floor length womens kilts

[TimButterfield]

Matt
any suggestions for a district Tartan for Meghan that would be cheaper than a special weave fabric. Is there a Wisconsin district Tartan or other that would fit the bill?

There is a list of U.S. State tartans on Wikipedia here. And, there is one for Wisconsin. Wisconsin state statutes, section 1.10, item 3, state symbols, has a description of the tartan. Scottish Tartans Authority - Wisconsin tartan

[Grizzly]

Excellent ~Thanks Tim
regards
simon

[Pleater]

I don't mention it too often here - but women and girls do wear kilts, and 55 years ago when I was at Junior school a kilt was considered a good sort of skirt to wear at school in the colder months.

Women tended to wear a 27 inch kilt - that is one half of the 54 inch width wool fabric, as was woven on the standard wide looms - in fact 27 inches was a fairly standard length for most skirts.

You might find that for an ankle length garment a good kilt tartan would be too heavy - all garments have grown thinner and lighter in the last 100 years.

A kilt, really should be short - it is a skirt - the word is related to shirt, sarke, curt and cutty - just how skirt came to refer to a woman's garment which for most times and cultures would be ankle length, is not at all clear.

If you go for a long pleated skirt rather than the archetypal kilt you would have greater scope for design, bias cutting or pleating onto a yoke for instance. Lighter fabrics would also allow the use of fashion materials in plaid patterns rather than named tartans. There are also the unrestricted or universal tartans which can be found fairly easily - though sometimes in tiny setts a couple of inches across.

Be warned, though - it is difficult to make just one...

Anne the Pleater :ootd:

[GoodGirlGonePlaid]

Hello and welcome from CA!

For a funky, non-tartan, floor length kilted skirt, I sure like this one from alt.kilt:
http://www.altkilt.com/travelskirt

[Detroitpete]

My wife has at least 4 tartan skirts/dresses. They range from the modestly short (Just above the knee) to floor length. I think she looks absolutely amazing in all of them. For her longer tartan dresses, it seems to me that they are a very lightweight fabric (I really have no idea what I'm talking about here) and some are lined. All have some type of pleating in the back.

Also, for the longer dresses, I've seen her really dress them up, or wear them with a simple sweater or turtle neck in the colder months.

[Meggers]

LOL never say never. Once hooked one is never enough, I think most of us think what can I have next? Once we have that Clan tartan then we want another, perhaps Isle of Skye, Lochaber district, Freedom of Scotland, Black Watch, Royal Stewart, Braveheart, etc.... then there are the accessories .............. roll on christmas.

ah Christmas....Im already planning what to ask for.

*wants a new quilt for her bed in autumn colors* <---just in case Santa frequents these boards.

[Meggers]

There is a list of U.S. State tartans on Wikipedia here. And, there is one for Wisconsin. Wisconsin state statutes, section 1.10, item 3, state symbols, has a description of the tartan. Scottish Tartans Authority - Wisconsin tartan

hey thats kinda nice... now I kinda want one. Shoot.

Im already broke. This is the last thing that I need to be looking at.

[CopperNGold]

Hi Meaghan,

Sometimes the floor-length kilt can have too much fabric that will make a woman look heavier, and none of us want that, do we?

A great look is a long wrap-around skirt that crosses over on the side with the loop that wraps around the waist and through a hole in the side of the skirt. It can have a side or back kick pleat about up to the knee. It is sometimes called a hostess skirt, but this version is youthful and fun! I designed several for my stores, regularly travelled to the Irish woolen mills to have the fabric designed and made and sold thousands of them. It's great for a short skirt, too! I'm sure you can find a simple pattern for a skirt smiliar to this (a fabric store sales person should be able to find you a pattern) and it would be stunning in a great tartan!
Top it with a good quality cashmere sweater or a fantasic blouse and you're good to go! If I can be of any more help, just message me. Good luck, and wear a great pair of high heels!

Oh, you're making me want to go into the rags (apparel) business again!

Cheers, Jocelyn

[CopperNGold]

Hi again! I had a few more thoughts. Still using the wrap skirt idea, make it sleek, like a pencil skirt, all the way down to the floor. No flare in the line of the skirt. It will be sophisticated yet youthful. That's what the kick pleat is for, to move around easily. Also, plan to line it in unshiny satin. For the autumn/ holiday colors, I can visualize the Mapleleaf tartan. Now I want egg nog!



Cheers, Jocelyn

[Newfoundlander]

She does look great!

I want one not for everyday wear but mainly for holidays and special events. But I don't want it too foofy either since I don't want it to come off costumey. There's sort of a fine line between looking like you are proud of your traditional clothing and looking like you are reinacting a period movie. I don't want to look like a period movie. lol.

I think Sydnie's picture from that other thread (the style no. 6) is pretty much exactly what I am looking for Also, the one she posted with the giant bow is pretty amazing.

I couldn't agree more! I've seen these full length skirts before and they certainly do look lovely, and the young ladies in them look quite elegant and beautiful. More to the imagination = alluring.

As for it not looking costumey as you mentioned above, I feel that largely has to do with how you carry yourself. I've noticed that through my kilted escapades. If your the type to feel and look "at home" in your clothes than it just becomes a part of you. You wear it with pride and confidence. It's when I see other lads wearing a kilt and they look like they're out of place, or trying to "pull it off" that it looks like they're in costume.

Now the skirt that CopperNGold just described in her post, especially in the beautiful Maple Leaf tartan (yes I'm Canadian and biased) sounds absolutely fantastic. If an industrious x-marker ever makes that, you'll have to post a picture!