Quote Originally Posted by Jock Scot View Post
Traditional kilts do start at about the bottom rib height and as your kilt was not made for you you may have had to move it up a wee tad to make the bottom edge,hang no lower than the centre of your knee cap.It would be even better if the bottom edge was to hang at the top of the knee cap.

Finding tartan above 16oz maybe 18oz is not easy,so as a general rule 16oz is regarded as the heavy weight tartan these days.Wool is my view is quite the best fabric for the kilt. If I were you, for your next kilt, go for a 16oz wool cloth,it will help with the Chicago wind problem too.
I have to agree with Jock Scot-- wool is quite the best fabric for the kilt. If you are worried about stains and such there are two options, both of which I can recommend from personal experience. First, have the apron of your kilt professionally ScotchGuarded. 90% of all "accidents" will wipe off without leaving a trace. For the other 10% wear an apron over the front of the kilt.

The last one I had (lost it in the most recent move) was tall enough to tuck into the top of the kilt, and was secured on each side by passing the kilt straps through a slit (like a button hole) on each side of the canvas apron. This looked good with the kilt in casual/work environments and being ScotchGuarded would repel everything except Vikings!