Kilt Length ?

[Thomas H]

Why does it afend some people if I wear my Kilt Below my knee?
I wear it right below my knee. But I keep seeing and hearing people say above
the knee!!! but I dont like the way it looks and feels.
Thank You

[piperdbh]

I don't know that it offends anybody if you wear your kilt a little bit long, but the traditional way to wear a kilt is with the selvedge hitting right above the kneecap or mid-cap, at the lowest. From what I've read, the tradition comes from the kilt wearer not wanting the pleats of his kilt to cut across the back of his knee, especially if the pleats are a little bit wet from the rain that Scotland has.

[davidlpope]

Why does it afend some people if I wear my Kilt Below my knee?
I wear it right below my knee. But I keep seeing and hearing people say above
the knee!!! but I dont like the way it looks and feels.
Thank You

You can wear your clothes any way that you choose.

One advantage, though, of wearing a kilt with the waistband at or above your navel and the selvedge edge at mid-knee or the top of your knee is that you look like you know what you're doing...

[M. A. C. Newsome]

Agreed. I'm not offended by people wearing their kilt too long, but I do think it looks a bit silly - like someone wearing an ill-fitting pair of pants.

Anywhere from the middle of the knee at the lowest, to about an inch above the top of the knee at the highest, is considered acceptable kilt length. It's just the traditional norm.

Of course, there is the old adage, which you can wear on a t-shirt.

[Chas]

The Scots are a canny people.

If the bottom of the kilt is at the mid-knee to top of knee, the two aprons will fall automatically between the wearer's knees when he sits down, thus protecting his modesty.

If, on the other hand, the bottom of the kilt is below the knee, the knee will hold on to the fabric, because it is trying to fall in two directions and can therefore do neither. Modesty is not guaranteed.

So the Scots have the bottom at mid to top of knee and therefore have both hands free to do other things. Like pleatsweep with one and hold a drink with the other.

You are of course perfectly free to wear your kilt however you fancy, just like everybody else is perfectly free to think about it what they like.

Regards

Chas

[Kevin80222]

I think it's a matter of personal preference; I for one buy my kilts in more than one length, based on whether I will wear the kilt casually or in a more traditional manner. I also wear my kilts lower than tradition dictates as I am 6'6" tall (with a 38" inseam) and wearing my kilt high does not make me look good nor does it do the kilt justice. I will wear my kilts at the bottom of the knee when I am wearing boots and my hose scrunched down - when I am more traditional with a nice shirt and/or jacket and hose up with flashes, I will wear my kilt brushing the top of the knee or at mid-knee.

All-in-all it is a personal decision but if you are nervous about the amount of comments you are getting, either defer to a friend who wears kilts or post a picture showing the length of your kilt and how you are wearing it to see what the consensus here is...

Kevin

[Phil]

Interesting that you should post this as I have noticed that you yourself prefer your kilts to be on the shorter side. This, however, illustrates someone who prefers a kilt of a longer length -



so perhaps the OP (original poster) will appreciate better why the kilt has evolved to be worn between the two extremes - i.e. at the mid-point or slightly higher of the kneecap. It really is just a matter of personal preference coupled with the desire not to look ridiculous. Others have given the analogy of wearing trousers that are too short - fine if you are a circus clown or a slapstick comedian - not good if you want to appear as a well-dressed member of mainstream society.

[rsvpiper]

Offended no........... But if the kilt is below the knee you do look like your wearing ya dads kilt

[JSFMACLJR]

Offended no........... But if the kilt is below the knee you do look like your wearing ya dads kilt

Or your mother's skirt.

[woodbrey]

i dont think it really matters just go by your comfort levels i wear mine just above the knee and the kilts come down to the same spot where my shorts touch