Sizing for kilt jacket, re: Length...

**Joshua** · 2nd May 11, 04:30 AM

Ok, I am preparing to get myself a kilt jacket and have taken my chest measurement.

However, all websites specify "short, regular, long" but they have no actual measurement as to what constitutes "short, regular, long". Nor has my google fu described it in detail enough that I understand.

I'm 6' tall, with quite short legs, long arms, and a long back/torso. However, about half of the "tall" sized shirts I own are perhaps a tad "too" tall.

Can someone tell me, perhaps an estimate of what measurement constitutes length of the jacket?

Collar to natural waist (in line with navel) is around 21", outside sleeve to wrist is 23"

**Spartan Tartan** · 2nd May 11, 05:18 AM

What size jacket would you wear for non-kilted dressing up? I would be a Regular for non-kilt jackets and would be about the same for a kilt jacket. My problem, however, is not the length of the jacket but rather the sleeve length.

Where are you thinking of getting your jacket? I would call the retailer to discuss if they were one of the suppliers from this forum.

**SlackerDrummer** · 2nd May 11, 05:37 AM

Burnett's and Struth give the sleeve lengths of their Lochcarron jackets on their website: http://www.burnetts-struth.com/produ...ay-Jacket.html

**CMcG** · 2nd May 11, 07:34 AM

The best thing to do is measure a regular suit jacket that fits you and then compare it to the actual measurements of one that you are considering purchasing. When it comes to off-the-rack clothing, sizing can vary quite a bit.

That being said, Keltoi also has a sizing chart for kilt jackets here. That should get you in the right ball park:
http://www.gaelicclothing.com/jacketswaistcoats.htm

**chrisupyonder** · 2nd May 11, 09:27 PM

It's the sleeve length that counts. Get that right plus chest measurement and the length of the jacket will be decided and will look right.

Some retailers as I found have five lengths from very short to very long.

Chris.

**M. A. C. Newsome** · 3rd May 11, 04:26 AM

Short, regular, and long refer to the sleeve lengths, not the jacket length itself.

Basically, "regular" will be the standard sleeve length for the jacket pattern of that particular chest size; "short" will be one inch shorter in the sleeves; "long" will be one inch longer in the sleeves.

Most places that sell jackets will have some sort of sizing chart on their site for you. For example, we have a table on our jacket page that tells you what the sleeve length will be by jacket size.
http://giftshop.scottishtartans.org/kilt_jackets.htm

So, for example, a 44 jacket (which I wear) will have 25" long sleeves (measured from the shoulder seam) for a regular fitting. A long would have 26" long sleeves, and so on.

If your sizing requirements don't fit the standard mold, you can always go with a made-to-measure option.

**artificer** · 3rd May 11, 04:55 AM

If you are of slightly unusual proportion, wish to have a properly fitted jacket, but DON'T have the coin for a made-to-measure; a good tailor is going to be your best friend.

Buy the jacket that fits best in the shoulders and torso and have the sleeves taken up.

For years I had the problem that nobody made a suit with a 12" drop (difference between chest and waist measurement), so I'd always be forced to have the side and back seams broken and remade.

Luckily (sadly) this is a problem I don't have to deal with anymore

and can now buy suits with a standard or athletic cut, depending on the maker.

ith:

**ForresterModern** · 3rd May 11, 08:40 AM

There actually are differences in the lengths of the torso portions of jackets as well as the sleeve lenghts as you progress from X-short through short, regular, long, to X-long. I have tried on numerous regular and some long jackets, with the tailor's recommendation that he could lengthen the sleeves to make up for that issue, only to find that the bottom edge of the jackets were way to short as well. Body lengths tend to lengthen as your sleeve lengths do in relative proportion. Since most Argyll style (or variants) kilt jackets have the sleeves at about the same length as or a little shorter than the bottom of the jacket body it would only make sense that, unless you have particularly gorilla-like disproportionaly long arms, sleeve length would also dictate body length in all but specifically made to measure jackets.

**Joshua** · 10th May 11, 07:43 PM

Originally Posted by artificer

If you are of slightly unusual proportion, wish to have a properly fitted jacket, but DON'T have the coin for a made-to-measure; a good tailor is going to be your best friend.

Buy the jacket that fits best in the shoulders and torso and have the sleeves taken up.

For years I had the problem that nobody made a suit with a 12" drop (difference between chest and waist measurement), so I'd always be forced to have the side and back seams broken and remade.

Luckily (sadly) this is a problem I don't have to deal with anymore

and can now buy suits with a standard or athletic cut, depending on the maker.

ith:

Just my luck, I'm 57" at the chest, 45.5" at the waist, and have T-Rex arms.

I just received my "off the peg" 58R Argyle that fits me PERFECTLY in the shoulders and chest, but has the midsection of a 60" pear and the sleeve length of Tony Robbins. Heck, even the torso length is perfect (I of course put on a kilt and tried it out within minutes of arrival).

**MacMillan of Rathdown** · 11th May 11, 07:53 PM

Originally Posted by Joshua

Just my luck, I'm 57" at the chest, 45.5" at the waist, and have T-Rex arms.

I just received my "off the peg" 58R Argyle that fits me PERFECTLY in the shoulders and chest, but has the midsection of a 60" pear and the sleeve length of Tony Robbins. Heck, even the torso length is perfect (I of course put on a kilt and tried it out within minutes of arrival).

A good tailor can nip it in at the waist and you'll look a million bucks in it!