Asking for a Friend

[Bugbear]

I believe I prefaced the sentence with "I think". :-)
But honestly, when it isn't worn like a kilt, it looks like a knee-length skirt. I also think she may have worn it a little lower on the waist, but as she was wearing a vest, I couldn't tell.

The point goes to show however, that the overall look of a kilt is greatly determined by how one accessorizes it.

No arguement here. And thank you for clarifying.

As Jock Scot often says, "to each his own," and he is a wise man.

[Detroitpete]

My wife wears kilted skirts. Some knee length or just a wee bit shorter, or longer more formal kilted skirts. I think she looks amazing and am always proud to be her date. Can't say if it matters to me if someone thinks it's 'right' or wrong'.

When I get that twinkle in my eye and get brave enough to ask her if she's thought about a mini-kilt, she usually just says, "Old man, your heart can't take that much enthusiasm anymore"

[lethearen]

Okay so really a kilt for women is just a pleated skirt that is made from tartan?

I don't know that I'd call it "just a pleated skirt"... a lot of pleated skirts have pleats all around. A kilt, be it for a man or woman, would still need to have the flat apron in front. It should also probably be a true wraparound, as opposed to a step-into-and-pull-up type.

And kilts don't necessarily have to be of tartan either. Unless you are one of those who wouldn't call anything non-tartan a kilt... in which case you likely wouldn't call any woman's skirt a kilt, either, regardless of build/style

So assuming that a kilt can be made for a woman, and/or can be made of non-tartan, and can still be called a kilt by your own personal definition of the word... a woman's kilt could be considered just a wraparound skirt of virtually any length about or above the knees with pleats in the back and none in the front. That preferably closes on the left.

Or more simply, a woman's kilt is a kilt being worn by a woman.

[Jaggy thistle]

Thereis nothing nicer or sexier than a lady in a mini kilt or a longer kilt

[wildrover]

Traditionally, a normal kilt is a man's garment. However, my friend who is a girl wears a kilt--however, she wears it like a skirt. She does not wear kilt hose, but rather black stockings, and usually a blouse with a vest that looks particularly feminine. I think this is perfectly acceptable and attractive. To me, if I see a woman in a kilt worn with kilt hose, bonnet, etc. I find her to look a little too "mannish"... even pretty lasses! This works for pipe band uniforms as everyone is supposed to look the same.

Come to think of it, you're absolutely right. Change the little things, like sock height, turnover & style, hem height & rise, and it will be quite feminine.

Maybe ask some of the Highland dancers what the differences are...nobody would mistake a girl for a guy in that context, for all they're supposed to be "men's dances".

[Strider]

Alright thanks. I'm going to MO tartan day festival so I will get some pictures and might ask some people there.

[Aengus]

IMHO Kilts look great on either sex (though Im PRO mini kilt on women)

[Good Egg]

Mrs Courtmount wears an Arisaid (the link will take you to a page of pictures of different designs) the design of which was inspired by something we saw in the Tartan Museum in Keith. BTB under it she usually wears either Arabic dish dashes or Victorian lace nightgowns.

The Arisaid has a major advantage - its very much DIY. No tailoring required unless you want to hem the edges.



This isn't Mrs Courtmount but the Arisaid is similar to hers.

[james a. husky]

A "kilt" is, by definition, a Man's clothing!!!

Jim aka kiltiemon

[O'Callaghan]

Having actually looked for ladies kilts for my wife, I have to say that the terminology used by most vendors doesn't match what most people post on the forum.

You have mini kilts, also referred to as billie kilts for some reason that I don't know, and then working down in length (and interest, you might say) you get ladies kilts, which are approximately knee length like a mens kilt (but this also gets used as a general term, irrespective of length), and then kilted skirts, which are supposed to be mid calf, and finally hostess kilts, which are floor length.

Usually they close on the 'wrong' side, but some kiltmakers have them close on the gents side or even argue that all kilts close on that side (which they don't).

This does not entirely reconcile with the oft expressed views that anything worn by a woman is a kilted skirt and not a kilt, because to a kilt vendor/maker it normally refers to a specific length (calf). OTOH, anyone who is that strait-laced will probably argue that mid calf is the only correct length for a woman anyway, if they don't actually argue that women aren't supposed to wear them atall!

Of course, even the most hide-bound fogies generally make an exception for pipe bands, although I'm half surprised that they don't argue that pipe bands should be all male! (Not my PoV atall, just to be clear). Probably their wives would send them to the spare room for saying that! Still, everyone does seem to agree that pipe bands should all wear knee length kilts that close on the gents side.

The tartan arisaid, which has been posted, or even a tartan sash worn over a plain dress, arguably may be more traditional for the ladies than even a (calf length) kilted skirt, which in turn may be more traditional than any of the other lengths of ladies kilt, but IME the female of the species seldom cares about these niceties, or rather they do, but not usually for reasons of tradition.