What should be the length of a winter coat?

[kilty]

I was wondering how long a winter coat should be when a kilt is worn. It gets pretty cold here in the winter. I seem to remember a "rule" that says a coat worn over the kilt should either hide all of the kilt or not at all.

Just wondering what the members recommend.

[Chas]

A winter coat should do it's job - kilted or trousered. I would go for half way up the hose.

Regards

Chas

[The Barry]

I would go long enough to not freeze my "sensitive" bits. I doubt that you'll be wearing a winter coat wherever you might happen to be going, so just wear whatever keeps you warm. Take it off when you reach your destination, which you would even in pants, and then you don't have to worry about "length rules".

Sometimes form has to yield to function, especially when it's snowing. Like it is today, in March, in Seattle.. What's with this weather?

[JSFMACLJR]

I'm not aware of any "rules." I have an Inverness cape which hits me a bit below the knees. I have several overcoats which I wear also. They all are a little longer than the cape, although my covert coat and loden coat are knee length as well. Jest wear whatever keeps you warm. If iy is a dressy affair, wear what you would normally wear with a suit.

Regards,
Sandford MacLean

[Nighthawk]

I wear a double breasted London Fog trench coat when it gets really cold. Otherwise I wear a black leather duster. Wear what's most comfortable.

[Laird O'the Cowcaddens]

Me personally, I would wear what warms the cockles of my heart (and everwhere else too). I find that my Inverness Cape is more than adequate for all weathers, like today in Puyallup, it's SNOWING-AGAIN, geez a brek.

[Pleater]

Apparently it is warm for the time of year in the Arctic, so the movement of the air is disrupted from the norm.

I have a whole range of garments to wear out of doors, and as a general rule of thumb the lower the temperature the lower the hemline, to maintain a greater volume of trapped air.

For comfort in most temperate climate conditions I'd recommend a hemline just covering the hose tops, as that seems to cope with most things. For harsher climates a few inches longer would be sensible.

For really awful days though, something down to within an inch or so of the ankle bone makes a big difference to the time wind and rain can be tolerated. However, in deep snow it is not pleasant to be dragging an increasingly heavy cloak or coat across the surface so comfort has to be sacrificed to expediency.

I have been known to wear a long red cloak with a hood - the traditional English garb, and can thoroughly recommend it for practicality in Winter weather. It is, of course, female attire, but the equivalent male garment, slightly shorter and of good Lincoln green with a double cape about the shoulders is even more able to protect the wearer.

Anne the Pleater

[ForresterModern]

My custom tweed Inverness comes within about 8 inches of the ground, just above the ankles. The length was determined by my height.

[JRB]

Just as a matter of warmth, I would want a winter coat to come down to at least the tops of my hose, but ideally a few inches below that (say, mid calf). I've never heard any kilt rules regarding coat length and I wouldn't listen to them if I did.

[McMurdo]

I have two coats that I primarily wear in winter the first is my shooting coat from Empire Canvas Works you can get them through the Scottish Tartan Museum, it does not hide any of the kilt


The other is my Inverness Cape, which hides it all

So I'd say one or the other, but in Canada sometimes it's all about keeping warm