Traditional 8-Yard Kilting With a Gut

[phil h]

utilikilts make a beer gut cut
and yes, I wear all my kilts on the waist, even the UK thats supposed to be warn on the hips.more of a traditional look, I think.
I think kilts on the hips look too much like a mini skirt,especially on short people like me (5'9")
I always wear a belt too, and the straps on your kilt will help get the fit just right, they will give you a 2 or 3 inch leeway.

[Chris]

Hi fellas.

I'm new to the forum, and have a question. I'm considering buying a traditional 8-yard kilt, but I have a bit of a gut. Okay, quite a bit of a gut. I got measured, and have a 45" waist (at the navel), and 50" hips. I'm wondering if anyone else has this problem, and how this affects the fit/hang of a traditional kilt. I'm worried about the kilt staying up, and not always sliding down on me, like my trousers do. I know that the "casual" kilt would fit better, because I'd wear it on my hips, and thus under my gut, but I really want a traditional one.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Rufus

Rufus,

45 inches around your natural waist is not that big actually and a traditionally cut kilt should look fine provided that you don't let it slide below your natural waist.

P.S. - I like your avatar - nice to see another Welshman in the group!

[freddie]

I have a large waist and narrower hips, which is why I can't wear a traditional sporran chain, and I have to wear braces (suspenders) with trousers to keep them up. However, I've never had this problem with traditional kilts which sit higher on my waist, and if the straps are pulled reasonably tight stay there.

[Robinhood]

I'm wondering how this thread was awakened
after years asleep. Interestingly, it appears
that Rufus has gone from newbie to site
moderator in that time. I wonder if he's
still needing answers to this question.

For the others who do, I'll relate my
experience.

I make my kilts a couple of inches
shorter in the front, so that the top
rides lower on my waist. My gut
isn't quite a dunlap, but if I wear
a kilt at the normal height, the
sporran pulls in the front below
the waistline, giving the appearance
of a nice round beach ball above
the sporran.

My waist is a couple inches larger than
my hips (even at the lower line where
I wear my kilt), so a belt doesn't keep the
kilt up unless I pull it in tight enough
to bring up my breakfast. Suspenders
are the only solution (other than wearing
the waistline up near my armpits the
way really old dorky men wear their
pants).

I'm not sure how the sporran stays up.
Maybe the weight on the front causes
the back to hang above what little I
have of cheeks in the back.

The end result appears correct, and is
thoroughly comfortable, even though
it goes against many so called "rules"
regarding kilts.

[Chris@southerncelt.com]

Your waist may be large, but your hips are proportionate, which should make for a nice fit with a traditional kilt. Granted this may be something to work with a kilt-maker within driving distance on rather than over internet.

The thing about the taditional modern kilts is that the area from your hips to your natural waist acts as a girdle, so it doesn't tend to go sliding all over the place.

[Rufus]

My advice for what it's worth rufus, is to avoid a kilt that sits on your hips, this will accentuate any gut you have and the kilt will not hang properly.

I measured around the largest part of my waist (40") and ordered a kilt to suit. I find the kilt fits perfectly, stays put with the help of a belt and helps to disguise a larger waistline. I look slimmer in a kilt than in trousers.

Another plus for this wonderful garment!

Thanks for the advice Martin, especially about the kilt sitting on the hips and accentuating the gut - that's all I need.

Rufus

[Rufus]

Your waist may be large, but your hips are proportionate, which should make for a nice fit with a traditional kilt. Granted this may be something to work with a kilt-maker within driving distance on rather than over internet.

The thing about the taditional modern kilts is that the area from your hips to your natural waist acts as a girdle, so it doesn't tend to go sliding all over the place.

Chris,

I'd love to work with a local kilt maker, but unfortunately the closest thing that I can find is a rental/sales shop 2 hours away, and he imports his kilts from Scotland. (He told me because of the exchange rate, he'd have to charge me ~$800!!)He also said that, "Welsh kilts aren't real kilts!"

He was nice enough to measure me though. Told me that he'd prefer I got a kilt that fit, even if I didn't get it from him.

Rufus

[Jimmy Carbomb]

He was nice enough to measure me though. Told me that he'd prefer I got a kilt that fit, even if I didn't get it from him.

Rufus

NICE!!!!!

That takes 90% of the hassle out of the kilt-buying experience! I say that for you AND the kiltmaker!

[Kilt'n'Khuk]

He also said that, "Welsh kilts aren't real kilts!"

Considering that I'm roughly 37.5% Welsh, he doesn't deserve your money.

[Blu (Ontario)]

...He also said that, "Welsh kilts aren't real kilts!"...Rufus

That comment indicates that the guy is either arrogant, ignorant, of full of hot air. (maybe a bit of all three.)