First kilt. High on the waist?

**unclevenus** · 6th September 12, 12:16 PM

Hello, all! Just wanted to get your opinion. I am familiar with height for the knee area of a kilt, but how high is too high for the waist area? Trying to pull it up a bit more so it's not over my knees so much. Kind of concerned that mine is looking higher than normal. This is no more than 1.5-2 inches above my navel. I know that I have to move my kilt hose down a bit. Unfortunately on the photo with the hose, the angle is a bit off, so it looks a bit off. I took another one. No hose. Had the kilt pulled up even higher with a sweater on. Looks a bit better on the knees, but still it's not pretty. Any ideas? I had this kilt created while I was in Scotland and to send it back for xx months for alteration would be mental torture.

http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/a...9&d=1346506562

http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/a...0&d=1345984458

**rlloyd** · 6th September 12, 12:27 PM

Looks and sounds right to me. You want the top of your waistband around 2" above your navel, also known as your "true waist".

**Jock Scot** · 6th September 12, 12:31 PM

Good lord man, you could go up at least another two inches, if you need to! Get the "Knee Cap Height" right and don't worry too much about what is happening at the top.

**Tartan Tess** · 6th September 12, 02:08 PM

How do you like the feel of your kilt??
If you are not going to worry about proper socks than the length might be perfect for you.
The waist and length seem fine to me for modern comfortable times, but if you are asking for "Historicaly and proper correct" way of wearing a kilt, listen to some of these guys.

**unclevenus** · 6th September 12, 04:34 PM

Lastly, I weighed in. Guess I've lost about 10 pounds since I got the kilt made for me. It is at its tightest settings. Had to pull it up a bit. If it sits naturally, it would drop about 1/4 inch. Not a bad feel when it does, but I think it's eclipsing the knees then. Didn't want to take the belt route, so maybe I'll just eat and drink it up for a few weeks to fill it back in!!

**sailortats** · 6th September 12, 04:51 PM

It looks fine to me in these last photos. However, it will look a lot better (and also not so long) with a kilt belt and a sporran. As was said earlier, that helps to break up the "long" look of the kilt. BTW, that is a very nice looking tartan.

**Tobus** · 7th September 12, 04:49 AM

Originally Posted by unclevenus

Lastly, I weighed in. Guess I've lost about 10 pounds since I got the kilt made for me. It is at its tightest settings. Had to pull it up a bit. If it sits naturally, it would drop about 1/4 inch. Not a bad feel when it does, but I think it's eclipsing the knees then. Didn't want to take the belt route, so maybe I'll just eat and drink it up for a few weeks to fill it back in!!

Based on your latest pics, I still think the kilt needs to come up a little bit. The buckle is still sitting below your natural waist. And the tops of your kneecaps are still covered by the kilt's selvedge. I'd take it up another inch or so.

Now, I do understand about the weight loss making it impossible to cinch it tight and keep it up at your natural waist. I have wrestled with that issue myself. A kilt belt can help here, even though that's not really its intended purpose. The kilt buckles are supposed to keep it snug without any help. But when you need a little assistance, a kilt belt can help. And as others have said, it will break up the visual line and make you look like you're not wearing the kilt as high.

Nice Danzig shirt, by the way...

**auld argonian** · 6th September 12, 12:31 PM

Helps to have a belt and sporran on....breaks up that long expanse and gives you a better idea of how it looks.

Best

AA

**Tobus** · 6th September 12, 12:31 PM

Looking at the photos, it looks OK to me. Definitely not too high at the waist. In fact, it could even come a little higher and still be OK.

Every man's natural waist is in a slightly different spot, so don't try to go by the navel. Just find it with your hands. It's easy enough to feel on your sides. That's where your top kilt strap should be. Then the top hemmed edge of the kilt will be about 1.5" or 2" above that (this is the "rise" of the kilt... for military kilts it's even more). If the kilt was made correctly for you, with the top straps right at the natural waist, the bottom selvedge will be just above your knee. But you can always wear the kilt higher and be OK. Unless it's WAY off, that is...