First kilt. High on the waist?

[Pleater]

You need to have more kilt than you might think in order for it to look right - wearing it higher on the body than the pants' waist level puts it in proportion to your height.

Anne the Pleater :ootd:

[Tobus]

So would the second photo look more ideal? Just didn't know if I was encroaching that territory of an old man that wears his pants to his shoulders. Wasn't sure if that was a good look with kilts. Thanks for everyone's reply, though!

Honestly, I can't tell much from the second photo. The sweater (which is really too long to be worn with a kilt) throws everything out of proportion. Plus it hides your shape and I can't tell if it's at the right height or not. But as for the bottom, what I'm seeing on your right knee (left in the photo) is about as low as it should ever go. Preferably, we should be seeing all of both kneecaps, so you could stand to hike it up a bit from what we're seeing.

Even in the first pic, it's hard to tell where the top of the kilt is. I can't see the hem. You've bloused your shirt to cover it. Can you do another photo with your shirt tucked in neatly and the kilt pulled up so the tops of your kneecaps are clearly exposed, and then let us take a look at where the top is?

[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.

[MacMillans son]

With the caveat "everything I learned about wearing the kilt I learned here from those with lots of experience". NOT to say I am a model of perfect kilt wearing, just a recent photo to support Jocks description. I'm the fellow on the left.



And I will be the first to admit, wearing an unbifurcated garment that high on the waist and showing that much leg below does take some getting used to. If that was not true, we would not see so many men with the kilt covering their knees and their hose pulled all the way up to meet it. I would council you to wear the kilt as it is traditionally worn and get used to it. Do resist all temptation to succumb to any desire to "cover up".

Carry on!

[HenryT]

Now, there is no hard and fast "rule" here, but many would say that the kilt and wearer are seen to best advantage with the bottom of the kilt at a wee tad above top of the knee cap height. Most would agree, I think , that no lower than the centre of the knee cap would be the lower limit.

Agreed.

[madmacs]

Put a wide belt on then take a second look... I'd say an inch higher, my general rule given by the kilt maker was 2" below the ribs... But she did have the advantage of actually measuring me and fittings before it was finished...

Doesnt look bad as it is though...

[Spartan Tartan]

To the original question...can't really go too high. The last picture looks fine to my eye. Your knees are not fully covered, so you are (in my opinion) good to go. For my own, I would have it a little higher still, but see nothing "wrong" with how you are wearing it.

[Standard]

And I will be the first to admit, wearing an unbifurcated garment that high on the waist and showing that much leg below does take some getting used to. If that was not true, we would not see so many men with the kilt covering their knees and their hose pulled all the way up to meet it. I would council you to wear the kilt as it is traditionally worn and get used to it. Do resist all temptation to succumb to any desire to "cover up".

Carry on!

I'll fully agree with this statement. If this is your first time wearing a kilt, it might feel too high at the knee and too "revealing" when worn at the proper height. To my eye at least the top of your kilt is not too high, remember that the military kilts are sitting even higher on the ribcage than yours is. Get the proper height at the knee, and let the top rest where it will.