K/T the kilt... - YouLookFab Forum

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K/T the kilt...

Freckles

Veteran

I inherited this kilt and kept it although it didn't fit as it was a sentimental thing. Cleaning out my closet today I took it down to toss it and dh asked if I might try it on as everything had been falling off my lately. I just threw it on with what I has on and found out it fits.
Now this kilt is warm colours which I am not, I don't have a thing to go with it but it is the heaviest kilt fabric and handmade in Scotland for my mother. It is super warm and I am always freezing...
In the pics I see it goes with my old stained t much better than my black wool sweater. I don't have anything to match beautifully but snuggled up on the sofa not freezing sure has a draw and I do adore kilts...
Sentimentality aside and toss or keep and enjoy even though it is not the most flattering?
Tia.

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Dressing

21 replies

Latest reply was from Hil

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Wow, what an amazing thing to find a piece like this. And congrats on fitting into it -- you are looking svelte!

I am wondering....do you ever go to slightly more formal events related to the rink? Because with the right sweater, this kind of skirt might work really well for that. Maybe a green one? Or even just a white button down or silky shirt.

You could have it chopped to midi length, too, and wear with tall boots.

Sheila

Veteran

Being of Scottish heritage myself, I have a sugar eye toward kilts as I adore them. I am thus going to abstain from giving my ideas about your kilt as I am totally biased toward them! I think you are one lucky daughter!

MsMaven

Veteran

The kilt is gorgeous and it looks great on you. I admit a weakness for kilts, and love it when they are in style.

Dana

(website)

Veteran

The kilt is beautiful and really highlights your small waist. My thought is that you need to pair it with something modern to make it look up to date. As Suz suggested, a white blouse would be nice, but I'd add a wide belt in a shade to go with the suggested boots. I feel like it would also look great juxtaposed with something dressy...perhaps a cashmere cardigan with beading.

rachylou

Veteran

I feel kilt-love through my Scottish grandmama, so perhaps you shouldn't take my advice... but I think you should keep. It's got sentimental value, it's warm, and it fits you beautifully. A white button down is all you need for perfection.

Diana

Veteran

I think it is beautiful! I would just style it with a simple top (let the kilt be the star!) and you're good to go.

If you really don't think you'll wear it, maybe you could look into getting it made into a blanket or quilt? Perfect for snuggling!

suzyq

Keep/wear, that is all!

biscuitsmom

Veteran

I love this.... and you look so lovely in it. I would hold onto it, just for the sentimental value alone, but girl you ROCK IT! Wear proudly, and I hope often.

Sarah

As someone else asked, do you ever need to dress for something formal? Even New Year's or Hogmany? I'd keep it! I don't think the colouring matters since it's not near your face.

I think it's more flattering with the top tucked in - it highlights your tiny waist. Perhaps a white shirt as someone suggested?

Vicki

(website)

Veteran

I love your kilt and I keep hoping that there is a tartan for my former English surname (Childers), as I'd love to own one, too.

It looks lovely on you and your shapely figure and I'm so happy your DH encouraged you to wear it. I, too, agree with Suz, that it may had added gorgeous wear by cutting the hem (if that's acceptable) so you can wear it more and with boots.

Great suggestions have been offered here and I would add to the crisp white shirt, a navy or cream sweater or ivory blouse.

It's a definite keep! ^_^

Freckles

Veteran

Wow, I`m very surprised at the results. The sentimental value and my adoration of kilts was in overdrive I thought. Glad to see so many other kilt lovers out there.
Great solutions, each and every one, thank you.
Thank you Suz but I don't get any credit for the weight thing, just a tiny medicasl issue going on. I will have to think about the rink thing, I think you are so right with your analysis. My real problem is the colours in the kilt are not what I should or do wear. My cashmere turtle is a bottle green and way too blue based for the kilt. White has never been my friend, even the right white. When I got my colours done years ago the consultant said never near my face and she was so right... No idea what colour to pair with this...
Yes Sheila I am very lucky. We had a lot of functions to attend throughout my life so kilts were always in my wardrobe. I also just loved them so added to that enormously when I started working. I wanted to get a new one made when I joined YLF but thought dated style and it no longer fit my shape/weight.
MsMaven luckily they are always appropriate wear at a clan gathering or Robbie Burns night... Thank you, it's good to know I can get away with wearing one again.
Dana thank you but it is Angie's tucking advice and wearing a more tailored item that makes the thick waist look small. Since my middle name is sweater girl I think that is the way to go. What colour would you suggest? Do you think it is too old fashioned full lenghth? I do adore that length and always have for the warmth factor.
Thanks Rachylou, any ideas for another colour?
Diana I feel that I give myself license to wear it I won't wear anything else at home during the days. If I can wear it out, even to just the grocery store, I want to make sure I don't veer into my terribly comfortable frumpy territory and I know skirts of this length are usually frowned upon except in perhaps a mroe formal setting. A simple cashmere turtle with a complimentary coloured scarf? But I repat, what colour? Thanks for the idea to get it made into something else as it is reallly gorgeous fabric.
Thanks you Suzyq.

ManidipaM

Veteran

Gorgeousness. As for colour pairings... ivory chunky knit? Fine gauge in grey? Do you do chocolate brown? What about navy? Burgundy or dark pink? Yellow?

I think you only need to seek harmony or even contrast. Never mind exact matching.

Freckles

Veteran

Thank you biscuitsmom, just to find what to style it with now I guess...
Sarah yes in seeing the pics I hear Angie in my head ... tuck in, tuck in... Yes I could wear for Christmas or clan gatherings or lots of other things, thank you.
Vicki if you have details from where exactly they are from some of the kilt shops or Scottish/Irish/British stores will do the research for you. Personally I would wear it a lot more at this length than shorter as it is warmer. I know the midi length would be more acceptable but how bad is this length? I've added a close up to the tartan. Do you think navy, which really do like, even though there isn't any navy in the tartan?

Thank you so much for your help ladies. Once I get this one sorted I do believe I will seriously looking into getting a new one in the tartan variant that is true to my heart...

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biscuitsmom

Veteran

I think navy would work great, along with maybe peach, pink, grey, cream, black, a lighter shade of green. I love the length, and would really hesitate to cut it, although I think a knee length would look good also, but I have a sugar eye towards maxi length, and that looks sooo great on you

L'Abeille

Veteran

Well I'm glad the poll has confirmed that you dan't get rid of that lovely kilt. I would hate to chop[ it up too, that's metres of lovely tartan and it might not hang the same if you shorten it. Plus if you actually go to Rabbie Burns dinners, then you are already all set.

My contribution will be to suggest some things to wear it with (as a mom of Highland dancers, I have seen this tartan in many combos). What are "your" colours for starters?

My first suggestions, as others, is to wear it with a white shirt. If you can't wear white, can you wear off-white or cream? Could you wear it if you had some variation on the traditional velvet vest (waistcoat) or jacket/blazer? I'd suggest navy or deep green, or a jewel-toned green or blue that tones with the colours of the kilt. (Is that really a lilac stripe in there, or is that an illusion?)

If you really can't get away with any white, would that lemon yellow in the tartan suit you? Or could you wear a dark blouse with a lace collar or jabot? (Black looks too intense for you in the pics, but if you CAN get away with black, then just bookend it with black ballet flats.)

For the more casual, keeping cozy at home, or even entertaining at home, top it with a sweater. Can you show us your bottle green sweater with the kilt? It might surprise you! Again, jewel tones or dark especially if you use a thin fitted knit like a cashmere. But you could also wear it with a fisherman-type sweater and oxfords. Or with an oxford shirt layered under a sweater...

This looks to me like the kind of beutiful classic that is nearly impossible to frumpify.

Edited: just saw your latest post. Yes to navy. And yes to keeping it this length, it won't date the way a midi or knee-length one would.

biscuitsmom

Veteran

Ooh, I love the idea of soft lemon with this. I must admit to a bit of a poison eye for button-downs, and think it may look too harsh with this. Have you considered a soft lightweight knit top, maybe in a V-neck or rounded neckline? Also a sweetheart neckline would be awesome! Just a thought....

Freckles

Veteran

Thanks Manidipa harmony ahhh. That I'd be more comfortable with I think. I have such a hard time with this as it doesn't have any dark colours in it..grr. I find a Blackwatch so easy. I also don't really like orange.
Biscuitsmom I have a muted navy silk t from years ago that I can check the colour with the kilt, haven't seen that shade since though. You thought the black looked ok? A lot of the clothes that I like the shape/fabric of only come in black. I would love a narrow deep v or a nice narrow scoop neck soft knit, a sweetheart (not too sweet though) would be awesome. I used to look really good in a sweetheart neckline, haven't seen them in years. As far as button downs, I've always done the soft blouse thing instead as they just look better on me. I find them cold in the winter though. Thanks for all the great advice.
Thank you l'Abeille. I hadn't even thought of it not hanging properly if shortened or that it would date more at a shorter length. The colours in my kilt are white, tourquoise, Irish green and bright orange. I hadn't thought of the waistcoat or blazer breaking up the winter white, I shall have to try it again as I haven't in a couple of years.I tried to get black out of my life and kind of gave up or I would go clothesless, it so doesn't suit me. I took pics tonight with the bottle green turtle but the light is not good and it does not show well, will wait for a sunny day. I really do need to get my colours under control as getting older it becomes more problematic and things that used to look good on me no longer do.

Thank you so much everyone, might have to wait a bit to try and see if anything is in my closet as the winter clothes are still packed away with only very few things out all year round. Plus, I am still processing all the great advice given.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Keep the length if you love it. As others say, it might hurt it to chop.

Try it with every single top in your closet to see about colours. You won't know until you do that.

Good luck!

annagybe

(website)

Veteran

I think it would look awesome with a black leather moto jacket. Or at least that's how I would wear it.

Lantana

Veteran

Freckles you have loads of great suggestions to which I'll add that citron might go well with it too. I like Anna's suggestion of the leather moto best.
Here's another, slightly sacriligeous, solution for you.
I was given a kilt in colours that are way too harsh for my colouring so I carefully unpicked it and use it as a throw. I didn't have to cut it at all,it is just one long length and unbelievably light and warm.

Hil

(website)

Veteran

It's beautiful Freckles! I am glad you have decided to keep!