Too short?

[Jerry]

Just received my new black wool kilt from Kiltstore. It seems to be too short to me. My wife made the measurements, using their instructions:

1. Kilt Length:
   From the top of the hip to the top of the knee cap: The Fashion Kilt sits on (or perhaps just very slightly above) the normal trousers waistline.

Worn just below the navel, the kilt hits about one inch above my knee. This is my first solid colored kilt, but all of my tatran kilts hit at about mid kneecap.

[Blu (Ontario)]

I suppose you could just let it sit an inch lower on the hips. By my way of thinking, a bit short is better than too long!

(I was thinking about getting one of those kilts a while back but the funds always had other places to go.)


.

[cessna152towser]

My Black Watch kilt was originally 24" length and worn for formal wear but the selvedging frayed over the years and when I got it back from repair I found that the tailor had shortened it to 22" and put a hem on it. I nearly handed it in to a thrift shop but decided to give it a repreive and I can still wear it as a casual kilt, worn low at the waist and supported by a trouser belt, in which case the hemline hits to the middle of the kneecap.

[NewKilt]

Matthew Newsome discusses kilt length in his article for first time kilt wearers over at the Scottish Tartan Museum. He states that "Acceptable kilt lenght is anywhere from the middle of the knee cap to an inch or so above the knee.

So I would interpret your kilt lenght as being OK as long as you as satisfied with wearing it slightly below your naval. On the other hand if you like your kilts to be at mid-knee, then it's shorter than what you prefer.

I prefer mine to hit at the top of the knee or just slightly below the top of the knee. It's a matter of personal preference.

Darrell

[GlassMan]

I like mine right at the top of the knee. Do you have a pic of what you look like in it?

[KiltedCodeWarrior]

Great idea Phil. Post a pic Jerry. Let us give you our unbiased opinion. I personally like to wear mine so that the bottom of the kilt is right at the top of the knee or slightly below.

[NewKilt]

Jerry,

I went to the Kiltstore site and read about the Fashion Kilt. While it's worn lower on the waist than a traditional (more along the lines of your first picture), it should be hitting you about mid-knee. If your measurements were correct, in my opinion, they owe you a new kilt. Other than the length issue, that's a very nice solid color kilt.

If your measurements were correct, I'd send them those pictures to support your case.

Of course if it happened to me, with my Irish temper, my pictures would have someone dressed as the grim reaper standing beside me, and a fake headstone on the ground that said "Kiltstore R.I.P."

Darrell Lawrence

[McRod]

Jerry,
How many straps and buckles are on the side.From the photo's i can see only one. If you do wish to lengthen the kilt then adding a waist band seems to be your only option. In that case you could also add another buckle and strap which will keep it all in proportion. If you wore it out in public then a belt and buckle would hide the addition. Though with unikilts i doubt any one would know.Others have said to let it find its own level.Good luck on finding a solution. :grin:

[James]

Better to show a bit more knee & a bit above than cover it-and from what said etc, not really too short.

On can always as said above raise or lower by tightening or otherwise at waist.

James

[Jerry]

Does anyone know if this kilt can be altered to make it about 2 inches longer?