Kilt Length ?

[kilted scholar]

JSFMACLJR:

I don't disagree with your, and others', claim that it is worn too long. Only this summer I saw photographs of a wedding in Scotland where the males in the wedding party were wearing their kilts way over their knees.

I was referring of course to the letter cited by Jock in the thread mentioned earlier, which argued that the kilt should be significantly above the top of the kneecap. Prince Charles - apart from childhood photographs - did not and does not do this and has received glowing praise from the bulk of contributors to the thread I mention, including from some of the cognoscenti.

On another tack, somewhat connected although tangential, I am wondering how the general increase in heights of people in recent generations impacts this question. That this is so is indisputable; compare doorways and ceiling heights in old buildings. Taller bodies, and longer legs can have an impact here. This is more of a question than an assertion.

[JSFMACLJR]

[QUOTE=kilted scholar;1010395]On another tack, somewhat connected although tangential, I am wondering how the general increase in heights of people in recent generations impacts this question. That this is so is indisputable; compare doorways and ceiling heights in old buildings. Taller bodies, and longer legs can have an impact here. This is more of a question than an assertion.[/QUOTE ]

I'll tell you how it impacts my family. I am 6ft. My sons are 6' 4" and 6' 2". My father was 5' 9". We have a vast selection of old kilts, jackets, doublets in our house going back a number of generations. Unfortunately a number of those kilts and jackets fit none of the current crop of MacLean men! And that is unfortunate because they are all bespoke and beautiful. Oh well, what can you do?

[Downunder Kilt]

I really don't understand how the height of an individual, whether they lived 100 years ago or are living today, affects the height of where the kilt is worn.

If one is getting a kilt made for them, then surely the the kilt length is measured appropiately.

If the kilt is an off the rack item then the kilt can be hemmed at the appropiate height.

All this talk about people being taller now than in the past is irrelevant.

At a lot of Highland games I see a number of people wearing their kilt way too low. Some are gentlemen in their 50's that purchased their kilt many years ago and have since aquired a substantial stomach and are obliged to wear the waistline of the kilt under it, thus making the hem of the kilt fall below the knees.

Others are in their late teens, early 20's who seem to think that you wear a kilt where you wear your jeans. If they pulled there kilts up to where the waist should be they would be fine. (it is apparent that the kilt was measured correctly when it was made)

[Braemar Kiltmaker]

Just as a point of interest, men's legs are proportionally different from womens' legs. In most men, the shin bone is longer than the thigh - in women it is the reverse (It applies with arms as well, and Desmond Morris had an interesting theory about it's evolution). So, oftentimes men of widely varying heights will wear kilts of SURPRISINGLY similar lengths, and still have the kilt fall to the right point on the leg.

Having wandered off on that particular tangent, all I'd say is if a client asked me to make a kilt longer than I thought it should be, I'd leave my label out of it!!!

[Chas]

Just as a point of interest, men's legs are proportionally different from womens' legs. In most men, the shin bone is longer than the thigh - in women it is the reverse (It applies with arms as well, and Desmond Morris had an interesting theory about it's evolution). So, oftentimes men of widely varying heights will wear kilts of SURPRISINGLY similar lengths, and still have the kilt fall to the right point on the leg.

Having wandered off on that particular tangent, all I'd say is if a client asked me to make a kilt longer than I thought it should be, I'd leave my label out of it!!!

Subtle, very very subtle.

Regards

Chas

[Braemar Kiltmaker]

Subtle, very very subtle.

Regards

Chas

You mean the part about Desmond Morris???

[NorCalPiper]

My problem is on the other end of the kilt. Varrying kilt hangs in the knee region don't bother me, but seeing MANY kilts being worn at pants length on the hips irks me. Especially if a coat and vest are being worn and I can see the white of the shirt under the inverted v of the bottom of the vest.

[Braemar Kiltmaker]

AGREED. And there are a lot worn way too low. When measured properly to fit at the waist, a kilt will INEVITABLY be too long if the guy actually wears it closer to his hips. And the temptation to do that is there the first few times because it does feel "wierd" to wear it higher than you've ever worn your jeans.

All you can do is try to educate, and truly, it's not about putting someone down - it's about trying to help someone avoid being regarded as if they're just "playing at" Scottishness (Is that a word? Oh please, COULD it be?) If I'm working with someone on his first kilt-wearing adventure, I do my best to help him get it right, because we all know it won't be his LAST time - and it's a lot easier to start doing it the right way than to break a bad habit.

The sad fact is that some guys can make a $3000 suit look like it came from a thrift store ... and some can do the reverse! Whether kilted or not, for a lot of men, the details aren't important - maybe they think it's superficiality - maybe they just don't care, or don't KNOW. Here's one (OTHER) place where the women have us beat!

However, the kilt is such a handsome garment when worn comfortably and well, that it really stands out when somebody's got it wrong. Let's just guide them - gently & kindly!

[OC Richard]

seeing MANY kilts being worn at pants length on the hips irks me. Especially if a coat and vest are being worn and I can see the white of the shirt under the inverted v of the bottom of the vest.

Yes, and that's especially rampant in the pipe band world.

These guys' kilts are actually made to more or less the right length, but then they shove the kilt down around their hips like a hip-hop artist's jeans. Now the bottom of the kilt is level with the top of their hose, and a big gap of shirt is showing between their kilt and their waistcoat.

It wouldn't stand out quite as much if it wasn't for the facts that
1) nearly all pipe bands nowadays wear waistcoats without jackets (at last year's Worlds every single band in Grade One was so dressed)
2) in competition each band stands in a circle with their backsides facing out
3) at least half of the bandsmen are wearing waistcoats which are too short.

What's presented to the audience is a big wad of shirt sticking out half the people's backs.

That, and the backs of the bandmen's hose all ahoo, and the flashes worn every which way.

Even last weekend in Grade One, streamed worldwide on the BBC, at the very time one would think the bands would be careful about their dress.

[federkeil]

I would agree. All of my made-to-measure kilts, my girlfriend having done the measuring for the makers, are 23" and they're right at the top of my knee; and I'm 5'10". (Example, me on the left, in this post.) I also have "off the rack" kilts from different vendors which are standardised at 24": Those hit me a smidge above the center of my knee and are also in the "aesthetic range" of looking good length-wise.

From the tall side of this matter, I picked up a 24.5" length Utilikilt in Seattle last week, and it hits me right at the top of the knee. For a traditional kilt to hit the same spot it would need about a 28" length (probably 29") when worn at my naval.