Kilt, pleat to Sett or Stripe?

Pppiper · 05-02-2018, 08:23 AM

Spurred by another recent post, I'm curious of people's personal preference of pleating in the kilt.

Most often, I see pipe band kilts, and I seem to see those kilts pleated to Stripe. Personally, I think that I find the stripes a bit jarring, but I'm a bit undecided, now that I think about it. According to what I read, stripe tends to be a military thing, while sett is considered more of a civilian approach. Otherwise, I read that it's somewhat of a matter of taste.

So there's my question to the collective ... what's YOUR taste, and why?

I think this is a good one for a poll.

Here's an image to help, if the term isn't widely known:

LEFT: Sett ... RIGHT: Stripe

Any input appreciated, thanks!

Cheers,
~Nate

MichelleB · 05-02-2018, 08:46 AM

I strongly prefer pleat to stripe. I think it's more aesthetically pleasing. I like seeing those horizontal lines in the back.

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

Leong · 05-02-2018, 10:03 AM

Stripes for me. I think it gives the kilt a more interesting look, in fact two looks - the front will be different from the back. And if you and/or your kiltmaker is very creative in the design, you can kinda "hide" a colour under the pleats. So, for example, a kilt in MacPherson tartan can have the red colour become apparent only when the pleats moved. Quite pleasing IMHO.

(although I must say that in this particular case, it's not quite clear if the kilt is pleated to the blue or yellow stripe. But it's definitely not pleated to the sett)

Pppiper · 05-02-2018, 10:05 AM

Think I'm becoming more swayed by stripe now. Ha!

Mac an t-Sealgair · 05-02-2018, 10:14 AM

Sett sir. Softer look, dare I say, it has an air of sartorial elegance

Kevin · 05-02-2018, 10:33 AM

There was no option for "it depends" so I voted for stripe as that is usually my preference. I find it does depend on the tartan though. Tartans with a strongly contrasting pin stripe seem to look better pleated to stripe. Tartans without seem to look better pleated to sett.

Good luck with your choice,
Kevin

Roddy Livingstone · 05-02-2018, 10:43 AM

There should have been a fourth option of "It depends on the tartan"

Pppiper · 05-02-2018, 11:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roddy Livingstone

There should have been a fourth option of "It depends on the tartan"

Ha ... yeah I'd never have even though it might depend on the tartan. Always learning something new!

Cheers,
~Nate

johnsog · 05-02-2018, 11:39 AM

Being not at all military, I much prefer pleating to the sett. It shows all the colors in the tartan in a pleasing balance. Plus some of the ways tartans can be pleated to the stripe might set off migraines for some, I think. That first example below is one that could be overly stimulating for those with certain conditions.

HighlandPark · 05-02-2018, 12:59 PM

For most tartans I'd say to the stripe is far more interesting and breaks up what could be conceived as the monotony of the tartan; a front to back contrast is desirable and looks more dramatic when the kilts are a swingin'. Many tartans have more than one vertical stripe colour so there are many available combinations. Finally, it more succinctly identifies a kilt from a skirt, IMHO. Horses for courses, though...

View Poll Results: Do you prefer kilts pleated to Sett or Stripe?
To Sett ... so that the tartan pattern is preserved in the pleating	14	33.33%
To Stripe ... so that the same vertical line is centered on each pleat	26	61.90%
Indifferent/no opinion	2	4.76%
Voters: 42. You may not vote on this poll

05-02-2018, 08:23 AM	#1
Pppiper Holy smoking keyboard! Join Date: Dec 2016 Location: Massachusetts, USA Posts: 1,027	Kilt, pleat to Sett or Stripe? Spurred by another recent post, I'm curious of people's personal preference of pleating in the kilt. Most often, I see pipe band kilts, and I seem to see those kilts pleated to Stripe. Personally, I think that I find the stripes a bit jarring, but I'm a bit undecided, now that I think about it. According to what I read, stripe tends to be a military thing, while sett is considered more of a civilian approach. Otherwise, I read that it's somewhat of a matter of taste. So there's my question to the collective ... what's YOUR taste, and why? I think this is a good one for a poll. Here's an image to help, if the term isn't widely known: LEFT: Sett ... RIGHT: Stripe Any input appreciated, thanks! Cheers, ~Nate Last edited by Pppiper; 05-02-2018 at 08:27 AM.

05-02-2018, 08:46 AM	#2
MichelleB Forum Silver Medal Join Date: May 2005 Location: Houston Posts: 446	Re: Kilt, pleat to Sett or Stripe? I strongly prefer pleat to stripe. I think it's more aesthetically pleasing. I like seeing those horizontal lines in the back. Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

05-02-2018, 10:03 AM	#3
Leong Holy smoking keyboard! Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Singapore Posts: 1,378	Re: Kilt, pleat to Sett or Stripe? Stripes for me. I think it gives the kilt a more interesting look, in fact two looks - the front will be different from the back. And if you and/or your kiltmaker is very creative in the design, you can kinda "hide" a colour under the pleats. So, for example, a kilt in MacPherson tartan can have the red colour become apparent only when the pleats moved. Quite pleasing IMHO. (although I must say that in this particular case, it's not quite clear if the kilt is pleated to the blue or yellow stripe. But it's definitely not pleated to the sett)

05-02-2018, 10:05 AM	#4
Pppiper Holy smoking keyboard! Join Date: Dec 2016 Location: Massachusetts, USA Posts: 1,027	Re: Kilt, pleat to Sett or Stripe? Think I'm becoming more swayed by stripe now. Ha!

05-02-2018, 10:14 AM	#5
Mac an t-Sealgair Forum Regular Join Date: Apr 2017 Location: Eilean Siar Posts: 285	Re: Kilt, pleat to Sett or Stripe? Sett sir. Softer look, dare I say, it has an air of sartorial elegance

05-02-2018, 10:33 AM	#6
Kevin Holy smoking keyboard! Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Southern Ontario Posts: 1,023	Re: Kilt, pleat to Sett or Stripe? There was no option for "it depends" so I voted for stripe as that is usually my preference. I find it does depend on the tartan though. Tartans with a strongly contrasting pin stripe seem to look better pleated to stripe. Tartans without seem to look better pleated to sett. Good luck with your choice, Kevin Last edited by Kevin; 05-02-2018 at 10:48 AM. Reason: Typo

05-02-2018, 10:43 AM	#7
Roddy Livingstone Forum Gold Medal Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 610	Re: Kilt, pleat to Sett or Stripe? There should have been a fourth option of "It depends on the tartan"

05-02-2018, 11:39 AM	#9
johnsog Forum Regular Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Minnesota Posts: 270	Re: Kilt, pleat to Sett or Stripe? Being not at all military, I much prefer pleating to the sett. It shows all the colors in the tartan in a pleasing balance. Plus some of the ways tartans can be pleated to the stripe might set off migraines for some, I think. That first example below is one that could be overly stimulating for those with certain conditions.

05-02-2018, 12:59 PM	#10
HighlandPark Holy smoking keyboard! Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada Posts: 1,114	Re: Kilt, pleat to Sett or Stripe? For most tartans I'd say to the stripe is far more interesting and breaks up what could be conceived as the monotony of the tartan; a front to back contrast is desirable and looks more dramatic when the kilts are a swingin'. Many tartans have more than one vertical stripe colour so there are many available combinations. Finally, it more succinctly identifies a kilt from a skirt, IMHO. Horses for courses, though... __________________ David Locky Aim for the moon, you might hit an eagle ... Bagpipe Ecology

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