Colors - Matching

[creagdhubh]

As mentioned in the song, middle of the knee was the "just right" standard I was raised on, it was the standard my regiment followed and the only one I ever heard until I came on xmarks and heard people insist on top of the knee.

Interestingly, there's a Highland wear enthusiast with a shop in Toronto's Kensington Market and I mentioned top of the knee to him and he said, "Yes, that's the old standard, it's mid-knee now". I'm curious to know who sets this standard. Would it be judges at pipe band competitions? Military regiments? Kilt vendors? All of the above?

So there seems to be two distinct schools of thought and this has been debated on other threads here, but I just find it interesting that this colourful song insists on the same standard I was familiar with.

Very interesting indeed. I've always been a "top of the knee" kind of guy myself. Since a young age, it's what I've always been told by family and fellow Macphersons.

[Stan]

Well, as a one year new kiltie (thanks giving 2012 was my first public kilting wearing) , and prior to joining xMarks, I took all my "kilt length" and "kilt wearing" protocol from the photos and video's that the kilt makers & advertisers (like MacGregor and MacDuff, as well as Scotsweb) had available on their web sites, and on youtube .

So, as I started buying kilts, and developing my own standards of what looked most "kiltish" my standards were established based on those advertisers photos and "how to wear a kilt" video's. I can understand how personal preferences differ from one person to the next, and with all that being said, I became, and am now, and continue to be a "middle of the knee" guy too.

Stan L.

PS. To the original poster of this thread:
Whether your a mid knee, or top of the knee guy, my observation to him (the original poster) is (still) that "his kilts to low"...LOL...

[Nathan]

Very interesting indeed. I've always been a "top of the knee" kind of guy myself. Since a young age, it's what I've always been told by family and fellow Macphersons.

Very smart indeed, Kyle. I do like your choice of tweed. Certainly not run of the mill. The way I solved the top of knee, mid knee dilema is by accepting that because of my unsubstantial posterior, the kilt is likely to settle as I walk around. I start at the top of the knee and when it droops, it's still mid-knee and ok.

[mookien]

... I start at the top of the knee and when it droops, it's still mid-knee and ok.

And that, too, is precisely why I like my kilts to be no longer than top-of-knee.

[creagdhubh]

Very smart indeed, Kyle. I do like your choice of tweed. Certainly not run of the mill. The way I solved the top of knee, mid knee dilema is by accepting that because of my unsubstantial posterior, the kilt is likely to settle as I walk around. I start at the top of the knee and when it droops, it's still mid-knee and ok.

I was actually going to mention the very same thing, Nathan. The more I walk around during the course of a day whilst wearing the kilt (or dancing), it does tend to naturally "slide" down just a wee bit, not too terribly much, but enough for me to have to re-adjust slightly, or tighten the two straps. I do believe this is simply a normal occurrence when wearing a kilt, especially if it's made of 8-yards of heavyweight tartan like mine. Thanks for your kind words!

[Tobus]

I was actually going to mention the very same thing, Nathan. The more I walk around during the course of a day whilst wearing the kilt (or dancing), it does tend to naturally "slide" down just a wee bit, not too terribly much, but enough for me to have to re-adjust slightly, or tighten the two straps. I do believe this is simply a normal occurrence when wearing a kilt, especially if it's made of 8-yards of heavyweight tartan like mine. Thanks for your kind words!

I'm not so sure I'd call it a "normal occurrence when wearing a kilt". I've never experienced slippage of my kilts.

A lot of it, I'm sure, has to do with body shape. And kilt construction. You prefer two-buckle kilts while I prefer three-buckle kilts. I do think the lower buckle, even if only loosely buckled, helps prevent slippage by providing additional contact below the top of the kilt. It conforms to my body shape more closely instead of merely hanging. I'm sure some "expert" will chime in soon enough to say that's all wrong, but for whatever reason, I just don't get kilt slippage on my tanks.

[Nathan]

I'm not so sure I'd call it a "normal occurrence when wearing a kilt". I've never experienced slippage of my kilts.

A lot of it, I'm sure, has to do with body shape. And kilt construction. You prefer two-buckle kilts while I prefer three-buckle kilts. I do think the lower buckle, even if only loosely buckled, helps prevent slippage by providing additional contact below the top of the kilt. It conforms to my body shape more closely instead of merely hanging. I'm sure some "expert" will chime in soon enough to say that's all wrong, but for whatever reason, I just don't get kilt slippage on my tanks.

I can tighten it up to the point that I get no slippage, but it isn't comfortable. I agree that it could be a body shape thing because my kilt is wonderfully constructed.

[creagdhubh]

I can tighten it up to the point that I get no slippage, but it isn't comfortable. I agree that it could be a body shape thing because my kilt is wonderfully constructed.

And so is mine Nathan, thanks to Barb Tewksbury!

Tobus, I have experienced slight slippage (mainly in the rear of the kilt and this does not happen all the time) sometimes after wearing the kilt all day long (lots of sitting, standing, bending, walking, etc), or especially after dancing, yet only a very minor readjustment is made and then all is well. Nothing crazy though; I'm talking maybe half an inch drop at best...remember, I'm OCD, so to me, I can noticeably feel the slight slippage when it does happen. Hell, the only person who would ever know any better is me!

[OC Richard]

Back to colour matching, I used to be the matchy-matchiest person on earth...



I was working at a Highland Outfitter at the time and could get anything I wanted from House of Edgar at cost.

Seeing that bonnets came in limited colours, but that kilt jackets could be ordered in a wide range of fabrics, I started off with a Lovat Blue bonnet, then went through the swatches to find the closest-matching cloth and ordered the Argyll jacket & waistcoat. I also found matching hose.

Oh, and I found a necktie, made flashes, and made that bagcover all exactly matching not only each other but the claret stripes in the kilt (muted MacDonald from HOE).

At that time (1980s) I thought that having everything match was the pinnacle of coolness. Oi oi! Today I would do the opposite and try to get things clashing, zinging off each other.

BTW all of our red/green tartans are based upon complimentary colours.