Sizing question

[steglitz]

Thank you for all of that. Really interesting to see all of those pictures with explanations as to what's actually not working well. The kilts I have all sit nicely; it was just a matter of length. I actually prefer the kilts that sit a little higher at the anatomical waist. That also seems to jive with what I'm seeing in the pipe bands here so I'll go with that and wear it with pride.

[lschwartz]

Thank you for all of that. Really interesting to see all of those pictures with explanations as to what's actually not working well. The kilts I have all sit nicely; it was just a matter of length. I actually prefer the kilts that sit a little higher at the anatomical waist. That also seems to jive with what I'm seeing in the pipe bands here so I'll go with that and wear it with pride.

Regardless of what someone else wears, or where you measure from, the key is to measure your own body and use that measurement. Some people are the same length from their waist up and the waist down. Others have longer legs than torsos. Others have longer torsos than legs. So, a dozen people who are the same height as you could all have different length measurements for their kilts. So, measure your body and use that number.

[The Wizard of BC]

Just one comment about using the navel when measuring for a kilt. The navel is on soft tissue and moves. One guy will have his navel in a totally different place than another.

And there is the myth of kneeling on the ground to measure. This is actually an old kiltmaker trick.

The kilt if made in the manner of what many call 'traditional' it is tapered from the width of the hips into the width of the anatomical waist.
Above the waist the kilt will have what is called 'rise'. This is a flaring of the garment of between 2 and 4 inches that goes up, over the short ribs.

Notice please that the smallest part of this kilt is equal to the top strap and buckle. The part above the buckle is the Rise. (The Drop is the length from the buckle down to the bottom)



If you kneel and find the length from the anatomical waist, (which is really easy and quick to find) and the floor - and if you use that as the total length of the kilt - but then locate the straps and buckles 2 inches lower - when the kilt is put on, the bottom will not hit the floor anymore but be up, above the floor by that 2" of Rise.

Where you wear your kilt is personal preference. There are three places on the human body where a waistband will naturally sit without moving up or down.

We call these "Full", "Mid" and "Low" Waist Height.



When worn down at the level of the navel we usually call this Mid Waist Height although it is perhaps the most common waist height today.

If you want odd looking to today's eyes, a military kilt can be worn very very high. The fabric was a set width so the top was adjusted higher or lower to have the bottom at the knee so everyone was uniform.



Now, here is the cool part. The distance from the hips and buttocks, down to the knee, can't change. There is a bone in the leg.
So if you change where you wear the waist the only change to the kilt happens from the hips up. This is the Fell area of the kilt. And this is why a kilt must be worn where it was designed to be worn.

[Karl R]

I actually prefer the kilts that sit a little higher at the anatomical waist.

I'm 5'11 1/2". My first purchase from USA Kilts was 24". I like my kilts to sit at the anatomical waist. However, once I start dancing, they tend to migrate down slightly. Therefore, for my second USA Kilts purchase, I got a 23.5" kilt. That works much better (for me) when I'm highly active.

Given that you're noticeably taller than me, and you like to wear your kilts a little higher than I do, I think 24" would probably be a minimum (unless your thighs are shorter than mine).