Help With Kilts - FAQ's
WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A 5, 8 AND 10 YARD KILT?
A higher yardage provides not only more frequent pleats at the back of your kilt but each one is also deeper. This combination creates an impressive swing as you walk. It has nothing to do with your size or shape. Here is a comparison of all three kilt models we offer:
5 Yard Casual Kilt - More suitable for casual wear or hiking. However, a casual kilt can be dressed up for formal occasions with one of our kilt jackets if you're on a budget. This kilt includes two waist straps and buckles.
8 Yard Dress Kilt - The traditional kilt model, suitable for formal occasions such as weddings. Dress kilts can also be worn casually, for example with just a shirt or top. The dress kilt includes three straps & buckles, two at the waist and one at the hip. Construction-wise, this kilt is a big step up from our casual kilt model and designed to be incredibly durable. This garment will last you a lifetime, provided it's looked after properly.
10 Yard Prestige Kilt - A superior kilt! Whilst the construction is identical to our dress kilt above, the extra yardage allows us to craft even more pleats into the finished garment to give you a show-stopping 'swish'!
MY FUNCTION IS OVER A YEAR AWAY, WHEN SHOULD I ORDER MY KILT?
If you're confident that you'll be the same size when your function comes around then feel free to order now. Our kilts allow for 1.5 inches of adjustment on either side of your actual waist size, plus we can alter your kilt at a later date if required.
If you're likely to fluctuate in size, we'd still recommend that you order now to reserve the tartan needed to make your kilt and sizes can be confirmed 6-8 weeks before your function. Tartan cloth takes months to weave and return to stock, so you don't want to be weeks away from your wedding when all of our cloth is already reserved for other customers! Once you place your order, the price is fixed.
HOW DO I WEAR MY KILT CORRECTLY?
Click here to view our kilt wearing instruction sheet.
CAN ANYONE WEAR A KILT?
Absolutely! Kilts are worn all over the world by people with and without Celtic heritage.
WHAT HAPPENS IF MY KILT DOESN'T FIT?
Measuring guides, videos and helpful tips are provided throughout our website. In our 20+ years of trading, we've only had a handful of instances where a customer had measured incorrectly (and we sell quite a few)! See all measuring guides available by clicking here.
However, if your kilt doesn't fit on arrival, it can be altered. Return your kilt to us to be altered for a small charge (please get in touch first) or you can get this done at a local tailor if you live overseas. Ensure your tailor is familiar with kilts, this is very important.
HOW SHOULD I STORE MY KILT?
We recommend hanging your kilt in the wardrobe, with a cover over it (you have to keep those moths away)! We offer kilt hangers with four clips, to stop your kilt from bowing and losing its shape in the wardrobe. These are available here.
HOW DO I CARE FOR MY KILT?
Please look for the care label inside your kilt. The vast majority of kilts we make are 100% wool, which is dry clean only, however each dry clean will naturally deteriorate the quality of the fabric, so we only recommend this where absolutely necessary. Most spillages and marks can be cleaned with a soft washcloth.
Even if you have a Poly Viscose kilt, do not put your kilt in the washing machine... Ever. This will ruin the structure of the pleats and the interlinings.
WHAT SHOULD I WEAR WITH MY KILT?
Our formal kilt packages come with everything you will need for a wedding or any formal occasion. However, should you choose to purchase items individually or for a more casual setting, you will need a sporran to accompany your kilt at the very least. The sporran is a staple in any kilt outfit for two reasons; It acts as a pocket/pouch for your valuables and really emphasizes a kilt, as opposed to a skirt when worn without.
From there, the next items we recommend would be a kilt pin, kilt hose (socks) and tartan flashes. Going out to watch some sports? Consider wearing your kilt hose rolled down with a pair of boots and your favourite sports jersey. Casual wedding? How about a Jacobite shirt on top?
Or for something in between casual and fully formal, simply pair a shirt with a plain vest (a tartan one might be a bit too much). We recommend choosing a vest in a colour that compliments your tartan. If you already have kilt hose in a particular colour, try and keep your vest the same.
We strongly advise against wearing a normal suit jacket with your kilt. The kilt is worn higher than trousers which means proper kilt jackets are cut shorter in length to compensate for this. A normal suit jacket would be too long, cover too much of the kilt and overlap with your sporran.
If you need any advice on what to order, just get in touch!
HOW LONG WILL MY KILT TAKE TO MAKE?
Our standard lead time for made-to-measure kilts is 6-8 weeks, wherever you are in the world. We offer a 2-3 week express option for an additional charge, and sometimes we can even deliver within 2 weeks where required. Although we do ask you to contact us first in that instance, just to be sure.
DO YOU OFFER KILT ALTERATIONS?
Yes! Whether you’ve bought a kilt from us or elsewhere, we can alter kilts, jackets, waistcoats, skirts and more. Please get in touch to discuss your requirements.
CAN YOU MAKE A KILT FROM MY OWN KILT FABRIC?
Yes. While we do prefer to work with fabric from our own suppliers and maintain our high-quality standards, we can also make your kilt from tartan fabric supplied by you. Please get in touch to discuss this further BEFORE you order any fabric. We will confirm how much cloth we need based on the kilt you are ordering, your size and also whether the cloth is single or double width.
SHOULD I BE CONCERNED ABOUT ORDERING ONLINE?
Definitely not! The vast majority of our kilts are made for customers outside of Wales, who unfortunately we never get to meet in person. Read the many reviews from happy customers across the globe here and rest assured knowing we’ll create a stunning, perfectly fitted garment for you. However, if you're still unsure you can always make an appointment to come and see us in our Swansea store.
CAN I ORDER MY KILT IN-STORE?
Of course! We strongly recommend an appointment to ensure you are looked after properly. Get in touch to arrange your appointment.
WHAT SHOULD I WEAR UNDER MY KILT?
Your socks…
WHEN AND WHERE CAN I WEAR MY KILT?
The sky is the limit! Weddings, graduations, hiking, sports events, family parties, trips to the pub… One customer even climbed the Alps in his kilt!
A word of caution... If you're a guest at a wedding, just ensure you don’t upstage the groom. Speak to him in advance and plan ahead (after all, he is paying for your dinner)!
ARE KILTS ONLY WORN IN SCOTLAND?
Kilts are worn all over the world, including Wales, Scotland, Ireland, the USA, Australia and New Zealand to name just a few!
IS THERE A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WELSH AND SCOTTISH KILTS?
While the Welsh kilt itself is crafted no differently from that of our Celtic cousins, the Welsh regalia does have some noticeable differences:
Charlie Jacket - Includes matching tartan highlights at the cuff and tails at the back. We can also add tartan to the pockets on your waistcoat. Epaulettes at the shoulder include subtle embroidered red dragons. Buttons are normally round and gold or pewter grey, as opposed to square and silver.
Kilt - A 3x2” red dragon can be embroidered neatly onto the bottom corner of your kilt (optional)
Neckwear - Usually a matching tartan bow tie or necktie, as opposed to a plain black.
Flashes - The tartan tabs which sit under the fold of your hose (socks). These have the same function as Scottish style flashes, but look slightly different.
Sporran - You might have guessed, we love our dragons! Check out the black dress ysgrepan, which is the official Welsh sporran including an embossed dragon on the leather front.
Shoes - These are not included in our packages as standard, although they can be purchased separately. The Welsh regalia is normally accompanied with black patent shoes or plain black brogues, as opposed to Scottish ghillie brogues.
CAN YOU PLEAT MY KILT TO THE STRIPE?
Yes. We pleat all of our kilts to the sett as standard, however we can pleat your kilt to the stripe by request. However, please note that while all tartans can be pleated neatly to the sett, the same cannot be said for the stripe.
Pleating to the sett means the pattern runs consistently around the entire kilt, including in the pleats themselves. Each pleat is different but runs with the tartan pattern. Pleating to the stripe means each pleat looks exactly the same, with the dominant line in the tartan running down the middle.
DO YOU HIRE KILTS IN WELSH FAMILY TARTANS (I.E JONES, DAVIES ETC)?
Unfortunately not. However, if you cannot afford to purchase an entire outfit in your family tartan, there is another, cost-effective option. You can purchase the kilt, neckwear and flashes (i.e the tartan items) and hire the rest, which saves around 50% on the entire outfit cost. Get in touch to discuss your options.
Still need help? Give us a call on +44 (0)1792 474 685 or email enquiries@welsh-tartan.com and we'll be happy to help!
