'Ultra' Casual Kilt Wear

[CMcG]

I realize the kilt sits at the natural waist. What my issue is that my kilt is sitting almost up at my nipples in some cases because my drop is so short. I've got a short torso, unfortunately. I like the kilt sitting just about my belly button or even slightly lower, which still about two-three inches above where my pants sit.

My PV kilts already have a blind stitch hem so I'm hoping that taking them up a few inches won't be too difficult. I've seen other threads on this site where people have done it and it looks good.
As I said to the other fella, my issue isn't with being used to jeans sitting at my hips. I like the kilt at my true waist but my drop is so short. 21.5" between belly button and buttom of my knee that a 24" kilt sits up almost to my nipples. I have an unusually short torso and long legs. It makes me a powerhouse when I'm riding a bicycle but hard to find a good fitting kilt without custom tailoring, which I can't afford right now.

Yes, if your kilt is too long, it will work much better if it is shortened.

Just to clarify though, you belly button isn't necessarily the same thing as your natural waist, nor is "drop" the same thing as length. I'm quoting a couple terms from the Xmarks terminology guide

"Drop - The Drop of a Traditional Style Kilt is the length measured from the center of the top strap and buckle down to the bottom of the Hem.

Rise - In a Traditional Style Kilt the Rise is the area above the center of the top strap and buckle. It is usually about 2". The Rise may or may not be counted as part of the total length of the kilt.

Natural Waist - A persons natural waist is just under the ribs. At about kidney level. To find your natural waist place your hand with the fingers along your spine and your thumb just under your ribs at the side. Then bend sideways into you thumb and you will feel your thumb go into a depression. That is the location of your natural waist."

[Doc Canary]

At the risk of offending many ( which I seem to be exceptionally gifted at doing so...), you purchased your kilts so wear them or not wear them as you please.
I wear my kilts as an expression of freedom and choice and not as a statement towards or representation of a particular diaspora. I do not say this to disparage or diminish those who do so and am supportive of their choice and cultural expression.
For many in some areas of the US, wearing a kilt in public is still considered unusual at best to being preceived as strange, evocative, and even lewd in the extream. When I am kilted, I don't expect compliments, excessive questioning, an opportunity to educate, or attention any more so than when I wear pants. I dress well and approprately with confidence and pride as I do on all ocassions kilted or not. I do expect the civility and peace I grant others to be extended to me. Nothing more and nothing less.
My kilted style varies from Tshirt and sandles to formal with my Prince Charlie jacket,vest, and sporran. I am certain my style is not your style and vice a versa which is fine and the way it should be.
Dress as you may and enjoy yours choices.

[adempsey10]

Yes, if your kilt is too long, it will work much better if it is shortened.

Just to clarify though, you belly button isn't necessarily the same thing as your natural waist, nor is "drop" the same thing as length. I'm quoting a couple terms from the Xmarks terminology guide

"Drop - The Drop of a Traditional Style Kilt is the length measured from the center of the top strap and buckle down to the bottom of the Hem.

Rise - In a Traditional Style Kilt the Rise is the area above the center of the top strap and buckle. It is usually about 2". The Rise may or may not be counted as part of the total length of the kilt.

Natural Waist - A persons natural waist is just under the ribs. At about kidney level. To find your natural waist place your hand with the fingers along your spine and your thumb just under your ribs at the side. Then bend sideways into you thumb and you will feel your thumb go into a depression. That is the location of your natural waist."

I can only get two fingers (tightly) between the top of my hips and the bottom of my rib cage. Trust me when I say I have a weirdly short torso.

[CMcG]

I can only get two fingers (tightly) between the top of my hips and the bottom of my rib cage. Trust me when I say I have a weirdly short torso.

That doesn't sound strange... I also only have 2 fingers distance between my hip bones and the top of my rib cage. Maybe it has more to do with your height. I'm 5'10" and a 24" length kilt is a bit too long for me, 23" is OK, and 22.5" is just about right, so I had a 24" kilt hemmed by 1.5" to get a nice fit. I could wear a 24" kilt but it ends up with the waist up near my pecs if I want the bottom near the top of my knee.

[Nathan]

I had never heard of 21st Century kilts. I just visited the website and I love the look!

That's a new twist for sure. Super stylish but traditional in many ways. There are a lot of fashion trends going on where kilts are concerned. Have we entered the Golden Age of kilts?

[adempsey10]

That doesn't sound strange... I also only have 2 fingers distance between my hip bones and the top of my rib cage. Maybe it has more to do with your height. I'm 5'10" and a 24" length kilt is a bit too long for me, 23" is OK, and 22.5" is just about right, so I had a 24" kilt hemmed by 1.5" to get a nice fit. I could wear a 24" kilt but it ends up with the waist up near my pecs if I want the bottom near the top of my knee.

An example of how short my torso is: My Dad and I stand the same height. From the floor up my hips are about an inch taller than his. When we sit side-by-side, however, he is almost two inches taller than me.

[Dale Seago]

Me. At work. Stanford University med Center IT.

You cover all the bases very nicely. BTW, I recognize the outdoor locations as my SO works at the same place, in pain management.

On the subject of "ultra-casual" with NONtraditional kilts, I can do that too. 5.11 Tactical Duty Kilt:

[Dale Seago]

An example of how short my torso is: My Dad and I stand the same height. From the floor up my hips are about an inch taller than his. When we sit side-by-side, however, he is almost two inches taller than me.

Sounds to me like you really do need something made-to-measure (which I think generally looks better on anyone anyway). . .but, also, the "standard" ways of taking the measurements for your kilt may not work best from a proportional standpoint. With photos to work from in addition to measurements, a good kiltmaker can correct for that and give you an aesthetically pleasing result. For now, hemming the ones you have is probably a good way to go, but when it comes time to think about having someone "build" your kilt, I'd strongly recommend a chat with the owners of both Freedom Kilts and USA Kilts, both of whom are here at Xmarks.

[adempsey10]

Sounds to me like you really do need something made-to-measure

That's the plan eventually. I opted to go for a larger quantity of cheaper kilts so I can wear them more frequently. As a 27 year old Grad student with a wife and no kids, I can be very hard on my clothing. I'd rather destroy a $40 PV kilt after a drunken bender than something more expensive. I've looked at both freedom kilts and USA kilts and like what they do. I'm hoping to have one tailored from them by the end of summer so that I have nice professional looking kilt to wear to school. As I said in a previous post, normally I wear band t-shirts and converse. At school, however, it's button up and tie with nice pants (replaced by a kilt soon, hopefully).

[Dale Seago]

Another example of what I would consider "ultra casual" -- for me, anyway, and recognizing the potential variability of others' mileage. This was last June on an employee "fun day" excursion up to Safari West in Santa Rosa (hence the safari vest and safari shirt!).