My view is that kilts ought to be worn at the natural waist, not the hips.

While high waisted garments—jeans, trousers, kilts, etc.—have fallen out of favor, the low rise look is terrible on most body types. This is because it accentuates the midsection (belly and love handles), and so makes even rather svelte men look pudgy. The tailor who makes my suits—a true artist—suggests that unless you literally have six-pack abs, you should always wear dress pants at the natural waist.

In the realm of kilts, this why the high-end makers ask for both a natural waist—i.e., just above the pelvis bones, which usually corresponds approximately to the height of your bellybutton—and the hips, aka seat. This allows them to shape the kilt such that it doesn’t slide down and camouflages any ponch at the front of the apron.

Switching from low to high-rise garments takes getting used to, but once you do, you’ll realize that they are actually far more comfortable; or at least that was my experience when I switched from skintight hipster jeans to grownup clothing in my mid 20’s.