Front apron left pleat not laying flat

[Barb T]

It's hard to know what they mean by "shouldn't be worn as high as the ribs". As Steve pointed out, the bottom of the rib cage on a person's side is lower than the rib cage in the front. So there isn't a "height" for the ribs that can be used to judge where a kilt can be worn. In my case, the rise of my kilt DOES cover part of my ribs. That's why the rise needs flare.

I can say emphatically that a kiltmaker who is making a proper trad kilt is not intending it to just be be worn "wherever it's comfortable". If it's properly constructed, the kiltmaker has shaped it so that it will fit right if the buckles are at the true waist and the rise is above that.