Casual kilt versus traditional: How to spot the difference?

[Highwayman]

I'm waiting on my first kilt which will hopefully be here Saturday, a 'Casual' model from USA Kilts. It's in my price range, it fits my needs, and it will hopefully be versatile throughout a few outfits. However, I was warned that these kilts are not quite up to snuff for very formal affairs. I have never handled a kilt up-close, don't know how to tell quality, and cannot visibly spot the differences between a casual kilt and a full blown model.

Let's say two gentleman walk by wearing the exact same outfits, same kilts, same tartan pattern even. What would the two kilts look like compared to each other? What makes the difference?

[Chaps]

I own a Casual Kilt by USA Kilts and like it very much. I also own more expensive kilts as well. Most people will not be able to tell the difference. A couple of things would tip off people with a little more experience with kilts. There is no fringe and no buckles. Also, depending on how you wear it, many wear the casual kilt a little lower on the waist. Also, formal kilts are often 8 yd and so there will be more and deeper pleats. That being said, your Casual Kilt will dress up more nicely than most other PV or Acrylic kilts in the same price range. Dress it up and enjoy yourself.

[Taskr]

Your preface would indicate a needed amendment in your question. Do you mean to ask same outfits, same tartan, but one in casual and one in 8yd 'traditional' tank?

I'd imagine one comparison might be determined by quality of materials and tailoring on either gentleman. A well made casual could look fair better than a could-be-better made or overly-worn traditional. A jacket and waistcoat properly tailored to a lower waisted casual should look very good. A difference might be similar from a bulk clothier rack tuxedo over a tailored or semi-tailored (and I am in no way calling a casual bulk or low quality) regardless of the cut.<br><br>as long as you're ok with it, would it matter. &nbsp;If you've not seen this thread yet, this fellow looks smashing in his dressed up USA Kilt
<br>http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/f...l-dress-86985/

[sydnie7]

The casual is likely to have (relatively more visible) machine stitching vs hand stitching on the more expensive model (in addition to differences already outlined).

[The Wizard of BC]

If I may point you in the direction of an article I wrote a few years ago.

http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/s...ad.php?t=43530

Basically the difference is how the kilt is made.

A full traditional kilt is first of all fully hand stitched. There are no visible stitches on the outside of the kilt.
A traditional kilt also has the excess fabric of the pleats cut-away in the upper inside to keep the back from being excessivly thick. What we call 'pillow butt'.

Because the pleats are cut away and due the the hand stitches some re-inforcement must be built into the back of the kilt to keep the stress of wearing it from distorting the fabric over stressing the stitches till they break.

We accomplish this with two internal added pieces called the stabilizer and interfacing. The Stabilizer spans the back of the kilt from one buckle to the other. It takes the stress away from the stitches.
The interfacing while providing some vertical structure to the waist area also serves to take the stress from strapping on the kilt away from the fabric itself.

In essence you are wearing the stabilizer and interfacing. The outer Tartan fabric can drape over your body without stress or distortion. This is one of the factors that give the swish we all like in our pleats.


A Casual kilt is any kilt make to look like a traditional kilt on the outside but without the internal structure. We have a nickname for this. We call it "Jeans Made" All the stress of wearing the kilt is taken up by the stitching and the fabric itself.

The problem with casual kilts is not in how they are made but in the fabric itself. Kilt wool is easily distorted without the internal structure.

One way around this is to use fabrics that can handle the stress. This is why most of the solid colored modern kilts are made from fabrics like those found in pants.

I won't speak specifically about Rocky's Casual Model as he is the best one to talk about his product.

But if you are looking at a generic traditional kilt against a generic casual kilt the first thing you may notice is the visible machine stitching used on most casual kilts.
Second is that most casual kilts also use less fabric so the pleats may be wider.
Most, but not all, casual kilts are made from a fabric other than premium kilt wool.
Some casual kilts use elastic in the back and some have little or no shaping in the back of the waist.


I often wish there was a way to allow our members to see and feel the different types of kilts for themselves. So many questions like yours could be cleared up in a moment if you had a way to hold these kilts in your hand.

[McElmurry]

If someone is walking toward me in a USA Kilts Casual kilt the first thing that will suggest it is not a "full blown" model is the sett size. While the MM synthetic fabric is best in class as far as feel, the sett size of the tartan is often substantially smaller than the same tartan in 16 oz. wool. There are exceptions, particularly with the tartans designed by the folks at USA Kilts such as the Firefighter Memorial.

[Spartan Tartan]

At a distance, unless you had specifically made a waistcoat and jacket LONGER there would probably be a gap between the top of the kilt and the bottom of the waistcoat. That assumes the casual is made to wear at the jeans waist. If the casual was made to wear at the natural waist, I think you could dress it up quite well.

There still would be no buckles, but that could go overlooked. No one is going to begin feeling the material, and it would take a trained eye to "see" material differences. But all the same, it would certainly look the part.

[RockyR]

I'm waiting on my first kilt which will hopefully be here Saturday, a 'Casual' model from USA Kilts. It's in my price range, it fits my needs, and it will hopefully be versatile throughout a few outfits. However, I was warned that these kilts are not quite up to snuff for very formal affairs. I have never handled a kilt up-close, don't know how to tell quality, and cannot visibly spot the differences between a casual kilt and a full blown model.

Let's say two gentleman walk by wearing the exact same outfits, same kilts, same tartan pattern even. What would the two kilts look like compared to each other? What makes the difference?

Since the query was about our Casual Kilt (not using the term "casual" as a generic term but specifically in referencing a model that we define as our "Casual Kilt" model), I'll chime in here:

The main visual differences are type of cloth used, amount of cloth use, type of closure, lack of fringe, width of pleats and construction (though it's a bit tough to gauge construction from 2 guys wearing a kilt side by side).

Our Casual Kilt model has 1.5" wide pleats where our Premier 8 Yard Kilt (insert another company's "traditional" made kilt here) has pleats which are .6" to 1" wide.

Our Casual Kilt is "top stitched" (which means if you look closely, you can see the stitching) where our Premier kilt is sewn "inside out" so you don't see any stitching.

Our Casual Kilt uses 11 - 12 oz Poly Viscose material which is teflon coated and machine washable where our Premier kilt uses 13 or 16 oz wool.

Our Casual Kilt doesn't have any of the internal stabilizing bits or lining b/c it doesn't need it. Our Premier kilt does have internal construction necessary in an 8 yard kilt.

Our Casual Kilt uses velcro closure and has no fringe on the front apron where our Premier kilt has leather straps / buckles and does have fringe.


ALL THAT being said, what are the 'real world' differences that the common person would notice? Realistically, 98% of the general populous in the US has never seen a kilt in person and wouldn't know the differences. Of those who ARE around kilts regularly, I'd venture to say many of them wouldn't notice a difference unless it was pointed out to them. Not because there isn't a difference, but b/c they aren't looking for it.

When a kilt is being WORN by someone, it's much more difficult to tell differences than when it's laid flat on a table. That being said, of those who DO know kilts, the 'practical / real world' visual differences when our Casual Kilt is being worn beside a Premier 8 Yard Wool kilt are: 1) the pleats are wider 2) the swing / drape of the kilt (due to less cloth) is lessor in the Casual.

Please note: I am NOT trying to represent our Casual Kilt as more than it is. We gave it the name "Casual Kilt" for a reason... it is best worn in casual type settings the same way jeans are worn. When dressing formally, we always suggest that the customer buy the nicest kilt that they can afford without breaking the bank. I'm simply giving my opinion of the "real world view" of our Casual Kilt, based on 12 years wearing kilts of all kinds (Casual to Premier and everything in between)

[frank_a]

I guess I haven't been into this stuff long enough to have a clue. I own one of Rocky's casual kilts (as does everyone else in my family, wife and three boys) and love it. I have an 8 yard kilt from Bonnie Heather Greene and wear it for more formal occasions. I know how to tell them apart in my closet, and that's about it!

Frank

[Liam]

Beyond the structural and visual differences, there are some very practical reasons why you should consider owning at least one of each. The traditional 8 yd. 16 oz wool kilt despite what you may read here, is simply not what you would be comfortable wearing in hot humid weather. Far more comfortable is the 4-5 yd PV model that can also be thrown into the washing machine if you happen to spill your chilled G & T on it.
The lighter weight of the "casual" kilt make them perfect to wear in place of shorts, and far more comfortable. On the other hand you wouldn't wear shorts to a formal event, so you have your traditional kilt for your "dress-up" occasions. Some folks try to make which ever the have do double duty, but I think having both makes much more sense.

Slainte