Kilts Worn at Long Length

[george7]

Perhaps kilts are better too long than too short. Best at proper length, but better not too short.

[Cassidy]

I wear mine pretty traditionally for a couple of reasons. One, I think a kilt looks better when you can see a good amount of the knee. Two, it's only comfortable to strap the thing on ABOVE my love handles, which is slightly above my navel.

The only downside is that being 6'2", it tends to ride up quite a lot when I sit down, even with a firm sweep.

[Fox]

Pretty much describes my situation exactly. Wearing mine above the navel, 25' long and still wish there was a bit more to sit on.

I wear mine pretty traditionally for a couple of reasons. One, I think a kilt looks better when you can see a good amount of the knee. Two, it's only comfortable to strap the thing on ABOVE my love handles, which is slightly above my navel.

The only downside is that being 6'2", it tends to ride up quite a lot when I sit down, even with a firm sweep.

[O'Callaghan]

Old pictures show kilts that are well above or well below the knee, and the notion that that may have been OK with a great kilt but is no good with a modern one seems a little bizarre. That, said, I prefer above the knee on myself.

However, if it's ready to wear and so comes a bit below my knees it's OK. Sometimes I think those who criticise that length are looking down on those who wear ready to wear kilts, in a subtle sort of way.

As for middle of the knee, achieved by measuring while kneeling, that's a military regulation, and I'm not in any army the last time I checked.

[george7]

To clarify, I do wear my kilts between mid-knee and top of the knee. I'd just prefer to see a dude wear his kilt lower than showing off his quads. As for ladies kilts...

[Colin]

I’m six-foot tall so in a traditional kilt design 24” length is fine.
But for hot summer nights particularly, my casual kilts are comfortable at 22.5" (Sport Kilt) or 23” (Celtic Croft Homespun) or even 22” (AmeriKilts that I wear at jeans waist.)

There is no traditional kilt length standard in inches, but rather a guide on where the kilt should fall on your leg when it is made. Traditional kilts are made to measure and that includes the length. For me it has always been top of the knee. I find if I measure to the top of the knee, it sits comfortably right below the top and before mid.

We see more kilts that are too long because people are buying off the rack kilts that only come in standard sizes. Unless you are made the same as the design model these kilts will never fit like a made to measure kilt and that is why they sit too long on most people. Well that and that they are being worn on the hips and not on the waist.

[Bugbear]

I don't have to look at them, so I really don't care where people wear the bottom of their kilts.

I prefer mine to be at the top of the knee, and the hose to be a bit below the knee. If I could look, I think that would look the best.

[Ruanaidh]

I believe that J. Charles Thompson, in his book "So You're Going To Wear The Kilt", states that kilts longer than mid-knee look "trollopy".

[NewKilt]

I'm 6'0" and the length of my kilts range from 22" to 24". My traditional, and traditional style kilts are all 24" and I wear them at a waist height that places the bottom of the kilt at the top of the knee to mid-knee - wearing them lower in colder weather. My 22" length are Amerikilts and I ordered them at the 22" length because I wear them in hot weather. With these I wear them at a waist height that sets the bottom of the kilt about an inch above the knee - much more comfortable this way in hot weather, and in my opinion they do not look too short.

Darrell

[JelicoCat]

Due to a active youth both my knees have sizable and prominent scars. I wear my utilikilts at the bottom of the knee as is recommended by the folks at utilikilt. When I do purchase a traditional kilt I will default to the modern standard of splitting the knee. With that said I have read that prior to modern kilts there was no "standard" or rule for kilt length. Please feel free to correct me if I am wrong.