Interesting letter

**freddie** · 22nd June 09, 12:21 PM

[QUOTE=freddie;740248]I always thought that the kilt should reach to the centre of the kneecap and have always measured for my kilts accordingly. I'm 6ft 1inch and the measurement from the peak of my hip bone (if I can find it!) to the centre of my knee is 23.5 inches. So adding a 2inch rise this gives a total length of 25.5inches. This measurement was confirmed by a Scottish kiltmaker a couple of years ago. However when I bought my first 24inch length 'casual' kilt I caught my reflection and it seemed to be just the right length (top of the kneecap). In fact all my 'proper' kilts seem a bit long in photographs now. I've just bought an ex hire Royal Stewart Lochcarron Strome kilt off ebay which is 24inches long and this looks just right as well. I find that if I wear my kilt with the back of the waistband in the small of my back, just below my rib cage at the rear which seems slightly lower than the ribs at the front it's most comfortable and the kilt reaches just to the top of my kneecap. In fact I wore one of my other kilts to a party the other night and it felt too long as I was conscious of the material resting on my kneecap. Obviously from wearing the shorter 24inch length kilts I've got used to them. Of course if I hitch them up to my ribs they sit well above my knee, but then they soon drop to the comfortable level which is top of the knee. Here are pictures of the two kilts and I wonder what 'The Rable' thinks.
First of all the Royal Stewart 'standard length' - My Maine Coon cat 'Eve' decided to join me on this one.

And here's the longer MacDonald of The Isles:

What length do you prefer and why ?

**Phicong** · 22nd June 09, 01:22 PM

I wear all kilts 1.5-2 inches over the knee cap. I have been told by several on XMTS that the kilts I make or wear are too short. I really don't care what people think as I am the one wearing them., however, appreciate the fact that there those pure Scots who might agree with my kilt length. Maybe it is my MacHardy bloodline that makes me this way...
Gordon

**freddie** · 24th June 09, 03:34 PM

Originally Posted by Phicong

I wear all kilts 1.5-2 inches over the knee cap. I have been told by several on XMTS that the kilts I make or wear are too short. I really don't care what people think as I am the one wearing them., however, appreciate the fact that there those pure Scots who might agree with my kilt length. Maybe it is my MacHardy bloodline that makes me this way...
Gordon

Wow, that's certainly shorter than the 'Kilt Police' would like. But I guess it's a lot more comfortable in the Florida heat.

**Na Heilthirich** · 24th June 09, 03:53 PM

For what it's worth, I've always followed the Scots military usage whereby the kilt is just the right length if it just touches the floor and no more at the front when you kneel down. The hose should be 3 fingers' width below the wee bone that stick out at the side of your knee.

**Pleater** · 24th June 09, 04:39 PM

I have made kilts which are just to the top of the knee cap, and some which are rather longer - me being female both lengths are apt.

The length really to be avoided is where the lower edge catches when the knee is bent.

When the wind is behind you the kilt catches at every step, and if there is rain you can soon have the top layer of skin taken off over several inches at the back of your knees.

Of course it is no great matter when the kilt is only worn indoors, but a few hours out in bad weather will prove illuminating on the subject of length and comfort.

Personally I think the look of the kilt worn slightly too long is less manly. I think it is to do with the proportions, and when over long it can look a bit dainty.

Just shorter than mid knee or a bit higher - particularly with a jacket, makes a man look square set and sturdy.

Anne the Pleater :ootd:

**lethearen** · 25th June 09, 06:07 AM

The author of the article said that he'd been wearing kilts for over 70 years by now. Styles can change a lot in that amount of time! Not to compare kilts to skirts, but looking at women's wear you'll see their skirts running the gamut throughout since Victorian times. My ex was an historical costumer and focused on women, so unfortunately I don't know as much about men's clothing of the past century, but fashions change, styles change...

I think I'd read somewhere that during WWII kilts were measured by having the soldier kneel on the ground. The kiltmaker could get a quick, easy, down-and-dirty measurement, but if I'm visualizing it correctly, that would create a length to the mid-knee. Could that be the start of the start of the trend?

Personally, I like kilts just to the top of the knee. I think they look best there. Longer than that and they quickly look more like skirts than kilts (IMO), and shorter than that could quickly become... immodest. But if I had to choose between those extremes, I agree with an addage I read here but can't find the post:

Better an inch too short than a quarter inch too long

**KFCarter** · 25th June 09, 06:13 AM

"Better an inch too short than a quarter inch too long "

Well, styles and tastes do change and you're never going to find total uniformity in civilian dress.

As to the quote above, as a some-time carpenter my instincts have always been a bit in the opposite direction. You can always trim a cut, but there's no such thing as a "board-stretcher" (or, a kilt-stretcher, I bet)

**Alan H** · 25th June 09, 10:45 AM

"trollopy"?

Depending on the context...if it was a teasing joke I'd just laugh and tease back, and considering the archaic nature of the word, I'm sure it would be a joke....HOWEVER if someone accused me of looking like a trollop and used a contemporary word with the same meaning, I'd have words for him and they wouldn't be the kinder, gentler me.

Anyway, the man is entitled to his opinion.

I notice that pictures of suits, ties, vests and so on taken 70 years ago do not look exactly the same as similar articles, photographed today. Why should the kilt be different?

**Alan H** · 25th June 09, 10:49 AM

Originally Posted by Phicong

I wear all kilts 1.5-2 inches over the knee cap. I have been told by several on XMTS that the kilts I make or wear are too short. I really don't care what people think as I am the one wearing them., however, appreciate the fact that there those pure Scots who might agree with my kilt length. Maybe it is my MacHardy bloodline that makes me this way...
Gordon

I'd say, wear them however you bluidy well want.

I mean, honestly...which is more "Scottish"?

A.) being extremely concerned with wearing an article of clothing "just so" to the point of fretting over half an inch of potentially inappropriate length

or

B.) being independent of mind enough to do what seems right and best to you, while not utterly ignoring tradition or being an obnoxious lout about it..

**Dall_Piobaire** · 25th June 09, 11:14 AM

Originally Posted by Na Heilthirich

For what it's worth, I've always followed the Scots military usage whereby the kilt is just the right length if it just touches the floor and no more at the front when you kneel down. The hose should be 3 fingers' width below the wee bone that stick out at the side of your knee.

Not that it is my place as a Newbie to even comment, but this is what I have always heard,and been told by my G-father. He used to call me Nancy if it was too high or too low! Worn right up under the small ribs, and should not just touch the ground when you take a knee.

I think the rub comes in at knee vs. Kneecap.

Sorry, had to throw in on this