Lady Chrystel Box Pleat in Weathered Hunting Cunningham

[cessna152towser]

This morning the postman arrived with my Lady Chrystel box pleat kilt in Weathered Hunting Cunningham tartan, just in time to wear it to my first of several Christmas lunches during December.
Off to a perfect start when I set off from the house and a neighbour who regularly sees me in kilts stopped me to comment that she thought this was a particularly nice kilt.
Fabric purchased locally from Lochcarron at Selkirk and sent to France to be made into a box pleated kilt by Lady Chrystel.

An attempt to capture the pristine pleats on the way to Christmas lunch. Here the wind flirts with the pleats.

On one of Hawick's footbridges over the River Teviot.

Another attempt to capture those pristine pleats.

Hawick Carers Forum Christmas lunch.

Another shot of the new kilt immediately after lunch.
More to follow shortly, with a review.

[cessna152towser]

This kilt uses around half the amount of fabric of a traditional Scottish kilt.

Truly a strap on quickly casual kilt, there are just two buckles, and it is easiest to fasten the left hand one first as it is on the inside.

No belt loops. A belt is not needed as the kilt is a snug fit with the buckles fastened to their fifth hole, but there is no facility to hang a sporran chain even though the kilt does not have pockets.

From a final sequence of shots, taken with flash at Hornshole at 3:30pm in the afternoon as night time darkness began to fall. The kilt pin temporarily attached is by another of our xmarks members, Sydnie7, and incorporates small beads in the xmarks colours of blue white and yellow, though I will replace this with a Cunningham clan crest pin.

The kilt handles well and protects modesty even with a leg up.

A final frontal view

A last view of the pleats after sitting around at lunch and in the car.

[Deil the Yin]

A very handsome tartan! Congrats on your new toy. :P

Just curious, though: why did you not wear a sporran?

Cheers,
Wesley

[Alan H]

Gorgeous tartan, and NICE kilt, Alex!

[Splash_4]

Sweet Alex! I love that tartan.

[McFarkus]

Looks great! Just one question - I couldn't tell from the pictures if this is one of Lady Chrystel's double box-pleats, or a single box-pleat.

[English Bloke]

I can't see the pics yet Alex as Photo hosting sites are blocked where I am. I'll have to wait till I get home but I'm sure it's a beltin' kilt... even though it hasn't got a belt... (you know what I mean )

[cessna152towser]

I couldn't tell from the pictures if this is one of Lady Chrystel's double box-pleats, or a single box-pleat

It is a single box pleat.

[M. A. C. Newsome]

Alex,

Grand looking kilt! I don't think I have ever seen Lady Chrystel make a traditional box pleated kilt before, but she certainly did a fine job.

I hope you don't mind, or think I am nitpicking, but I do have to take issue with a few of your statements.

This kilt uses around half the amount of fabric of a traditional Scottish kilt.

I think I would have phrased it "this kilt uses around half the amount of fabric of a typical modern kilt." I know it sounds like I'm nitpicking, but I wouldn't want you to get the impression that a four yard box pleated kilt is somehow not "traditional" or "Scottish." It certainly qualifies as both (even though this one was made in France!).

Truly a strap on quickly casual kilt, there are just two buckles, and it is easiest to fasten the left hand one first as it is on the inside.

Sounds like she uses the same method I do to attach the left strap, on the inside of the kilt. But this really shouldn't affect the way you put the kilt on. Wouldn't you ordinarily fasten the left strap first, regardless?

Also, the fact that there are only two buckles does not mean the kilt is "casual." You can certainly wear that kilt for formal events and be quite proud of it! The third strap on the outer hip is completely superfluous.

No belt loops. A belt is not needed as the kilt is a snug fit with the buckles fastened to their fifth hole, but there is no facility to hang a sporran chain even though the kilt does not have pockets.

The absense of belt loops is also very traditional, and I never put belt loops on any of my kilts. I only put them on kilts I make for others if I am specifically asked to. The belt loops are not needed for a sporran to be worn. Have you given it a try?

Anyway, the kilt looks fantastic, and I hope you enjoy wearing your box pleated kilt in good health!

[Highlander31]

Nice looking kilt, Alex. Congratulations.