Whether you're new to the kilted world, or a veteran that's just looking for a refresher, we have the tips and tricks you need to not only get the best kilt fitting, but also how to make sure your kilt lasts a lifetime!
Sizing Your Kilt
Getting the Perfect Fit!
A common misconception is your kilt size matches your pant size. In most cases, this is not accurate. This is due to the kilt being wrapped around your midsection (navel) instead of at or below your waist like most pants. To get your correct kilt size, you will need to have a fabric tape measure on hand.
Using the tape, take a measurement directly around your navel. For accurate results, remove anything you don’t plan on wearing underneath your kilt, as some garments can affect the shape of your body and give a false dimension. By the same token, don’t hold in your stomach: We’re trying to get as comfortable and precise a fit as possible. The measurement around someone’s midsection is usually several inches larger than their pants size.
What is the proper kilt length? Your kilt should come down to the middle of your knee, so that whenever you're kneeling, the kilt's hem should be just above touching the ground. Measure the distance between your navel and your mid- to lower-knee. Our standard men's kilt length is 24", while the women's varies between kilt styles. If you need a specialty size or length, no problem! Just contact us, and we will create a custom kilt just for you. Please keep in mind that it takes six to eight weeks for custom kilts to be crafted and delivered.
Once your size is figured out, and have that beautiful kilt in your hands, check out our kilt care guide for some preventative care tips to get the longest life out of your investment!
Kilt Care & Storage
Caring For Your Kilt
We all know that a good kilt can be a costly investment, so to ensure that you are getting the longest possible life out of your kilt, here is a quick care guide to make it last! Before we begin, we highly recommend that you find a quality dry cleaner that is familiar with kilts to avoid any accidental damage during cleaning. However, with just a few steps of preventative care at home, you may not need to use the dry-cleaner as often as you might think.
#1 - Never store your kilt until it is 100% dry.
When you take it off after a long day of caber tossing, or a very warm day around the fairgrounds, lay it out flat and opened up, with the lining face-up, until it is completely free of any sweat or moisture. It will not harm the kilt if you were to lightly use a fabric freshener (aerosol/water-based spray, not soapy liquid or solid), but you must ensure the kilt is completely dry from the freshener before placing it in storage.
#2 - Got a stain? Know your kilt's bacterial characteristics.
Acrylic and poly-viscose kilts aren't inherently antimicrobial, so kilts made with these materials may require frequent dry-cleaning to keep fresh and clean (dependent on use and wear). Wool, on the other hand, is antimicrobial, and therefore does not typically require traditional washing methods, unless it starts to get pungent (if all other steps are followed, this may never happen). However, accidents do happen, and you might find that a stain has appeared after a very boisterous day at the Scottish games. First, use a soft washcloth with room temperature water to moisten the stained area, then apply a small amount of unscented bar soap (not liquid soap) to the washcloth and work it gently into the kilt until the stain is clean. Thoroughly rinse the washcloth, then proceed to use it again with clean water to remove the soap from the kilt, repeating as necessary. Be sure to let the kilt air dry before placing it in storage.
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#3 - Keep away from dust and moths.
When storing kilts, many people hang them in a closet. This is a good method to keep the pleats proper, but typically doesn’t protect the kilt from dust (or worse, moths). We recommend rolling the kilt and storing it in a cedar chest (moths don’t like cedar). If this is not possible, a tightly-sealed plastic container would serve the same purpose.
#4 - Don't forget the leather straps!
If your leather straps start to feel dry, try using a rag to apply a little bit of mink oil or leather conditioner/balm to make them supple again. If you wish for more guidance on leather care, please visit our leather care guide found here.
If you adopt these preventative care steps as part of your kilt-wearing routine, your kilt will last you a very long time and remain richly beautiful in your proud tartan colors!