Kilt Height

[The Wizard of BC]

There is one more thing you should consider and that is the position of the bottom of the Fell of your kilt.

The Fell is the area of the kilt in the back that is sewn down and tapered. The bottom of the Fell should hit you right at the crest or largest part of your hips and butt.

This is also very close to where your leg/hip joint is. To see if your kilt is fitting where it was designed to fit reach your hand around back and slide your fingers up the pleats till you feel where they begin to be sewn down. If you find that this is lower than the crest of the butt your kilt is being worn too low.

Almost all traditional kilts are made with the bottom of the Fell positioned assuming that the top strap is being fastened at the Natural waist. If the kilt is being worn lower than it was designed the bottom of the Fell is now in the wrong place and will cause the pleats to either splay open or hang in shower curtain folds.

Now, to find your natural waist - open your hand and place your finger tips along your spine and your thumb at your side just below the ribs.
Now bend into your thumb. You should feel your thumb go into a hollow. That is your natural waist. This is usually up about kidney level or just above the 'love handles'.

You can of course wear a kilt, that is designed to be worn at the natural waist, lower if you choose, but know and understand what that will do to the look of your kilt.