Interesting letter

[Jock Scot]

Whilst clearing a heap of junk from my office I came accross a letter that some of you may be interested in.It was wriiten by a Mr.Charles Edmond from Argyll and the letter was published in the Scottish Field magazine in Oct 2002.
My words in brackets.

Are Kilts Too Long?

Why is it that post war(WW2) wearers of the kilt seem to have developed a tendency to have them made, and worn, far too long?I have worn the kilt regularly since schooldays some 70-odd years ago, and we were instructed always to have the kilt worn at least an inch, to an inch-and-a-half above the kneecap, and to allow five-and-a-half inches between the top of the stockings and the bottom of the kilt. In short, we always had to have five to six inches of leg showing, or if you knelt down on the floor, one-and-a-half inches clear should always be seen.

One only needs to look, however, at today's wedding photographs to see how trollopy some kilt-wearers look with kilt and stockings almost meeting each other.

Does this phenomenon arise because the kilt makers of today's generation have not themselves been properly brought up in the wearing of the kilt, or simply don't know what is correct? Or does it arise from the fact that the kilt is no longer an obligatory garment at school, or in some of the armed forces, or what used to be the OTU(Officers Training Unit) where we were all obliged to wear the kilt? What a pity we can't get it right.C.E 2002


Food for thought,perhaps?

[McMurdo]

A very interesting letter indeed, thank you for sharing it with us. Funny though, my Aunt from Coatbridge swears that my kilts are too short, and they are at the top or above my knee for the most part. She swears they should reach mid knee, to each their own I suppose.

[Jock Scot]

A very interesting letter indeed, thank you for sharing it with us. Funny though, my Aunt from Coatbridge swears that my kilts are too short, and they are at the top or above my knee for the most part. She swears they should reach mid knee, to each their own I suppose.

Your Aunt's comment is what I would expect a lowland Scot (no offence meant)to say.I don't want to start up a "Kilt myth" thing here and most certainly I don't want to start up a Highland v Lowland type discussion,but I have always been led to believe(rightly or wrongly)that as the kilt was origonally Highland attire, the kilt used to be(still is?) worn higher, in the Hghlands, than the lowland Scots do.

[Nighthawk]

Personally, living in a mountain climate, I like them a little longer. They're warmer that way.

[kiltedsawyer]

Sounds like this discussion has been going on a long, long time.

[ccga3359]

I don't want to start up a Highland v Lowland type discussion,but I have always been led to believe(rightly or wrongly)that as the kilt was origonally Highland attire, the kilt used to be(still is?) worn higher, in the Hghlands, than the lowland Scots do.

It's an optical illusion, the kilts are acually the same lengt but because the Highlanders are actually higher that the Lowlanders they just appear shorter!

One only needs to look, however, at today's wedding photographs to see how trollopy some kilt-wearers look with kilt and stockings almost meeting each other.

Could this be that it's because they are not regular kilt wearers and owners but are mearly renters for the occasion? Aside from that yes, even bespoke kilts are worn "long" (top to midknee). I've ordered two kilts thus far asking for top of the knee and I've been stopped and questioned if I really want that length. I don't know if I'd actually be comfortable with 1½" above the knee. Also I don't think i've ever been called "trollopy" before! i though only women could be trollops.

[McMurdo]

Your Aunt's comment is what I would expect a lowland Scot (no offence meant)to say.I don't want to start up a "Kilt myth" thing here and most certainly I don't want to start up a Highland v Lowland type discussion,but I have always been led to believe(rightly or wrongly)that as the kilt was origonally Highland attire, the kilt used to be(still is?) worn higher, in the Hghlands, than the lowland Scots do.

No offense taken. My Dad, from Aberdeen has never accused them of being too long. I must say I completely agree with what you have said.

[Arlen]

Your Aunt's comment is what I would expect a lowland Scot (no offence meant)to say.I don't want to start up a "Kilt myth" thing here and most certainly I don't want to start up a Highland v Lowland type discussion,but I have always been led to believe(rightly or wrongly)that as the kilt was origonally Highland attire, the kilt used to be(still is?) worn higher, in the Hghlands, than the lowland Scots do.

I've always worn my kilts at the top of my knee. (Although now that I have lost weight they do tend to slip to mid knee if I don't have a belt on.)
When I'm in the Lowlands I find people tell me my kilt is too long.
When I'm the Highlands I often get told my kilt is either just perfect or too short.
I wear my hose to about 2 inches beneath my kneecap. I feel they are just more comfortable and look better that way.
(And my fiance often tells me all the men she knows wear their kilt hose to the crease at the back of their knee and asks why I wear mine so short.)

What on earth do I do?

[McMurdo]

What on earth do I do?

Keep doing what you are doing Arlen, I'm not sure if I could wear my hose to the crease of my knee that just seems like it would be uncomfortable.

[Nighthawk]

A very interesting letter indeed, thank you for sharing it with us. Funny though, my Aunt from Coatbridge swears that my kilts are too short, and they are at the top or above my knee for the most part. She swears they should reach mid knee, to each their own I suppose.

That's my feeling on the matter. In school, military, etc, they are uniform. On me, they are simple clothing. It seems to me that some measure of decorum should be observed, but I'm not pulling out my ruler every time I put my kilt on. And besides, the extra length helps to preserve modesty when there's a nice wind blowing.