Argyll Waistcoat length?

[Bryan]

After seeing all the pictures of Prince Charles in the thread Prince Charles Duke of Rothesay in kilt photos I got to thinking about mine. I think my waistcoat is a wee bit long. By wee I mean a 1/2 inch to inch. The bottom is actually even with the bottom of my coat.

So, is there a standard length your waistcoat should be in relation to your coat length? Should the bottom (front) of the waistcoat be a tad higher than the bottom (again front) of your coat or should it be the same length? Or does it even matter? My coat, by the way is the perfect length.

[JolyStNicholas]

I myself am not sure if there is a standard, but if you got to ScotWeb they have a video on the proper manner to dress in a formal kilt showing the waistcoat and jacket maybe that could give you the answer you are looking for.

[Bryan]

By the way, my waistcoat is not squared off or flat along the bottom, it's (forgive me as I have no clue as to what it's called) got the two points or upside down triangles at the bottom.

[pauljsharp]

I read an article on formal wear one time on the web (can't seem to find it anymore,) that said that a formal waist coat should never hang below the jacket. It showed as an example a picture of Prince Phillip, the Queen and George W. Bush when the Queen came to visit last, Prince Phillip's coat was longer than his waist coat and deemed proper. However, and very surprising George W. Bush's coat was shorter by about a half inch than his waist coat and was deemed as very inappropriate! Who knew?

[The Wizard of BC]

The bottom of the two points of the Waistcoat should be at the bottom of where the Belt Buckle would have been. Or just below the Top Straps of the Kilt.
This assumes of course that you are wearing your Kilt with the waist at the correct Traditional Height. (The Top Straps of the Kilt should be just under the ribcage at the side and at about the level of the Kidneys.)

The bottom of the Argyle style Jacket should be at or just slightly above the bottom of the Fell of the Kilt. Or just at the widest part of the Hips and Butt.

[JSFMACLJR]

A picture is worth a thousand words:

[Bryan]

I think my waistcoat may be about 1/2 inch long. Thanks all!

[Chas]

1/2 inch too long is far better than 1/2 inch too short, any day of the week.

Regards

Chas

[staticsan]

The bottom of the Argyle style Jacket should be at or just slightly above the bottom of the Fell of the Kilt. Or just at the widest part of the Hips and Butt.

Ah... that's very useful. I tried yesterday to get a jacket modifed to be argyle style, but the dress-maker was unsure as to what was needed. So was I, truth be told. Sounds like I need to be kilted when next I try that. (I'll print out some pics, too.)

Wade.

[Colonel MacNeal]

Make sure you cover the top couple inches of your kilt.