problems with the top half

[Ruanaidh]

You can use the bookcases for scale if you want I'm not a big bloke.

If your legs are long enough to reach the floor you're the right heighth.

[Hamish]

I am sorry to be coming late to this thread, Moose.

With regard to your worries and concerns regarding your height and the positioning of your kilt: I'll reiterate what most others have said - please wear your shirts tucked in. To look its best, as much of the kilt as possible should be seen!

I'll also go along with the recommendation that the wearing of a broad kilt belt (2" minimum - 2½" is ideal) helps to visually lower the waistband.

If you are still worried that you appear to be 'all kilt and no shirt', take a page from Bubba's book and wear a loose fitting waistcoat over the shirt. The effect he achieves with that accessory is just right - the vertical lines of the waistcoat draw the eye from the horizontal line of the kilt's waistband to perfection.

I frequently wear an all-leather waistcoat with my kilts - our good friends at Union Kilts (www.unionkilts.com) produce the perfect one - masses of pockets so that you don't NEED to wear a sporran, and in the softest black leather you can imagine. Honestly, no kilt-wearer should be without a leather waistcoat!

[Archangel]

I am sorry to be coming late to this thread, Moose.

With regard to your worries and concerns regarding your height and the positioning of your kilt: I'll reiterate what most others have said - please wear your shirts tucked in. To look its best, as much of the kilt as possible should be seen!

I'll also go along with the recommendation that the wearing of a broad kilt belt (2" minimum - 2½" is ideal) helps to visually lower the waistband.

If you are still worried that you appear to be 'all kilt and no shirt', take a page from Bubba's book and wear a loose fitting waistcoat over the shirt. The effect he achieves with that accessory is just right - the vertical lines of the waistcoat draw the eye from the horizontal line of the kilt's waistband to perfection.

I frequently wear an all-leather waistcoat with my kilts - our good friends at Union Kilts (www.unionkilts.com) produce the perfect one - masses of pockets so that you don't NEED to wear a sporran, and in the softest black leather you can imagine. Honestly, no kilt-wearer should be without a leather waistcoat!

Just got to this point in the thread and got to agree with Hamish, as if I would argue with him.
Belt, important balance point for the eye. It defines the waist not the kilt top.
Not so sure of the waistcoat but others seem to wear it well.

I'm thinking you're new and nervous. Relax, pretty well everyday is a new day in a kilt, you never know what's going to happen next.

Your picture looked fine. Get more batteries and a tripod. Use the timer and try different looks. I've worn kilts for years but only did that last year and realized certain combinations were not as good as I thought. (I should probably post and publicly critique myself, kinder than pulling picture of others.)

I also recommend trying to get a sort of military look. That's probably a big part of your mental frame of reference anyway. The kilt is a military cut so it goes together better right away, and once you're comfortable you can go with what you want.

[billmcc]

Moose,

That is a very nice looking kilt (from the back, anyway).
Where did you get it?

[Moose McLennan]

Moose,

That is a very nice looking kilt (from the back, anyway).
Where did you get it?

Hi Bill and thank you! Sorry for the late reply. The kilt is a 1975 Thomas Gordon & Sons of Glasgow, 7 yards and 4 lbs heavy. I was lucky enough to get it from a private seller on the ubiquitous ebay (I'd been looking for the right kilt to come up for over a year!).

Thanks to all the good ideas here, I was able to step out feeling good. I just put on a black suede waistcoat over my grey sweater, which gave me a couple of pockets. No sporran, no kilt pin. Hip length plain beige rainjacket with horn buttons on top and I was set - a nice quiet look I felt. The only thing I missed was proper kilt hose - but I have some on the way now from Brewin's.

Many of you are certainly right in saying "think unorthodox" - I'd never have worn a waistcoat over a sweater like that wearing trousers, but it works well with the kilt.

The "more of the kilt the better" advice I have taken to heart too. My kilt is in fact 'only' 24" long, which tallies with the 22" I needed in my hired kilts + 2" extra rise. I have tried it with a 2" belt and it does indeed make a huge difference to the perceived length.

Cheers
M.