Which one first?

[Thanatos]

Hello everyone, I've been trying to find the time to write this post, and looks like I'll finally get around to doing it!

Ok, I have been wanting to get a kilt for quite some time now, but I wanted to get some advice first. I figured I'd get one on the cheaper side to wear around the house to get used to wearing a kilt before buying a better one for around town. Now I was looking a two different kilts for this purpose. The first is the Black Watch Thrifty-Kilt by Stillwater, which is around $30, and the second is the Comfy Kilt by Sport Kilts which is about $50. Which one would be best for getting used to wearing one?

Also, for my first kilt for wearing around town I was looking at getting a black Sport Kilt with the buckle closure, sewn-down pleats and pockets. Is this a good choice?

Ok, and now for a different question. I know kilts are usually worn above the waist line, and come down to around the middle of your knees. Now, I was planning to wear it around my waist, which means it would be lower than my knees. Also, I think I would feel more comfortable with it lower like that, but how much lower is too much?

Thanks!

[Sionnach]

Hoo boy. I think you will get alot of discussion/opinion with your questions. My 2 sguillins worth- if you plan on having a kilt for indoors and outdoors- save the $ and put it toward one that will accomplish both for you. That would rule out the SK comfy kilt- I don't have one but I think that it is described as indoor only on the website. I don't have a SWK thrifty so I can't say how they do for out in the community wear. I do have the regular SK and Standard SWK and have no trouble wearing either in the house of in the community.

Another question you might ask yourself is how warm will you be outside- now that winter is rolling in unless you are below the equator.

As for length- you might check older threads. If I remember correctly, from J. Charles Thompson's book- So You are Going to Wear the Kilt- proper length for the traditional kilt is right at the top of the knee- touching on the patella (kneecap.)

Hope this is helpful.

[Woodsman]

Sport Kilt Comfy kilt is fantastically comfortable but only for lounging around the house as I do at some point almost every day. Think of it as comfy pajamas. If you purchase a comfy kilt you'll soon buy another type anyway. Get something a little more significant for outdoors.

[Ian.MacAllan]

So far you've gotten excellent advice---I hope I'll maintain that standard.

I would strongly recommend the SWK Thrify because I consider it the better quality, not just the better buy. I have one which I very much enjoy wearing around the house and for yard work. I don't wear it out and about because I have others better suited for that. I would not be embarrassed to wear my Thrify to the supermarket, the post office, or the gas station, but I would not wear it to work or to dinner or to a doctor's appointment; I prefer something dressier (such as a SWK Standard) for those purposes.

A Thrifty will serve very well to get you used to a kilt: to sweeping pleats and tucking and being conscious of what may be showing, while you decide (and save for) what you want next.

Welcome to the rabble! and many happy years kilted!

.

[TheBlueCow]

On the topic of how to wear the kilt- the true waist is actually around the belly button area, which is a good couple of inches above the hip at least. I find that wearing a kilt with a belt, means that the lowest I can wear the kilt is with the belt sitting on my hips, meaning that if I have a 2-inch belt I would be wearing the kilt two inches above my hips. This is something to take into account when calculating the length of your kilt (especially if you wear them on your hips instead of true waist). Figure out how wide your biggest belt will be while kilting, add that to the top of your hips and measure to where you want to wear it around your knees.
Now about how low to wear it around the knees. Generally you wouldn't want to wear it any lower than mid-knee. However some of the modern casual kilts are made to be worn at the bottom of the knee. It's your choice, but I think that if it gets too far below the knee then it starts to look odd. I think you definitely want to leave some of the knee appearing and not cover it totally.
Something to note is that if you wear the kilt with your belt resting on your hips, then a 2 inch belt will leave the kilt hanging lower than a 3 inch belt would.

[Finn]

Ok. I have not yet purchased a kilt from SWK, but a Standard is my next.
I do have an SK and have not been happy. Beware the elastic in the waistband.
For your second kilt I recommend either USAKilt casual or an SWK. Simply put, for the money you get better quality from Rocky at USAK.
My wife made a flannel XKilt for me and it is not unlike a Komfy Kilt from SK. Its comfortable, but I wouldn't wear outside for anything more than getting the paper.

[Riverkilt]

Biggest thing to address is the LENGTH of the kilt. Many of the inexpensive vendors only sell kilts in one length...fine if that's your length...not so good if it isn't.

If you're like me you don't much care where you're "supposed" to wear the waist of the kilt you're gonna wear it where YOU wanna.

So figure that part out - maybe with a wrap around bath towel....once you know where YOUR "waist" is gonna be for the kilt, then you can figure out the length YOU need. If that fits off the rack fine. If it doesn't, don't waste your money...go to a kiltmaker that will sell you a kilt in the length you NEED.

Don't buy off on the "you can get it altered locally by a tailor/seamstress." You shouldn't have to.

Put USA Kilts casual model on your list of vendors to check out. You can get custom length there.

My 2 cents. No charge.

Ron

[Thanatos]

Thanks for all the great advice everyone!

Ok, after reading through everyone's posts, I began to think, and what Woodsman said is very true. I'll probably end up getting another kilt very soon after getting my "starter kilt". So, I figure it would be wise to go ahead and get a better quality kilt from the beginning. Also, this would save a bit of money, which is always a good thing. Any thoughts on this?

Also, Finn mentioned the elastic in the waistband of the SK. Has anyone else had any problems with it? The black SK is the first kilt that really grabbed my attention, and it is the one I think I would like the most, but there are others. I've began looking at the black watch SWK standard kilt, and it does look very nice (although I would prefer a plain black color), and from what I understand, it also has the leather straps like the SK does correct?

Thanks again everyone!

Edit: I just took a look at the SWK Heavyweight Kilts, and saw the shadow tartan. Now the website says "A unique tartan pattern is woven into the solid-color fabric, and is only visible under certain lighting conditions.", does anyone know what this looks like and what lighting conditions it means?

Also thanks Riverkilt for the idea about the bath towel. I'll try that to get a feel for the length. As for getting it altered if it is too long, although it would be nice to not worry about that, I have a few friends that could take care of that for me easily if I have too. Also, I completely overlooked the USA kilt casual kilt, and they do sound absolutely great for the price. Thanks again.

[Snowbear]

Sounds like a very good idea. As I've never tried any non-scottich kilts I don't know much about the technical things, but I agree that you should be getting a kilt you really like from the start on. That way you will have a nice kilt that you really care about. The way I see it; there's always more fun playing with something you really want that a copy of the real thing.

Good luck getting it!

[turpin]

I have the SWK saffron and green shadow tartans. The shadow effect is from a change in the weave back and forth across the fabric. It's subtle, and the everall effect is of the solid color. O wouldn't let that determ me. SWK is about the best quality you'll find in a wool kilt at the price, and SWK's service is outstanding. One thing with SWK is that the sewn in part of the pleats, a.k.a., the fell (area from top to butt) is thicker because the excess material on the inside isn't cut out as it would be on a custom kilt.

Also, as Riverkilt stated, SWK overall length is 24 inches. This length seems to be standard in the off-the-rack kilt industry, and if you are 5-9 to 6-2 and normally proportioned, should work OK for you.