Kilt Length

[robgiv]

I had a kilt made in Scotland and am wondering if it is too long. I am 5' 7" and the length is 23". Any thoughts on that being the correct length for my height? Thanks.

[McElmurry]

I had a kilt made in Scotland and am wondering if it is too long. I am 5' 7" and the length is 23". Any thoughts on that being the correct length for my height? Thanks.

Every body is different but generally your kilt should be about a third of you height plus or minus an inch or so. It really depends on the length of your waist and upper leg, where on your waist you wear your kilt and where you want it to hit your knee.

So if you wear your kilt at your true waist and it hits mid to upper knee and that is what you want then it is fine. If you wanted to wear it at your pants waist and you don't like that it covers your knee cap then it is too long.

[WillowEstate]

There are several threads here discussing this topic at length ! Consensus is that the bottom of the kilt should be mid to top of the kneecap. A traditional kilt will have the top at navel, casual kilts may be a bit lower.

[Chas]

As soon as we see pictures, we will be able to decide.

[McElmurry]

There are several threads here discussing this topic at length ! Consensus is that the bottom of the kilt should be mid to top of the kneecap. A traditional kilt will have the top at navel, casual kilts may be a bit lower.

Don't be afraid to try the straps at or just above the navel which puts the top of the kilt two inches above the navel.

[StevieR]

Yep, what Sav says. If it's too long pull it up. Better higher on the waist than lower than mid knee.

[Grizzly]

It never ceases to amaze me that kilt lengths are so different from person to person, I am 6' 3" and my kilt length is 24" max, my latest kilt is being made to 23 1/2 inches which makes me 8 inches taller than you but only half inch difference in kilt length. Just goes to prove that everyone is different. Best way to check is to get someone else to measure you from wherever you want the kilt at knee height. Somewhere between mid to top of the knee, depending on your preference to two inches above the navel. This is the generally accepted range for a standard traditional kilt. However if you want to wear it lower on the waist that's fine but still leave the knee height around mid to top of knee.

[Carlo]

I'm 5'7" and was measured 25" to mid-knee. I went with 24" so that it will be around the top of my knee. That said, my natural waist appears to be a bit higher than normal.
You see there is quite a range and everyone is different.

[Barb T]

I agree that it is impossible to generalize. I've made kilts with 23" length that perfectly fit people who are 5'2" and those who are 6' tall and anywhere in between. Depends on whether someone is high waisted or not, as well as how long their thigh bones are relative to their overall height.

A traditional kilt should just touch the top of the knee cap. If your kilt seems too long, you might not have it buckled on high enough. A trad kilt has a 2" rise above the buckles, so the top edge of the kilt is made to ride 2" _above_ the true waist. If you buckle your kilt on with the top _at_ your natural waist (or, worse, below your belly), it will fall too low on your leg, even if the kiltmaker has actually made it exactly the right length for your measurements.

[KiltFitz]

Barb, can you tell me why kiltmakers ask for height when requesting measurements? I've always been measured in person but I notice that if you submit measurements online, the kiltmaker usually requires waist, hip and kilt length along with wearer height. What is that required for if the length is already specified?