Contemporary kilt length, a minority report

[McElmurry]

The last several threads on the subject of kilt length quickly reached consensus. The agreed length being a bit above the top of the knee to no lower than mid knee. What I would like to know is how many folks wear their kilt covering the knee cap at least part of the time. If you do, how far below the knee do you wear it and what are your reasons for doing so. Pictures are encouraged.

[mookien]

I never do deliberately, liking the kilt to fall within the range you described. Occasionally, I'll look down and think, "Oops" and then hoist up my kilt a bit, ... just like I do with pants when I sense the dreaded plumber's crack.

[Big Mikey]

I wear my contemporary casuals just below the knee. Why? Because if I forget and bend at the waist young children and women don't run in terror and............................................

BECAUSE IT'S WHAT I BLOODY LIKE!!

[knotty]

I like my hem to sit at mid knee. If Im at Scout Camp like it at the bottom, for the same reason Big Mikey described.
My understanding has always been anywhere around the knee is acceptable.

[The Wizard of BC]

I think a lot has to do with the type and style of kilt you have and what you plan to do in your kilt.

If you are wearing a Utilikilt it is acceptable to wear it very low on the hips and have the hem well below the knee. That is how it was designed to be worn.
If you are speaking of a true Contemporary Style kilt you probably will want to wear it a bit higher on the knee. They are designed to be worn more like a traditional kilt.

One caution. If you are hiking or walking any distance I strongly suggest you keep the hem no lower than the middle of the kneecap. All those pleats swishing against the back of your calves has been known to chafe right thru the skin and draw blood!

[lukeyrobertson]

Yes, I wear both my Rkilts a bit longer... not past the knee but mid to lower part of the knee. There's something about the "line" of this particular style that looks good with a longer length. Mind you, my tartan clan kilts are mid-knee to top of knee. It's all about style and tradition, I suppose. To the bottom of the knee-cap is as low as I feel comfortable going, though. Beyond that, it's all about what Steve said in the above post re; ..."swishing against the back of your calves".

[McElmurry]

I like my hem to sit at mid knee. If Im at Scout Camp like it at the bottom, for the same reason Big Mikey described.
My understanding has always been anywhere around the knee is acceptable.

Makes sense to me. Sitting on camp chairs, logs, or a ground cloth can be pretty challenging with a kilt above the kneecap.

[McElmurry]

Thanks Big Mickey that is just the kind of information I am looking for.

I wear my contemporary casuals just below the knee. Why? Because if I forget and bend at the waist young children and women don't run in terror and............................................

BECAUSE IT'S WHAT I BLOODY LIKE!!

[O'Callaghan]

I have short legs, so stock length kilts are invariably a bit long.

[Tobus]

I have short legs, so stock length kilts are invariably a bit long.

Same here, which is why I simply cannot buy stock kilt lengths. Not unless I want to hem it up by about 2", anyway. Even when I bought my Utilikilt, I had to pay them an extra 'custom length' fee to make it shorter than even their shortest length.

The really crummy part is that shortening a stock kilt makes for a less-than-ideal fit. Oh, the length may end up where I want it, but the proportions in the rest of the kilt will be off. For instance, the fell area will be lower than it would on a kilt that was originally made to be the shorter length. Shortening the bottom of the kilt doesn't change the length of the fell, and now the proportions aren't rights. It's a minor thing, but it gets annoying after a while. So I've pretty much given up on buying stock length kilts and shortening them.

As to the length, I wear even my Utilikilt above the knee. Can't stand the fabric hitting the fronts and backs of my knees when I walk.