A 60 year old kilt re-build

[The Wizard of BC]

FM,
I don't thing we are looking at flair here. Yes, this is an older, military kilt but the waist height is about the same as what we would find on kilts today.

the extremly high waist kilts you refer to were when the fabric was a standard width and not cut to make the kilt. These WWI type kilts could be unstitched if the hem is torn or if the outside is damaged. They would then be flipped top-to-bottom of inside-out and restitched to give extended wear. By the 1950's when this kilt was made this practice was gone and kilts were made very much like they are today.

This kilt has a standard 2" rise.

Also, if you build flare into the kilt is is usual to do it evenly on each side of the apron and in small amounts in each pleat. This give a uniform look to the kilt.
This kilt has the apron lopsided. This difference side to side of the outer apron even causes the Tartan stripes to skew off to the wearers right.

The under apron does not show this difference.

My best guess at this stage is that this is some sort of inexperienced alteration.