Ladies- do you wear "male" kilts or kilts made specially for women?

[Alan H]

The Luminous Joan has two kilts/skirts.

One is a very nice wool, knee-length kilt skirt in Dress Blue Stewart. Honest truth is that she essentially never wears it. I think it's seen the light of day twice: once about 6 years ago to visit my 90 year old stepmother in her care home and once for a Scottish dressy event...I forget which, exactly. Basically, she hates the thing and tells me that she won't wear it because it makes her look like a Librarian.

Personally, I don't see the problem with looking like a Librarian, but that's her quote, not mine.
One of her ancestors, definitely Scottish was surnamed Smart, which is a sept of Clan MacKenzie. I got her a sportkilt in the MacKenzie tartan, which she has now worn twice. She likes it because it's not too hot. It's long enough that the scars from two hip surgeries are covered up but yet it's not so long as to be matronly..... or "Librarianly", I suppose. The Sportkilt is of course "in theory" made for a man, but they're not "fitted" in any way and she wears it just fine.

[Angela Kaye Bodine]

Anne the pleater, hi ! Not sure where I heard it, but even my mom questioned it when I got my first kilt, she had one as a teen in the 50s and hers buckled on the left.. Also my muse got her kilt from Scotland that her grand mom picked up while on vacation hooks on the left..The man at the Celtic Festival told me it was a girls kilt ( buckles on left)..I guess it depends on who makes the kilt possibly...Either way I love my kilts..Im a righty so its easier for me on the right lol so it works to my advantage lol win win...Angie

[sydnie7]

I'm struggling with this question right now. I have several lengths of tartan that I'd like to make up for myself, but what to do? Have always had a definite pear shape, proportions do not change regardless of weight. So with the widest part of body below the fell, pleats are problematic. . . But so tempting. Rather than try such a drastic taper, I'm considering a bias-cut skirt yoke with pleats falling from that. It will be done up first in some "trade" tartan from the old Kirkbright remnants site, just to see how it looks. Right after I finish knitting hose for grandniece Ginger, who totally rocks her traditionally made Navy Edzell kilt!

[Angela Kaye Bodine]

Thank you Tarheel ! I found it ....Angie...must of been blind lol

[Elizabeth]

I'm struggling with this question right now. I have several lengths of tartan that I'd like to make up for myself, but what to do? Have always had a definite pear shape, proportions do not change regardless of weight. So with the widest part of body below the fell, pleats are problematic. . . But so tempting. Rather than try such a drastic taper, I'm considering a bias-cut skirt yoke with pleats falling from that. It will be done up first in some "trade" tartan from the old Kirkbright remnants site, just to see how it looks. Right after I finish knitting hose for grandniece Ginger, who totally rocks her traditionally made Navy Edzell kilt!

Sidney, I remember we spoke about that at Costa Mesa. I am interested in the "billie kilt" idea as well. I have a 10-11 inch difference between waist and hip. I tried some sample pleating on the unknown tartan I have and that taper is pretty drastic! If you try the yoke method be sure to post about it. It will be a while before I get to actually using the fabric... I have to finish a historical outfit first.

As for

[Elizabeth]

As for the men or woman kilt. I have a Stumptown woman's kilt, which of course is very modern. I love it, it's comfortable and easy to care for. I also have a couple kilted skirts that are not my favorites, they were bought second hand years ago and have shrank ;). I recently tried on a 4 yard kilt I impulsively purchased on ebay... it fits me pretty well even though it appears to be a men's garment. It slightly shower curtains, which I think means it's actually too big in the hip?

If money was no object having a kilt custom made for me by one of the makers here would be the best option but finances won't allow that now.

[Liam]

It is my experience that women will defy convention, and wear what ever they choose to, and we males will admire them.
With respect and admiration to all women, regardless of whether they choose to buckle up on the left or the right.

[Pleater]

I suspect that because people 'know' that all women's garments with a front opening close the other way over, they make kilts like that, but I can only say that it wasn't the case in the examples I found.

Back in the days when I had a 24 inch waist and 38 inch hips I had pleated skirts, so it must be possible to put in the shaping...

A bias cut tartan skirt is always an option - I like the Vs at the joins, but I no longer have the / \ shape to wear one.

Anne the Pleater :ootd:

[bonnie heather]

The first kilt I made was for myself, and my teacher said to make it the same way as for a man's kilt. So I learned to make kilts fastened on the right. Most highland dancers these days are female and their dance kilts fasten on the right. But if a lady wants hers to be fastened on the left, I can make it that way.

The thing that I feel makes a big difference in kilts for ladies, is that it looks and feels better if the rise is not as high as the usual 2" rise on a man's kilt. That's too bulky for me. I prefer them to have minimal rise (1") or have the strap at waist level. When I make highland dance kilts, I place the back canvas to come up just to the waist stabilizer and not continue up on the rise. That way it's not as bulky.

[Angela Kaye Bodine]

Bonnie, I love your kilts you have done for me, what you do and so many others do is Art Work and I love them.. Im use to the buckle on my right and its easier being a righty.. it doesn't matter to me what side I wear them because I love them, they also give me a more flattering figure...and my husband likes them on me too.. Thank you again Bonnie I love all my kilts that you have done for me...Angie