I can't do it.

[NorCalPiper]

Dramatic weight loss will affect your purchase. As a maker, just this week a man brought back one of our kilts to redo the buckles. I remeasured him and he's shed 3 inches from his waist and hip. He neglected to tell me that he had started his Atkins diet when he ordered his 2 kilts. Luckily we haven't made the 2nd one yet . Point is though that small weight increase and loss doesn't really matter. i have a number of kilts that I'm surprised are either getting tight or loose when I put them on. the trick is to keep ordering at the size you are at the moment. Shop around and pick up at least 5 kilts during the course of a year (I'm serious)-key word-Shop around and make an investment on wool, PV, or even acrylic). this way, you have a spread of sizes and will always have a kilt at hand to wear!

[Cygnus]

A lot of people have suggested going "high" or "low" (and even one with a "healthiest") - but I'd say to go with the weight at which your kilt is likely to get the most use; be it summer, spring, fall, or winter. And I'd suggest waiting until about that season so you can measure yourself then rather than guessing it based on your measurements now.
While it's generally not healthy to fluctuate in weight quite so frequently and drastically, you could be in the "healthy" range at both weights (assuming you're at the high end at your heaviest and the low end at your lightest).
I worked in a factory for a few years and when summer rolled around I'd drop weight so quickly that trousers that had fit at the beginning of the week wouldn't anymore by the weekend. Eating over 3,000 calories a day didn't stop it, either. There's something about demanding physical labor next to an 800 degree (F) open-faced oven.

Good luck!

[Inchessi]

Thank you all for the advice. One of the reasons that I have for looking hard now is the Euro to USD. I have never seen my weight as a problem, I am happy with my looks. More importantly, my Doctor and my Fiance are as well.

All of it very good advice; I do crave the knowledge of those more versed in this subject. May I assume that were I to order a kilt at my lowest weight, the straps will extend two inches, and still allow the kilt to have the tailored look?

Cygnus: you seem to know exactly what I am talking about. I don't work anywhere near that heat, it just feels like it sometimes.

[wildrover]

I say take your measurements at your healthiest weight and then do what needs to be done, ie. stay active(cardio), eat right(less fat, no fried), and get the most out of your kilt and your heart. What could be better?

That's certainly the best advice...but...

Inchessi, the straps on my kilt are pierced about every inch or so, and I want to say there are four piercings in each strap, for a total adjustable delta about three inches. I did pop one additional hole on the left strap as I've been losing some waist measurement from when I ordered the kilt, and if it gets that bad (if I get that good at staying in shape), I'll send it back to have the straps moved.

Order up a wool 16x8 without fear, and have a chat about your waistline fluctuation with the maker...a 3" spread should be no problem. If I may, I'd like to recommend Robert MacDonald, westcoastkilts.com...he's wickedly competent, with a great sense of humor as well, and I'm sure he'll either be able to sort it out, or have some good advice on the subject...and if you choose to pick up a kilt through him, there's a damn good chance you won't need another one (want is a different story. I already want another kilt from him ).

-Sean

[BoldHighlander]

If I may, I'd like to recommend Robert MacDonald, westcoastkilts.com...he's wickedly competent, with a great sense of humor as well, and I'm sure he'll either be able to sort it out, or have some good advice on the subject...

If you go through him you might be in for a wee bit of a wait (from his blog):

Wednesday, May 5, 2010

Closed until further notice

My order books are now full, and therefore I will be accepting no orders for new kilts until this post is removed - but I WILL endeavour to find the time for repairs and alterations.

The reason for this temporary closure is in the previous two posts: I have a great deal of work to complete before the end of July, I am teaching a course in August, and then I will be repairing and refurbishing kilts for the Seaforth's Trooping of the Colours for the balance of the calendar year.

I shall re-open as soon as I am able to do so once my other duties are completed.

Best of luck.

[Barb T]

May I assume that were I to order a kilt at my lowest weight, the straps will extend two inches, and still allow the kilt to have the tailored look?

I would not do this. A kilt that is even 1/2" too small will be obviously too small, because the underapron shows. Much better to simply tell the kiltmaker to make the kilt to your larger measurements, but put the buckles on at the smallest measurements. That way, you can buckle it tight at your smallest measurement (and no one will know that the apron comes around a bit too far on the apron side), or you can use the biggest size, even if you have to buy strap extenders. AND, if you order a kilt with only one buckle at the waist, no one will even know that you are wearing strap extenders under your kilt belt.

And check out this thread to see that it truly doesn't make a difference in the appearance of the kilt if you have the apron covering up a couple of inches of the pleats:

http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/f...oo-much-59745/

Moral of the story - order larger, but have the buckles put on at the smallest size. That way, the incentive is still there to stay trim, but, if the worst happens, your kilt still looks great, and the underapron doesn't show, even if you are wearing strap extenders.

if this doesn't make sense, just holler.

[Detroitpete]

I would not do this. A kilt that is even 1/2" too small will be obviously too small, because the underapron shows. Much better to simply tell the kiltmaker to make the kilt to your larger measurements, but put the buckles on at the smallest measurements. That way, you can buckle it tight at your smallest measurement (and no one will know that the apron comes around a bit too far on the apron side), or you can use the biggest size, even if you have to buy strap extenders. AND, if you order a kilt with only one buckle at the waist, no one will even know that you are wearing strap extenders under your kilt belt.

And check out this thread to see that it truly doesn't make a difference in the appearance of the kilt if you have the apron covering up a couple of inches of the pleats:

http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/f...oo-much-59745/

Moral of the story - order larger, but have the buckles put on at the smallest size. That way, the incentive is still there to stay trim, but, if the worst happens, your kilt still looks great, and the underapron doesn't show, even if you are wearing strap extenders.

if this doesn't make sense, just holler.

I'd listen to Barb.

I was in the same dilema when ordering mine from Matt Newsome-----moral of the story---trust the kilt maker!

[Mark E.]

Great Kilt, boyo- you can be any weight, height (over 5' of course), fit into any era up to around 1746...And if you ever get tired of it, cut it in half and make a pair for winter/summer-deep pleats and waist for cold, shallow for warm.

Mark

[be da veva]

I went thru the same problem. Lost over 25 pounds in a few months and my kilt was getting to big. It had three straps. I am not a fan of the third strap. But I did find a way to make my kilt fit. I took of the 3rd strap and I put it beside the strap on the left side. I ajusted the space by aligning the holes. And I put the extra buckle beside the right one to give me more reach. The strap on the inside is not visible and the one on the outside if worn thight will net be visible. When worn bigger, you can always but a belt to hide it if you don't want people to see it. Nobody said a thing about mine.
Here's a few pics.




For my next kilt, I might order it with a third strap so I can do this again. That way, I'll have a strap and buckle that will match my kilt. And not be too worried about weight gain and loss.