Kilt Lengths in Gathering Photos

[Larry124]

I agree and offer these possible reasons:

• Camera angle.
• Rides down with wear.
• Mis-fit – Off the rack “standard” kilt length or err-on-the-side-of-long measurement.
• Reluctance to wear the waist high enough.
• Phobia about the kilt being too short.

[Bruno]

I remember talking to an old lady in the 1980's and she is dead now (obviously) She had stacks of old family pictures from before Victorian times.

I noted that many of the really old pictures showed kilts at about mid thigh believe it or not and I commented on it being short. She informed me that in those days the kilts were worn at that length and that the modern fashion of nearly touching the knee would be considered as odd.

Therefore it seems the kilt like everything goes through phases and fashions. Apparently it was the Victorians who lengthened the hem near the knee and it used to be more like a longish mini skirt in length. Glad I did not wear one then. I like mine about a inch above the knee personally not about 7.

[Carolina Kiltman]

It was "Scotty" Thompson in his book that called a too long kilt "trollopy"

My waist is still, after many decades still smaller than my hips, so that is not a problem if the kilt is of the proper fit to start with.

For those with slippage problems, I strongly recommend braces (suspenders to the Yanks) as a valid means of keeping the kilt at the proper length. I strongly recommend sewing on buttons for attachment, as clips can damage the fabric, over time.

[Sammac]

I wear my kilts at the top of the knee, but like others after walking around a bit it tends to slide down. My way of checking the height is to slide my index finger in the front of my kilt and with the tip of my finger at the top of my belly button my kilt should be at the 2nd knuckle to be the right height. A little tug usually sets things right.

[Jock Scot]

It was "Scotty" Thompson in his book that called a too long kilt "trollopy"

My waist is still, after many decades still smaller than my hips, so that is not a problem if the kilt is of the proper fit to start with.

For those with slippage problems, I strongly recommend braces (suspenders to the Yanks) as a valid means of keeping the kilt at the proper length. I strongly recommend sewing on buttons for attachment, as clips can damage the fabric, over time.

It may well have been "Scotty" Thompson who introduced the description of the kilt being worn too long as "trollopy ,to the world, but it is an oft used description here in the Highlands for the same thing. As far as I know, we have always used that description, well for the last 69 years anyway!

[pdcorlis]

Speaking as a photographer I can tell you camera position can have everything to do with apparent kilt length - and your height in a photo. Personally I prefer a kilt at the top of the knee and agree that a longer kilt seems "trollopy" for lack of a better word. Worse yet, like baggy shorts cut below the knee they tend to make you look shorter - and fatter. One last thought from me - if a traditional "high-waist" kilt is tailored correctly, it will not ride down with wear.

[Highland Logan]

I can see the camera angle point. But has anyone asked those in any of the pictures where they are from? How many Americans were photographed in Scotland during The Gathering, ect. You see my point.

Frank

[JRB]

This past weekend at the Capital District Scottish games near Albany, NY, I noticed that there were many men wearing their kilts below mid-knee. I also noticed that among those long kilted gentlemen there were several with Scottish accents. I don't think one's nationality has to do with the length at which one wears one's kilt.