Looks and why they work.

[longhuntr74]

Speaking of what other folks do, I've noticed from photo's on the forum that North Americans tend to wear their kilts higher than your average Brit. I'm a bit of a mid knee man meeself and socks just below the knee. To wear my Kilt higher makes it, in my opinion too short. (No critisism here, just saying what works for me).

I noticed too while up in Dumfries recently that younger scots (there were several out and about for the Scotland Brazil game) tend to wear their kilts even lower to the bottom of the knee (ie. kneecap completely covered).

John...I don't know where you base your observations from, but I've observed quite the opposite here in the US. Many guys wear their kilts too long (as has been discussed on multiple threads here about band kilts, etc). I chalk it up to either insecurity about showing a little bit of leg/knee or, more often than not, buying an off the rack kilt that doesn't fit the hips properly and sags down or is too long to start with. Many band members that I've seen have horrible low saggy kilts due to this phenomenon as well.

I won't criticize your preference for mid-knee...perfectly acceptable in my opinion. Below the kneecap is not, though...at least not from my foxhole. I, myself, aim to have my kilts fall at the top of the kneecap. As I understand it, that is the general goal...and if you look at many OLD prints/drawings, it appears that some of the earliest kilts were 2-4" higher than that. I think that's a bit excessive, but I honestly hope we aren't seeing a trend towards "kilt saggerz" that are showing their boxer shorts at the top and have the kilt selvedge at mid-calf level....

[English Bloke]

John...I don't know where you base your observations from, ...

Just photo's on here, and I'm with you on the saggy arsed trouser. Let's hope it's just Kilt selvedge we have to worry about and not Kilt cleavage.

[MacMillans son]

I chalk it up to either insecurity about showing a little bit of leg/knee or, more often than not, buying an off the rack kilt that doesn't fit the hips properly and sags down or is too long to start with.

... but I honestly hope we aren't seeing a trend towards "kilt saggerz" that are showing their boxer shorts at the top and have the kilt selvedge at mid-calf level....

I just posted a similar question on the thread about Keifer Sutherland et al..

Not unlike the kilt hire shop syndrome we deal with, when the unknowing frequently see the kilt worn the same way (white hose, gillie brogues, PC jacket, fly plaid) or in high profile situations by famous people (Dressed to Kilt), they assume what they see is the right way. The more it matches their own style of dress the more likely they are to emulate it. We see that part here, and I am completely guilty of it, with matching color leathers and not mixing different patterns of fabric.

Our ever shrinking sphere of influence

[CMcG]

Personally, I think a kilt looks better when you can see some leg because it emphasizes that one is unbirfurcated. This plays out in two ways.

The first situation is when a kilt is worn with hose or tall boots. In this case, I think it looks better to have the kilt fall somewhere just above the knee to as low as the middle of the knee. Any lower than that and no skin will show, which looks sloppy and timid. Any higher and it starts to look like a schoolgirl kilt-skirt.

The second situation is when a kilt is worn without hose (or rolled/folded/scrunched hose) and with lower-cut footwear. In this case, I think it looks better to have the kilt fall somewhere from the middle of the knee to as low as just below the knee. The reason for why this looks better to me is probably because it balances the look by pulling the eye down and covers a bit more of the top of the leg while the bottom is more exposed.

[CMcG]

Here's a couple examples from the Scottish Tartan's Authority.

Kilt too low (no knees):


Kilt at a good height (with knees):


And here is one example from a fashion blog of a Utilikilt worn with boots.

Just covering the knee but still showing some leg:

[MacMillans son]

Here's a few looks that I like with a USAkilts Casual in the MacMillan Black fashion tartan. They cover just about all of the looks that I wear with a kilt, except for winter wear with a sweater and collared shirt. Don't try this with a single pair of trousers!

Outdoor casual:



Office work casual:



Out to dinner/theater etc:



I don't wear this kilt for the second two examples anymore, as I have wool clan tartan kilts that I prefer for those activities. The middle look is the most versatile, and I regularly get compliments on it when I am out and about. I think because it's Scottish enough to make the point, without looking like a costume to my uninitiated fellow Americans.

[MacMillans son]

If anyone can enlarge that middle photo it would be appreciated. I can't figure out what the heck I did wrong!