Kilt Height

**cainam** · 31st March 14, 10:02 PM

Thanks for all the comments, they will be very helpful. My mind is made up regards straps and I will plump for 2. Your post is very interesting Steve and it wasn't something I had really considered. However, I have asked the kiltmaker who is going to hand sew the kilt and she said that she could make the kilt to be worn lower no problem so I am assuming that she will make it bearing this in mind. I will go back to her and discuss this in more detail as I want this kilt to be perfect. Perhaps I will go for a traditional rise after all.

**Son of the Rock** · 31st March 14, 10:04 PM

Kilt jackets and waistcoats are designed to complement a kilt worn at your natural waist (often about a couple of inches above your belly button). For example, the Prince Charlie is a short jacket, and thus displays the impressive full front of your kilt when worn high. If you have it on low, you get that horrible bit of shirt poking out of the bottom of the waistcoat, and it's not pretty. Part of it being a kilt, is its high rise. Kinloch Anderson refer to a low rise kilt as a breachan, rather than a kilt.

On the subject of straps, 2 is fine, and is generally the standard. 3 isn't uncommon, but you can mess things up with it if you strap it too tight. I'd go with 2.

**RockyR** · 1st April 14, 03:23 AM

To the OP:

You've gotten generally good advice and food for thought so far on this thread.

1. Hip hugger kilts (or kilts with no rise) aren't common, but can easily be done. Just let the kiltmaker know what you're after.

2. Steve is right abou where the fell will stop. If you're doing a hip hugger, let the kiltmaker know so they can stop the fell shorter instead of at 1/3 the length which is standard (i.e. a 24" kilt will typically have an 8" fell, but a 22" hip hugger may only have a 6.5" fell).

3. The MAIN consideration in my mind is if you're going to wear a jacket / vest with the kilt. They're made to stop higher on the body as the top of the kilt is traditionally 2" above the navel. If you get a jacket now or in the future with a hip hugger, this must be a consideration or you will get "the dreaded gap of white shirt" above the kilt.

4. As to straps, 3 is by FAR the most common as the standard, but if you like the look of 2, then go for it. The 3rd strap isn't necessary with a properly custom made / shaped kilt. Roughly 1 in 80 or 1 in 100 customers may ask us for 2 straps instead of 3 and we're happy to oblige. Typically these are people who already own a kilt (or are members of this forum) who have an opinion n the matter. Most of the kilt wearers either don't know leaving off the hip strap is an option or like it there for looks.

**Nathan** · 1st April 14, 04:14 AM

Regarding straps, I have one kilt with three straps and two others with two. In my experience, if you need to buckle the top strap tightly to avoid your kilt sagging down, sometimes, that distorts the sett of the tartan slightly at the top of the kilt. What I mean is the vertical lines at the top get drawn closer to the strap but that line doesn't want to continue all the way down the apron. I notice that having the hip strap allows me to compensate for that and have a nice clean line of the sett from top to bottom without too much fussing about. I understand that this isn't an issue for many body types and tartans but depending on the sett, your body type and the weight of the tartan fabric, this may be an issue for you. All three of my kilts are well made by different makers and there is set distortion to worry about on both my 16 oz and my 13 oz kilts. This isn't really an issue with my 22oz kilt. That said, it's not enough of an issue for me to add a third strap to my two strap kilts and, in fact, I don't like the look of the third strap with evening attire.

Regarding the hip hugger/breachan/low rise look, you may also wish to consider where you wear your sporran as you should have some tartan above it.

**Pleater** · 1st April 14, 05:58 AM

If you wear the kilt low it can look out of proportion - the length of trousers negates the effect to some extent but a kilt or shorts can sometimes give an icecream cone outline.

A longer kilt worn higher on the body, at the natural waist with a two inch rise is the usual way, normally gives the best effect, and creates an illusion of a taller, thinner shape.

Anne the Pleater :ootd:

**creagdhubh** · 1st April 14, 06:05 AM

I wear the kilt about an inch higher than my true waist (I purposely add an inch to the overall rise of the kilt to accommodate this personal preference). I like it to sit a wee bit higher than what is typical. Also, I prefer two kilt straps and buckles, since the third strap is quite superfluous and aesthetically speaking, I think two straps and buckles look far smarter.

Cheers,

**cainam** · 1st April 14, 06:24 AM

Hi Anne, that's an interesting point though it's not something I have noticed when wearing my low rise tweed kilt. Maybe I'm not very observant as my wife regularly points out or perhaps the fact that I am tall and slim helps reduce the ice cream outline you mention. I guess a good fit negates this to some extent also?

**plaid preacher** · 1st April 14, 07:25 AM

....oops... missed some posts. My comments have already been addressed. But do keep us informed. We love pictures of kilts.

**WillowEstate** · 1st April 14, 10:34 AM

Lots of great advice here. It will be your kilt, so should be the style you prefer and find most comfortable. Your kiltmaker will be able to accommodate your preferences, as the kiltmakers here have said, so working closely with her/him if key.

On straps, I'll be contrarian - I prefer two straps but it's the left inner apron strap I'm happy to lose, military style but that's a personal choice. I hope I've not put the cat among the pigeons!

**Nathan** · 1st April 14, 11:01 AM

Originally Posted by WillowEstate

Lots of great advice here. It will be your kilt, so should be the style you prefer and find most comfortable. Your kiltmaker will be able to accommodate your preferences, as the kiltmakers here have said, so working closely with her/him if key.

On straps, I'll be contrarian - I prefer two straps but it's the left inner apron strap I'm happy to lose, military style but that's a personal choice. I hope I've not put the cat among the pigeons!

Hmmm... my military kilt has two straps and one of them is an inside apron left strap. What regiment and vintage is yours?