Traditional kilt length

[Scotus]

It's a very personal thing. Mid-kneecap is fine. I like the kilt to fall at toward the top of the kneecap. Something to keep in mind with the traditional, however, is that it can be place an inch or two above the navel (I think it's best above the navel). If you haven't, try wearing it slightly higher before trying to change the kilt. Wearing it a little higher is perfectly acceptable. I personally don't understand the aversion that men who are new to the kilt have to the high length of the traditional. I know we wear pants lower, but the traditional kilt is just that... traditional. It doesn't (thankfully!) change with the fashions.

[Granite]

Decisions, decisions...lots to consider...I suppose it just feels a little bit odd wearing the full traditional because it sits high around the navel.

Compared to the shorter hire kilts that most of us in Scotland probably started out with whilst attending, for instance, a wedding, and from there its a leap into - 'I want my own kilt, in my own tartan!'

[Geoduck]

I'd like to echo the welcome, always good to have more around here.

A few months ago, I stopped into one of the local kilt shops (Seattle acutally has 3, if you count Utilikilts) and was talking with the owner. He basically told me that most Americans wear our kilts longer than is traditional, not a bad thing, mind you, just a trend. I myself try to keep my kilts right about mid knee cap, but during the day, walking the dog, living life etc. I end up cinching it up. I guess that I just need to get more excercise and the fact that my waist is not holding up the top half as well, will fix its self.

Just a couple thoughts.

[Thistle Stop]

I always think mid-knee is the best length on most people, but some guys look quite nice in a shorter length, and it's really all up to you and what you like. I agree with some of the previous comments that if you wear the waist at navel height, as it's supposed to be, you may find the length is all right. The general rule of thumb used by kiltmakers to determine if they've been given an accurate measurement by an absent customer is that the length is about 1/3 of the person's height, which for you would be 24.5 inches. That's a fairly long kilt. I think 24" is probably a better length for you, if you have average proportions in your build.

Having a kilt shortened is not such an easy thing, because it has to be taken off the waistband -- a traditional kilt should not be hemmed; it won't hang right or look right; it needs to have a selvedge at the bottom. But it can be shortened at the waist by a kiltmaker, certainly.

To measure for the length of a new kilt, kneel on the floor with upright posture and have someone else measure from your navel to the floor with a yardstick or metrestick. Then subtract one inch from the measurement to give you a mid-knee length -- adjust accordingly if you prefer the kilt shorter or longer.

[Granite]

Hi,

My kilt is 25.5 inches in length...

[Blu (Ontario)]

Maybe you should do what I did......... Get a second kilt made! :eek:
But be forwarned... it can be a real problem with this whole kilt thing. They're habit forming! :mrgreen:

blu

[Thistle Stop]

Hi,

My kilt is 25.5 inches in length...

Probably too long then! So, I guess the only choices are to wear it a bit high or get it shortened.

[Granite]

Hi,

Maybe I was getting worked up over nothing. I did ask a few local kilt makers what they recommended, and all said that trying to shorten it was a bad idea. I did read somewhere that a 6' footer can get away wearing a 25" inch kilt, whilst someone who is approx 6'2" in height can comfortably wear a 26"inch kilt, so I fall smack in the middle of all that.

I did have it on at the weekend, for a friendly 'do', and some people commented that it looked short!

I've decided that it isn't worth worrying about anymore, it's my kilt, there isn't another one like it, so what the hell. I treated the kilt to a new sporran for the party and my wife likened me to the 'Porridge Oats' man, which went down well for the ego.

All is good now!

[Barb T]

Just a quick comment on hemming. While a traditional kilt is not supposed to be hemmed, a kilt that is too long looks better hemmed than too long. We routinely put hems in the 16 oz kilts that are made for the younger band members who are still growing, and, quite frankly, when it's done well, you simply can't tell unless you walk up and feel the edge of the kilt.

So, I would never bother to take length off a kilt from the waist. I would turn up a hem (even in a heavy weight kilt), do it properly, and would bet you that you would never notice, even if two people were standing next to one another, one kilt with a hem and one not.

Hemming a kilt is a fairly quick job, but it's not just a matter of turning up a hem. You do have to take out the apron and underapron edges before turning it up, and you do have to turn up parts of the hem differently than others.

Cheers,

Barb