I'm very satisfied with that purchase. The buckles and belt straps on the kilt could be of a better quality, but otherwise the quality of the build and the quality of the fabric are outstanding.
I took the kilt on a "test run" by pairing it with the Luftschiffengel outfit. The kilt is basically placed over the "lederhosen" shorts and since the shorts are high waisted and corseted, all the way to the natural waist, the kilt perfectly overlaps the shorts around the height of the navel. The kilt can handle the extra volume of the corset and "lederhosen" shorts at the hips, which I feared would be a problem.
But I got the surprise of my life. When looking in the mirror, I did not expect at all that the white blouse, champagne corset and black lederhosen braces (suspenders) would look so nice paired with the purple/navy kilt. The kilt just shone when I wore it with full regalia - meaning insignia plus the lederhosen breast plate over the white blouse (My apologies I have not taken photos of the full ensemble yet - save the "virtual model" you have seen).
The contrast between white, black, gold and navy/purple really elevates the uniform to a new level. Navy really does look good paired with black as long as you have white as an "intermediary" between the two colours (otherwise navy tends to gets lost in black). I wanted the kilt as an "outer layer" to be worn during cold and more formal occasions, as a "shell," but I had not expected the kilt would look so good paired with the Teutonic-style upper torso. This means the kilt may be worn with the short sleeve blouse and leather braces and still look as if it was made to be that way.
Mind you the uniform really pulls hard toward the "fem side" when paired with the kilt, much more than I had originally intended. Not my original intent, I swear. But OMG it looks so good!
The modified lederhosen were meant to be androgynous, but not cross-dressing, per se. Lederhosen are by definition masculine. Kilts are also masculine. That the combination turns out to be so feminine is really an eye opener. The kilt, although it is a full-length masculine garment, really pulls it toward crossing that gender line. I'm not sure what to make of it. Certainly a new dimension. I will have to adapt to it and embrace it.
What an interesting mental exercise. I know this perception of the garments as being feminine is entirely psychological. We have been conditioned to recognize patterns and colours in clothing as culturally assigned to the gender binary for centuries. Pink was a masculine colour for children back in the 19th, C. But in the 20th. C. that changed. Similarly the braces and skirt-like combination is a given for girls in the 20th. C. So we are subconsciously associating the look with femininity. It kind of makes it look like one of those prep school uniforms. Maybe some sort of Victorian military academy for girls? If that concept had ever been remotely acceptable back then?
The look is very feminine for the 20th. C, because we have a masculinisation of feminine dress throughout the 20th. C, but I think the look would definitely not be as feminine by 19th. C standards!! Any opinions?
The sweater on the other hand doesn't pair so well as I thought. The colour is alright, but the cardigan sweater is straight past the hips and kills all the figure you worked so hard to get with the fitted blouse and corset. It downright makes you look matronly. For the moment, the cardigan stands as an undergarment to the cape coat, as there is no other alternative toward covering my forearms in zero-degree weather.
Which brings me to my next point: the kilt is so warm! Over the shorts and socks plus boots it is extremely comfortable, even with the corset underneath. I have no doubt the lower body of the uniform will protect me at cooler temperatures. Between the thigh-high socks, shorts and kilt you get a sensation that is hard to describe. Warm and soft, as if your entire body from the waist down was being hugged (I know, I didn’t mean it to sound that way
Or maybe subconsciously I did
It sounds weird, but I don't know how else to explain it).
OK I'm happy
I just need to get that coat.
