Ladies- do you wear "male" kilts or kilts made specially for women?

[Angela Kaye Bodine]

Thank you Tarheel ! I found it ....Angie...must of been blind lol

[Elizabeth]

I'm struggling with this question right now. I have several lengths of tartan that I'd like to make up for myself, but what to do? Have always had a definite pear shape, proportions do not change regardless of weight. So with the widest part of body below the fell, pleats are problematic. . . But so tempting. Rather than try such a drastic taper, I'm considering a bias-cut skirt yoke with pleats falling from that. It will be done up first in some "trade" tartan from the old Kirkbright remnants site, just to see how it looks. Right after I finish knitting hose for grandniece Ginger, who totally rocks her traditionally made Navy Edzell kilt!

Sidney, I remember we spoke about that at Costa Mesa. I am interested in the "billie kilt" idea as well. I have a 10-11 inch difference between waist and hip. I tried some sample pleating on the unknown tartan I have and that taper is pretty drastic! If you try the yoke method be sure to post about it. It will be a while before I get to actually using the fabric... I have to finish a historical outfit first.

As for

[Elizabeth]

As for the men or woman kilt. I have a Stumptown woman's kilt, which of course is very modern. I love it, it's comfortable and easy to care for. I also have a couple kilted skirts that are not my favorites, they were bought second hand years ago and have shrank ;). I recently tried on a 4 yard kilt I impulsively purchased on ebay... it fits me pretty well even though it appears to be a men's garment. It slightly shower curtains, which I think means it's actually too big in the hip?

If money was no object having a kilt custom made for me by one of the makers here would be the best option but finances won't allow that now.

[bonnie heather]

The first kilt I made was for myself, and my teacher said to make it the same way as for a man's kilt. So I learned to make kilts fastened on the right. Most highland dancers these days are female and their dance kilts fasten on the right. But if a lady wants hers to be fastened on the left, I can make it that way.

The thing that I feel makes a big difference in kilts for ladies, is that it looks and feels better if the rise is not as high as the usual 2" rise on a man's kilt. That's too bulky for me. I prefer them to have minimal rise (1") or have the strap at waist level. When I make highland dance kilts, I place the back canvas to come up just to the waist stabilizer and not continue up on the rise. That way it's not as bulky.

[Angela Kaye Bodine]

Bonnie, I love your kilts you have done for me, what you do and so many others do is Art Work and I love them.. Im use to the buckle on my right and its easier being a righty.. it doesn't matter to me what side I wear them because I love them, they also give me a more flattering figure...and my husband likes them on me too.. Thank you again Bonnie I love all my kilts that you have done for me...Angie

[Katia]

When we say "women's kilts," are we taking about a full-yardage kilt with a cut to better fit a woman's shape (usually more of a tapered waist rather than straight-up-and-down), or what I've seen called a "kilted skirt"-- pleats not very deep, not with the yardage (and not always with the sett replicated across the back)?

[frank_a]

My wife has one of each. She has a men's Ancient Campbell and a lady's. She also has a men's Foster. She likes what she likes!

Frank

[Katia]

Speaking of kilted skirts, was in a discussion with someone-- what is the definition of a kilted skirt? I had understood that it fit my description above, but she said she thought a "kilted skirt" was any kilt-like garment worn by a woman-- even if it was a full kilt. So, my 6-7 yard dance kilt, opening on the proper side, etc. = a kilted skirt. (I'm not sure if that means it has to have been made for a woman specifically, or if it is a "kilted skirt" vs "kilt" based solely on who it happens to be worn by at any given moment.)

Any input?

[Angela Kaye Bodine]

Anne the pleater, hi ! Not sure where I heard it, but even my mom questioned it when I got my first kilt, she had one as a teen in the 50s and hers buckled on the left.. Also my muse got her kilt from Scotland that her grand mom picked up while on vacation hooks on the left..The man at the Celtic Festival told me it was a girls kilt ( buckles on left)..I guess it depends on who makes the kilt possibly...Either way I love my kilts..Im a righty so its easier for me on the right lol so it works to my advantage lol win win...Angie

[Pleater]

I suspect that because people 'know' that all women's garments with a front opening close the other way over, they make kilts like that, but I can only say that it wasn't the case in the examples I found.

Back in the days when I had a 24 inch waist and 38 inch hips I had pleated skirts, so it must be possible to put in the shaping...

A bias cut tartan skirt is always an option - I like the Vs at the joins, but I no longer have the / \ shape to wear one.

Anne the Pleater :ootd: