Are kilts getting longer?

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

If these same guys had rented tuxedos, they would have worn the trousers on their hips instead of at their waist. The problem is that most men don't know how to wear trousers, let alone the kilt. As far as wearing the kilt below the knee goes, well in my opinion that's when it starts to look like a "man skirt" instead of a kilt. How was it the venerable J. Charles Thompson described the look in "So You're Going To Wear The Kilt"? Oh yeah-- he called it "trollopy", which it most certainly is.

[SteveB]

tuppence for the thread.
Kilt wearers are wearing their garments overall in a different manner.
For many young men the lower garment sits only two inches above the widest part of the hip. This is where their body expects to support the garment, whether it be trousers, jeans, "shorts", or a kilt. The result is the kilt's hem is now a few inches lower than it would otherwise be, sometimes an inch or two below the knee. (Observation on this side of the pond.) This is why the aprons often look a little bit wrong. Some flair out at the side, some push the reverse pleat out at the side, and others puff up just above the sporran. This is obvious when the fell is observed to end below the hip. To many of these gents the definition of "waist" is the top of the hip and not the bottom of the rib cage. This results in a difference of about five inches on some of us. Next add in the Kilt Hire, and what is available off the peg. Not all of us are built the same, but the kilts are made as if we are. Many times the hem starts in the right place but quickly slides down until the support section of the kilt hits a wide enough platform to stop, if there is one.

My observation is that most Americans wear their kilts at the mid knee, whilst most Scots wear the kilt above the knee. Your observations may differ.

Slainte

[bricelythgoe]

If these same guys had rented tuxedos, they would have worn the trousers on their hips instead of at their waist. The problem is that most men don't know how to wear trousers, let alone the kilt. As far as wearing the kilt below the knee goes, well in my opinion that's when it starts to look like a "man skirt" instead of a kilt. How was it the venerable J. Charles Thompson described the look in "So You're Going To Wear The Kilt"? Oh yeah-- he called it "trollopy", which it most certainly is.

I love looking tollopy (whatever that means.)

[St. Amish]

I love looking tollopy (whatever that means.)

trol⋅lop –noun
1. an immoral or promiscuous woman, esp. a prostitute.
2. an untidy or slovenly woman; slattern.

I think the context is referring to the second definition, untidy, slovenly.

[bricelythgoe]

trol⋅lop –noun
1. an immoral or promiscuous woman, esp. a prostitute.
2. an untidy or slovenly woman; slattern.

I think the context is referring to the second definition, untidy, slovenly.

[Jock Scot]

I would not mind betting a Pound that you could put this phenomenon down pure ignorance. Just because they are Scottish does not mean that they know how to wear the kilt. With my tongue placed firmly in my cheek, don't forget that most members on this site have at least a better than fair idea of how the kilt should be worn, even if they choose to ignore that fact for most of the time!Many Scots will only think about the kilt and hiring it, for an occasion such as a wedding.What a shame.

[Paul]

I wear mine on the knee simply because of compliments from people that I have nice "kilt legs"!

[graham_s]

My Gran always used to tell me that the kilt should be just touching the floor when kneeling.
It's the way I set mine up when wearing it .

[ziggy]

My Gran always used to tell me that the kilt should be just touching the floor when kneeling.
It's the way I set mine up when wearing it .

Now that is interesting, I'd never heard that before but from a taylor's point of view, that totally makes sense.

[Sir William]

I'm thinking some are not so much wearing their kilts longer but lower.

When I was at the Virginia Scottish Games a couple last weekend I noticed quite a few who wore the kilt around their hips vice their waist (as they would a pair of jeans), thus covering their knees and making it appear the kilt was actually being worn longer.

Like MoR, I'm one of those who thinks it looks a bit trollopy. But on the other hand, they are wearing a kilt so I suggest we not be too hasty in our judgements. Perhaps as they wear a kilt more often they will learn how to wear it properly.