One half-inch

[The Wizard of BC]

Your photo prompts me to ask a question.

When you measured for this kilt - did you specifically ask for the bottom of the kilt to fall so far below your knees?

The reason I ask is that it is quite common for people to measure for a kilt and not understand one of the basic design features of the kilt.

When the design of the kilt was established, men's trousers were worn much higher than they are worn today.
The kilt is one of the few garments today that retains this older styling.

The top strap is designed to be worn cinched into the anatomical waist. This is up, just below the ribs. The top band of the kilt will actually be higher yet going up, over the bottom of the ribs.

All the rest of the kilt is designed around this high waist. For example - in the back, there is the portion of the kilt that is tapered and sewn down. This area is called "the Fell". The bottom of the Fell is designed to end right at the crest of the buttocks and hips with the waist worn higher.

If you put the kilt on with the waist lower than it was designed to be worn, the bottom of the Fell will not fall in the right place to look good in the back.

Will you do an experiment for me please.

Reach back to your butt and slide your finger up one of the pleats to where the sewn-down portion ends. Is you finger at the crest of the buttocks? This just happens to be right about the same level as the hip joint so that is a good second reference.

Where the bottom of the Fell falls , and where the bottom edge of the kilt hits the knee is actually more important than the waist height.

The kilt is one of the only garments where the wearer must change their expectations and conform to the design of the garment.

Kilt measuring instructions seldom address the because it is just assumed that you are measuring the waist, up high, where the design of the garment dictates it should be.

When the bottom of the Fell and the bottom of the kilt are based on a high waist - if you try to wear the waist where you usually wear trousers - the garment will look odd or develop unsightly puckers and ripples.

The sporran will also not fit well and look like it does in other photos. So this may be why the sporran seems too low.