Less Can Be More

[artroland]

What??? You've never seen the pinnacle of modern cinema that is "Baseketball?"

[artroland]

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All that being said, I think there's a migration, even among some of the elite of kilt-wearers, to mid-knee lengths … just curious, but is there a reason one would lower/raise based on age, or any other reason, the height of the kilt at the knee in formal circumstances? Because in many instances it's fairly prevalent, especially from some folk with (one would presume) professional dressers.

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[Nathan]

The one "absolute" is kilt height at around the top of the knee,

With the greatest respect Jock, no matter how many times you repeat this on the forum, it still won't be true. There are several traditional sources both Military and civilian on kilt wearing that I have shown on other threads on this site that suggest "no lower than mid knee" or "mid knee or higher" or "between the mid knee and top of the knee".

It's perfectly fine to state your preference for an above the knee kilt height but to call it an "absolute" is contrary to the demonstrable published record on the subject.

Whilst at the parade this weekend I made note of the soldiers from some 6 kilted regiments all of whom were clothed sharply to this standard.

The fact is that there is and has been conjecture on this point among traditional sources. Wishing it were not the case won't change that.

[TheOfficialBren]

David Tennent and Sir Patrick Stewart have never been know for frequent kilt-wearing. Both are great actors, true, but like with most celebrities, the kilt seems to be an occasional gimmick. With that said, that does NOT mean that this hem "migration" thing is by any means proper.

The "below-the-knee" thing is a very recent fashion trend inspired by the ilk of non-traditional kilt-wearers likes of Axle Rose and that ilk. Vin Diesel (shudder), Ewan MacGregor, Sir Sean Connery, et all...are not really known for being very traditional to begin with.

I will put it to you this way. How often do you see cummerbunds worn upside down? (The pleats of a cummerbund scoop upward, by the way.)

That kind of equates to PROPER kilt height. Mid-to-above the knee are acceptable. Above the knee seems to be generally preferred.

We can also blame the fashion industry's flippant need to reinvent the proverbial wheel at every turn.

Sorry for the rant but some things are just not done. Go ahead and wear your kilt around the ankles if you want...while you're at it, go ahead and sag it down your bum. It will look less like a kilt and more like a ladies' skirt!

Just a thought...are actors and celebrities more likely to get it right or the sitting clan chiefs? I doubt that a snazzy dresser like Cluny or MacLeod would mimmick someone like David Tennant?

Finished ranting.

[artroland]

All right. I give up. I'll refrain from posting any pics of myself in the future that show anything remotely close to half a knee cap if that extra inch and a half will keep nuclear war from erupting. I promise.

[TheOfficialBren]

Whoa! I re-read my last post. I apologise if it was a bit harsh.

I edited it to eliminate some of the snobbery.

[Nathan]

Mid-to-above the knee are acceptable.

Exactly. Who was arguing for below the knee?

Anyway... getting back to Colin's thread, he made an excellent point that you can be traditional and subtle at the same time and look classy doing it. I think he's absolutely right.
Like I said, I like to stand out, but I still try to avoid looking like a cliche.

It's up to the onlookers to decide for themselves whether or not I succeed, but one thing is for sure, I'm glad we share our views, but I hope we never end up all dressing alike in some kind of quasi-uniform. We can embrace tradition and individual expression simultaneously. Colin and Kyle are great examples of two gentlemen with a different fashion sense but who both wear the kilt very well and look sharp doing it.

[MacLowlife]

Artroland, I give you the poet Burns:

Poor devil see him o'er his trash,
His spindle shank a guid whip lash
His nieve a nit.
Through bloody flood or field to dash, Oh how unfit!

Not being possessed of them, I believe that thick calves look very well with a kilt and kilt hose.

Admittedly, very little looks better in any clothes than a six foot two frame, with long bones all over, but I agree with Burns- sturdy calves do better than skinny ones.

[artroland]

I hope we never end up all dressing alike in some kind of quasi-uniform.

I'm not so sure that would be bad. Especially if they give us rifles and cool mustaches to go with it. Can we work those in?

[Dale Seago]

Artroland, I give you the poet Burns:

. . .I believe that thick calves look very well with a kilt and kilt hose.

. . .I agree with Burns- sturdy calves do better than skinny ones.

I think so too!