to history as a stage in the development of the kilt. The only box pleat I would wear would be the regimental box pleat... a knife pleated military kilt with a box on the edge of each knife pleat so designed to give equal swing to left and right when marching. The ultimate in design!

You are, of course, welcome to your opinion. I, for one, am perfectly content with the fact that people will have certain personal preferences when it comes to pleating style, fabric weight, yardage used, etc. When I am helping a client select a style of kilt, my guiding principle is always to try to get them into the kilt that they will enjoy and appreciate, and the truth is that's not always what I would select for myself.

However, comments such as "reminds me of school girl's skirts" and "half hearted attempt at a kilt" really are out of line.

Point of fact is that not everyone wants the grand "swish and swing" of an eight yard kilt and that's perfectly ok. It does not mean that their kilt is a "half hearted attempt" at anything. If one looks back at the overall history and development of the kilt over time, a four yard length was much more average for a kilt than anything approaching eight yards. This "staunch traditionalist" has no problem accepting a four yard kilt, regardless of pleat style.

And just for the record, in all my years wearing the kilt, only once, and exactly once, have I had anyone make a "school girl skirt" comment to me, and I was wearing an eight yard knife pleated kilt at the time.

[xman]

... reminds me and others, of girls' school uniform skirts in tartan.

I am reminded of a roman battle skirt actually.

[Jock Scot]

Actually Matt to British eyes, particularly ones over 40, box pleats do remind us very much of school girls' skirts. This is perhaps a cultural thing as I don't know that box pleats in North America have the same connection.I suspect that they don't. Maybe that is why knife pleated kilts are the accepted way of pleating the kilt on this side of the pond.We also do not have the sort of heat that many of you chaps have to endure and of course your winters in the northern parts of North America are something that we over here can only imagine.

To those that want box pleats then go ahead, there are undoubted advantages with them, but in my humble opinion looks are not one of them! Do not expect kilt makers in Scotland to make a kilt with them(they might,but I doubt it) either and don't expect Box pleats to impress in the land where the knife pleated kilt is king. Regardless of what the historical evidence quite correctly says.

[davidlpope]

I have 4yd box-pleats, and 5, 6, and 8yd knife pleats, most made by Matt Newsome. My hands-down favorite kilt is my 6yd knife-pleat handmade by Matt, pictured below. It looks like a "traditional kilt"**, is made of heavyweight tartan, and is well-balanced (due to there being two less yards of fabric in the pleats)and comfortable in any climate that I've been in. It dresses up or down equally well and the craftsmanship is the best of any I've seen. In my mind it has all the benefits of the other styles with none of the drawbacks. I like it so much that I currently have another kilt of this type on order with Matt. I highly recommend this style and Matt's handiwork.








**I'm using the definition that I think most Highlanders would describe as a "traditional kilt", i.e. made of tartan, 8yds, knife pleated. It should be noted, though, that the 4yd box-pleated kilt is a historical, older form of the kilt, thus some would argue that it, in fact, is more "traditional".

[Sir William]

I've got 4 8 yard knife-pleated kilts, with one more on the way, and 2 4-yard box pleated kilts, with another on the way. I've also got a 6 yard double-box kilt. Most are 16oz, with a couple in 13oz.

I like the distrobution of weight in the 4 yard, but I like the swish provided by the 8 yard. From a historical factor, I like the 4 yard box pleat, but I also realize that many consider the 8 yard knife pleated kilt to be a "real" kilt.

Bottom line, I like and wear both styles. Which one I wear tends to be based more on the tartan than on the style. We have uncomfortable heat and humidity here in Virginia as well, but I don't give that any consideration when I choose which kilt to wear.

[toadinakilt]

My only comment here, seeing as how I don't own any 'good' kilts at all and can't really say anything about the way a box-pleat feels, is that a sporran is absolutely essential with a box-pleat, at least to my eye.

But I consider a sporran absolutely essential anyway...

[M. A. C. Newsome]

My only comment here, seeing as how I don't own any 'good' kilts at all and can't really say anything about the way a box-pleat feels, is that a sporran is absolutely essential with a box-pleat, at least to my eye.

I would assume that you'd want to wear a sporran with your kilt no matter which pleating style you prefer....

[M. A. C. Newsome]

To those that want box pleats then go ahead, there are undoubted advantages with them, but in my humble opinion looks are not one of them! Do not expect kilt makers in Scotland to make a kilt with them(they might,but I doubt it) either and don't expect Box pleats to impress in the land where the knife pleated kilt is king. Regardless of what the historical evidence quite correctly says.

Thanks for your input, Jock. You've stated several times in the past that box pleated kilts are not the recognized norm in Scotland, and I believe that everyone recognizes that fact. They are not the recognized norm in America, either.

Safe to say, across the globe, when most people think "kilt" what they have in mind is knife pleated and made of a nominal eight yards of cloth. It's the standard.

What the original poster is asking is for those who have worn both styles, what differences they may have noticed.

For the record, I've shipped several of my four yard box pleated kilts across to the UK (both Scotland and England), so someone over there must like the style!

[Mael Coluim]

David, Prince Charles has nothing over you! Well, maybe next in line for a Kingdom.

[Jock Scot]

Thanks for your input, Jock. You've stated several times in the past that box pleated kilts are not the recognized norm in Scotland, and I believe that everyone recognizes that fact. They are not the recognized norm in America, either.

Safe to say, across the globe, when most people think "kilt" what they have in mind is knife pleated and made of a nominal eight yards of cloth. It's the standard.

What the original poster is asking is for those who have worn both styles, what differences they may have noticed.

For the record, I've shipped several of my four yard box pleated kilts across to the UK (both Scotland and England), so someone over there must like the style!

I know that I might sound like a stuck record Matt, but what needs to be made clear to those considering the box pleated kilt is that they are not usual over here and the apparent shock to some that they(box pleated kilt) are not common in the UK, is so very obvious(to me anyway) on occasion.The OP is not an old hand here, so I thought pointing out this fact to him and perhaps others, might be helpful with his decision making. I don't doubt for a second that there are box pleated kilts in the UK, but very few and far between.That is all I was trying to point out, apart from the "school girl skirt syndrome" that we seem to recognise over here.