question to riverkilt

**Joe Gondek** · 3rd March 06, 03:13 PM

Riverkilt
in a recent post you wrote

Riverkilt
My body still remains shorter than SWK's standard length...even my longest kilt that I have to wear high is still 2" shorter than the SWK standard length...so you guys that can wear 'em enjoy for me.

I was wondering how tall you are?
I was thinking of buying a SWK heavy weight Blackwatch
but also worry about the 24" lenght.

I stand a hair over 5/9.5"
I seem to have lost a 1/2 " or so over the years
looking at your pictures we seem to have a similar build
I like my kilt to hit at top of knee and think that a SWK will be too long unless I wear it way up on my body

Am I right in that thinking?

BTW I'm in the NE corner of Utah

**arrogcow** · 3rd March 06, 04:59 PM

Not River kilt, but I'll hazzard an answer. It doesn't just depend on height, it is body type as well. I', 5' 8.5" and my SWK is realistically about 1/2" too long (but I really don't care because I only wear it casually). Others here that are 6' + have said it fits perfectally. Bascially you need to measure yourself, and remember that a SWK is not 24" it is 22.24" with a 1.75" rise.

Adam

**GlassMan** · 6th March 06, 09:45 AM

Originally Posted by arrogcow

Not River kilt, but I'll hazzard an answer. It doesn't just depend on height, it is body type as well. I', 5' 8.5" and my SWK is realistically about 1/2" too long (but I really don't care because I only wear it casually). Others here that are 6' + have said it fits perfectally. Bascially you need to measure yourself, and remember that a SWK is not 24" it is 22.24" with a 1.75" rise.

Adam

A lot also depends on where you wear your kilt. It seems like a lot of people here in the States don't like the feeling of the high rise of a kilt touching right below the ribs and instead of wearing a kilt at the true waist wear it down at the pants waist. While that is fine for a contemporary kilt like a UK, it doesn't work with a traditional kilt, which should be worn much higher.

Personally, I'm 5' 8" but I actually enjoy the feeling of a traditional kilt rising all the up to just barely above my navel and touching my lower most ribs. For that reason, All of my kilts have a 24" drop and they hit me just at the top of my knee caps.

So it's not just height & build, it's also how you wear your kilts.

**Mr. Kilt** · 6th March 06, 11:02 AM

I'm not Riverkilt either, but here's a pic of me in my SW Hunting McLeod. I'm 5'9 and feel the kilt fits me just right, hitting right in the mid knee-cap.

**eighties** · 6th March 06, 11:50 AM

I'm not Riverkilt either but...

These guys have all hit the nail on the head. I'm about the same height as Al but my SWKs would be considered an inch or so short by traditional standards. However since they are more of an everyday kilt for me, I find them to be just fine. Yet, I've worn it with my Prince Charlie jacket for formal events and since the vest came down far enough, no one was the wiser. In essence each kilt will fit everyone slightly different. You may try one of the Stillwater economy kilts to see how you like the length and then decide from there.

-80s

**Riverkilt** · 6th March 06, 10:36 PM

Sorry, somehow missed this post.

I'm 6' even but wore 30" inseam back when I wore pants.

My longest kilt is 22" and I have to pull that as high as it will go to get the hem to mid knee.

I order my UKs short, forget what that length is, but its under belly.

SWKs are just too long for me in the size they choose to sell them.

Ron

**mddock58** · 7th March 06, 06:41 AM

Remember......The Stillwater Kilts MAY be hemmed if the length is too long.

I know we all like the natural edge of the selvedge, but don't let it stop you from properly fitting your kilt.

We have seen the arguments pros/cons on the standard lengths as opposed to custom ordered lengths, but we can alter them. (The Kilt Police are looking the other way!)

**macwilkin** · 7th March 06, 06:47 AM

The Kilt Police are looking the other way!

In my best British "Bobby" accent: All right then...what's all this? Move along, please.

Cheers,

Todd

**Riverkilt** · 7th March 06, 08:54 AM

I know Mark...I know,

But I'm out in the extreme rural boonies. There are seamstresses, but none with kilt experience.

Why should I have to pay a seamstress to wrangle with kilt pleats just to make something I bought my size? If it were hemming pants, no problem.

Many kiltmakers that don't offer custom sewn sizes offer in house adjustments for a fee. That way a knowledgeable seamstress does the work and the quality remains and the selling house has the responsibility for the quality. SportKilt does it. Utilikilt does it.

What if SWK had one seamstress in house who's job was to chop kilts to the sizes of those of us who don't fit their template. Would they sell more kilts? You bettcha. Both SportKilt and UK charge for it. SWK could too.

Once that obstacle was resolved, if it ever is, then I'd have to think long on buying an acrylic kilt. Probably at least one to see what all the hoopla is about.

Ron

**mddock58** · 7th March 06, 09:27 AM

I was not trying to point at anyone, I was just mentioning that to anybody interested, not to make the length a point where they will not consider a kilt.

I'm 6'2" with what used to be measured as a 36" inseam, but now 34" fit fine (I think that they have adjusted that over the last 30 years) and the Stillwater is fine, if I wear it traditionally, my wife thinks it looks too high on my body there, so i move it down just a bit, but the kilt comes almost to the bottom of my kneecap.

I just need to get her used to it higher.

Ron - I totally respect your opinion, and I really enjoy seeing all your kilts in such beautiful surroundings.