Vest

**HippieLee** · 9th February 14, 11:44 AM

Originally Posted by Nathan

I usually just eyeball a nice looking vest in my size. If it's made for a man of shorter stature, it usually works well for the kilt as I'm average height. If it's too long to go with my sporran, I wear it with trousers. Given the fact that they usually cost $10 or so, it's worth a try if I really like the cloth. I've been lucky, most have worked great with the kilt.

should the bottom of the vest come to the top of the kilt or can it go a littler farther? As long as it doesn't go so far as to be interfering with the sporran? Great point about the just buy 'em and see though - you are right - for ten bucks or thereabouts if it doesn't work with the kilt it can still work with work clothes.

**Nathan** · 9th February 14, 11:50 AM

Originally Posted by HippieLee

should the bottom of the vest come to the top of the kilt or can it go a littler farther? As long as it doesn't go so far as to be interfering with the sporran? Great point about the just buy 'em and see though - you are right - for ten bucks or thereabouts if it doesn't work with the kilt it can still work with work clothes.

They should come below the top of the kilt. If they do not, they are too short. you don't want glimpses of your shirt peeking out from below the waistcoat. I'm assuming here that you wear your kilt at the proper traditional height which is above your hip bones at the natural waist. The bottom of the waistcoat/vest should come somewhere between completely covering the top of your kilt and not interfering with the sporran when it is work at the correct height.

**brewerpaul** · 9th February 14, 11:51 AM

Originally Posted by HippieLee

should the bottom of the vest come to the top of the kilt or can it go a littler farther? As long as it doesn't go so far as to be interfering with the sporran? Great point about the just buy 'em and see though - you are right - for ten bucks or thereabouts if it doesn't work with the kilt it can still work with work clothes.

I think the thought here is to have the vest far enough down over the the kilt so as your shirt doesnt show yet not so long to interfere with the sporran. With a straight cut vest you have to be sure it goes far enough over the top of your kilt so your shirt doesnt end up hanging out.

**cck** · 9th February 14, 12:00 PM

Vests or waistcoats that come with kilt jackets are shorter. Whether a conventional vest would work with a kilt might depend on where you are wearing the kilt and the length of the vest. Basically I think you would have to try it and see if your were satisfied with the look. I have several vests which I would like to wear with my kilts, but they are too long for my taste and I have not taken the trouble to see if they could be altered.

**HippieLee** · 9th February 14, 12:00 PM

Thank you sirs! I don't know why I didn't remember that the shirt shouldn't peek out between vest and kilt - I'm sure I have known that in the past - but it's been a looooooooong time since I wore a full 3 piece suit and I've only had my kilt since December.

Hmmm....i just had another thought but I think I've overstayed my welcome in this thread - OP is looking for specific info and I'm sidetracking that (My apologies OP!). I'll start a new thread for my questions.

**OC Richard** · 12th February 14, 04:26 AM

At least for me, ordinary vests work perfectly with the kilt. I suppose it depends on how you're proportioned, and how high-waisted your kilts are.

I get my kilts with a 26" length so the waist is fairly high, which is traditional, and there's never trouble with the 'gaposis' that men have when they get their kilts too short, wear them shoved low around their hips (as if they were wearing blue jeans) and/or have vests too short. You see this all the time with modern pipe bands, especially now because the fad is for pipe bands to always wear vests and rarely wear jackets in competition. Many of the young pipers and drummers wear their kilts far too low, and shirts pop out.

Anyhow here's my most recent vest purchase, a lovely tweed, in perfect condition, got fairly cheaply on Ebay. It's an ordinary American brand (not intended for kilts)

**sydnie7** · 12th February 14, 10:24 AM

Originally Posted by TheOfficialBren

I would love to learn more if it's not a bother.

To avoid threadjacking, I was going to PM you but your PM is blocked. If you can send PM, give me a shout and I'll point you toward some resources. Here's one to pique your interest even more: BrewerPaul's thread on first "real" sewing project, two waistcoats.

**ASinclair** · 12th February 14, 10:45 AM

Originally Posted by sydnie7

To avoid threadjacking, I was going to PM you but your PM is blocked. If you can send PM, give me a shout and I'll point you toward some resources. Here's one to pique your interest even more: BrewerPaul's thread on first "real" sewing project, two waistcoats.

Wow, now you've piqued my interest with that link! How does one make a vest like that?

**HippieLee** · 12th February 14, 12:22 PM

Originally Posted by OC Richard

At least for me, ordinary vests work perfectly with the kilt. I suppose it depends on how you're proportioned, and how high-waisted your kilts are....
Anyhow here's my most recent vest purchase, a lovely tweed, in perfect condition, got fairly cheaply on Ebay. It's an ordinary American brand (not intended for kilts)

Great to know and yours looks great too. I'll just go and try some on!