bittersweet wardrobe issues

**Magnus Sporrano** · 27th June 06, 10:54 AM

I've been losing weight. Rapidly. Very rapidly. I don't own a scale so I didn't appreciate the full impact of it until today when I went for a Doctor's appointment. 20 lbs shed in the last month.

The kilts that fit the tightest on me before are very close to being too big on me to even close (USAK casual kilts, velcro closures). My kilt belt which was worn at a wider setting before is now on the tightest setting and not all that snugly. My sporran droops despite my best efforts and tightest setting on the sporran belt.

My investment in kilts is probably going to end up on eBay or the for-sale section here when I'm sure there will be no going back to 325 lbs.

Given the cost of tailored kilts, I just can't justify buying kilts to get me through the weight loss. At least not philabegs anyway. I'm going to have to get some cheap pants to get my through the next year of weight loss (trying to get down to 200 lbs, where the doctor says I should be).

The one thought I did have was that the Great Kilt is not a tailored garment, and while quite cumbersome and time consuming to put on, can grow and shrink with one's waistline without any problems. I might have to get myself 4 yards of tartan, new kilt belt & sporran belt, and brooch.

These are good problems to have, I suppose.

**Colin** · 27th June 06, 11:03 AM

Great work Magnus. It is bitter sweet to lose the weight, but to also lose the kilts that fit in the process. Why don't you grab a few stillwater standards and economies to get you through the weight loss process. Grab one(standard) or two(economy) as you go down in sizes. Because they are buckles, you can order a size or two down in anticipation, as the buckle will go about 2 inches out or in.

Just a thought.

Colin

By the way, how are you losing the weight? Special diet or exercise?

**cavscout** · 27th June 06, 11:05 AM

Congrats Magnus.

I stumbled on your web site the other day while looking for sporran related items by the way.

Your kilt solution for rapid size changes sounds like a good one, though you could probably get by with a philabeg version and do the same thing. Throw a couple of darts in the top of each pleat so you don't have to spend the time re-pleating each time and they would be easy to remove when you drop to the next size.

Could be a great idea for a "Weight-Loss" kilt. 4-5 yards of fabric pleated with "temp-stitches" in the waist where the belt goes. Include a set of instructions for the buyer to use or to give to a tailor or seemstress to reposition the pleats as needed. This would of course be a no-frills kind of deal but would allow for weightloss and continued kilt wearing.

**jjoseph** · 27th June 06, 11:47 AM

Good on ya for takin' care of yourself! I wish more brothers, fathers and friends would.

Congrats. I know it's hard work.

As for kilts, you can always invest in two or three SWK econo's. It would be the only time I'd recommend those over their standard or heavyweight, but for a temp kilt, it wouldn't kill the pocketbook.

**Ghâshûl** · 27th June 06, 12:32 PM

Congratulations on your succesful weightloss!

I need to lose weight now too (wouldn't hurt to me to reach 200lbs or even a bit less), and so I'm a bit wary about shelling out a couple of hundred dollars on a kilt that might not fit me optimally in a few months.
It seems from reading your message that it might be a bit daft to buy one just now.

Anywho, good luck on your continued weightloss.

**Magnus Sporrano** · 27th June 06, 12:39 PM

Hmmmm after all my railing against SWK I would feel odd ordering one but if I knew it was just for wearing temporarily while my weight drops, I might be able to live with myself.

But then when I hit my target weight I'm going to have to make some long overdue checks out to USAK and PK

**Colin** · 27th June 06, 01:03 PM

Originally Posted by Magnus Sporrano

Hmmmm after all my railing against SWK I would feel odd ordering one but if I knew it was just for wearing temporarily while my weight drops, I might be able to live with myself.

But then when I hit my target weight I'm going to have to make some long overdue checks out to USAK and PK

Sorry to be the one to break it too you, but PK is gone. I think Jeff has gone with the other job for right now http://pittsburghkilts.com/index.shtml

**Magnus Sporrano** · 27th June 06, 01:45 PM

:-o

No! Say it isn't so!

Jeff is THE MAN when it comes to solid color kilts. He made me a lined MARPAT kilt that I just LOVE. Wow that's a downer. But I hope this was good news for Jeff at least.

**Caradoc** · 27th June 06, 02:00 PM

Originally Posted by Magnus Sporrano

My sporran droops despite my best efforts and tightest setting on the sporran belt.

If it's a chain belt, you can always take a few links out of the chain through careful application of pliers.

If it's a leather belt, depending on tooling or any other work on it, you might be able to punch a few holes and trim it up - and I know you've got leatherworking tools.

**TechBear** · 27th June 06, 06:51 PM

Keep this up, and you'll have to change your handle to Minorus. Or would it be Migrus? It's been a few years since I studied Latin.

Anyway, I feel your pain. I've lost almost 30 pounds in the last six months (going from 248 to, eventually, 160) and my kilts are getting a tad roomy. My first one, 44 inch waist, is going up for sale soon and the rest (42 inch) may soon follow. Thank goodness for the Utilikilt floating waistband!

Stick with it. Going panted for a half a year is a small price to pay for how you will feel latter. To help, put aside a few dollars a week in a "kilt fund" so that when you hit your goal, you have the funds to restock your wardrobe immediately. We need to find you a piggy bank shaped like a kilted Scotsman....