How to Wear the Highland Secrets' Great Kilt

This kilt comes as one piece of fabric that has been pre-pleated and has an enclosed belt channeled into the fabric. Holding onto the belt section ( not the belt ends itself ) notice that one side hangs shorter than the other. The shorter part will form the kilt part, while the longer section will form the plaid which drapes over your shoulder.

1) Begin by locating the belt channel which encloses the belt. You will see that the ends of the belt are protruding out of the channel. Have the fabric that has both the short and the long section facing you, and then flip the short section over the belt channel, covering over the channel.

2) Now, with the short ( pleated ) section facing towards you, hold the garment at arms length along the belt channel ( not the belt ends itself ). Wrap this pleated section around your waist so that the short pleated section is centered in the back. Now with the pleated section encircling your waist, hold onto each end of the belt enclosure in front of your waist.

3) Next, hold the kilt at your waist with one hand and with the other hand, pick up the entire outer layer of fabric behind you and pull it up over your shoulders and head ( you will need to switch hands to achieve this ). Now with each hand, reach around to the side and back of you, checking that the belt is laying flat, straight, and smooth in its channel around your entire waist. Then, ( while still holding fabric at your waist ) drop the fabric from your shoulders and head, letting it drape to your ankles.

4) While holding the fabric at your waist with your left hand, reach down with your right hand and grab the corner of the fabric that is next to your right ankle, bringing it up and around the back of you, draping it over your right shoulder. Switch hands at your waist, and do the same with the corner of fabric next to your left ankle, draping it too around the back of you and over your left shoulder. Now hold the kilt at your waist with both hands. This step gets the plaid section out of the way so you can finish and tie the kilt section.

5) The front part of the kilt that is not pleated and is called the "apron". To create this part take both hands and open the front of the garment at your waist while pressing your elbows tight to your side ( to help hold the kilt to your waist. ) Now with your right hand, find the edge of the fabric on that right hand side, and bring it across your abdomen to your left hip, while continually adjusting the fabric until you have created a straight, and level hemline at your knees. With your left elbow holding this part in place, take your left hand and find the edge of the fabric on that side and cross it over the first layer, to your right hip, making the same adjustments, having it align at the knee. Your elbows should be holding the kilt in place at your waist. The ends of the belt will now appear. Buckle ( or tie ) the belt, and again adjust the apron which should be straight and smooth. Take a deep breath, relax, you're almost there!

6) Let the fabric which has been draped over your shoulder, drop down. Then with your right hand, pick up the lower right front corner of this garment at your ankle and bring it up in front of you to your left shoulder. Then with your left hand, reach behind you and grab the bottom of the fabric that is closest to the center, and bring it up and over your left shoulder, joining it with the piece in front. Overlap these two pieces, and connect them with a Penannular ( kilt pin, brooch ). There will be a loose end corner of fabric hanging at your left side. If it hangs below the kilt, tuck it in at the back of the waist. This piece of fabric will vary in length depending on where you take up the fabric at the back of you.

Replacing the cloth belt with you're your own sturdy belt, is recommended.

OPTIONS

The plaid part of the Great Kilt may also be worn as a cape in inclement weather by taking the entire back of the fabric and lifting it over your shoulders and pinning it, or tucking the plaid around your waist in extremely warm weather, instead of following step #6.