First kilt. High on the waist?

[rlloyd]

Looks and sounds right to me. You want the top of your waistband around 2" above your navel, also known as your "true waist".

[Jock Scot]

Good lord man, you could go up at least another two inches, if you need to! Get the "Knee Cap Height" right and don't worry too much about what is happening at the top.

[Tartan Tess]

How do you like the feel of your kilt??
If you are not going to worry about proper socks than the length might be perfect for you.
The waist and length seem fine to me for modern comfortable times, but if you are asking for "Historicaly and proper correct" way of wearing a kilt, listen to some of these guys.

[unclevenus]

Lastly, I weighed in. Guess I've lost about 10 pounds since I got the kilt made for me. It is at its tightest settings. Had to pull it up a bit. If it sits naturally, it would drop about 1/4 inch. Not a bad feel when it does, but I think it's eclipsing the knees then. Didn't want to take the belt route, so maybe I'll just eat and drink it up for a few weeks to fill it back in!!

[sailortats]

It looks fine to me in these last photos. However, it will look a lot better (and also not so long) with a kilt belt and a sporran. As was said earlier, that helps to break up the "long" look of the kilt. BTW, that is a very nice looking tartan.

[Tobus]

Lastly, I weighed in. Guess I've lost about 10 pounds since I got the kilt made for me. It is at its tightest settings. Had to pull it up a bit. If it sits naturally, it would drop about 1/4 inch. Not a bad feel when it does, but I think it's eclipsing the knees then. Didn't want to take the belt route, so maybe I'll just eat and drink it up for a few weeks to fill it back in!!

Based on your latest pics, I still think the kilt needs to come up a little bit. The buckle is still sitting below your natural waist. And the tops of your kneecaps are still covered by the kilt's selvedge. I'd take it up another inch or so.

Now, I do understand about the weight loss making it impossible to cinch it tight and keep it up at your natural waist. I have wrestled with that issue myself. A kilt belt can help here, even though that's not really its intended purpose. The kilt buckles are supposed to keep it snug without any help. But when you need a little assistance, a kilt belt can help. And as others have said, it will break up the visual line and make you look like you're not wearing the kilt as high.

Nice Danzig shirt, by the way...

[unclevenus]

So one other thing to entertain, but wanted your opinion on it. I am at my typical weight now. The straps/buckles are tight as they can go, but I there is extra room for another hole to be punched. Since the kilt is brand new, I'm kind of against it at the moment (maybe when I've had it a while). Would rather try a belt in the meanwhile. Has anyone else punched a hole or are there any problems you can run into doing that (stressing the leather?)?

Tobus, good catch on the shirt. Haha!

[Tobus]

If there's room to punch another hole, there shouldn't be any problems in doing so. It won't stress the leather or ruin anything. It's the best solution, actually!

[auld argonian]

Helps to have a belt and sporran on....breaks up that long expanse and gives you a better idea of how it looks.

Best

AA

[Tobus]

Looking at the photos, it looks OK to me. Definitely not too high at the waist. In fact, it could even come a little higher and still be OK.

Every man's natural waist is in a slightly different spot, so don't try to go by the navel. Just find it with your hands. It's easy enough to feel on your sides. That's where your top kilt strap should be. Then the top hemmed edge of the kilt will be about 1.5" or 2" above that (this is the "rise" of the kilt... for military kilts it's even more). If the kilt was made correctly for you, with the top straps right at the natural waist, the bottom selvedge will be just above your knee. But you can always wear the kilt higher and be OK. Unless it's WAY off, that is...