First kilt. High on the waist?

**unclevenus** · 6th September 12, 12:36 PM

So would the second photo look more ideal? Just didn't know if I was encroaching that territory of an old man that wears his pants to his shoulders. Wasn't sure if that was a good look with kilts. Thanks for everyone's reply, though!

**rlloyd** · 6th September 12, 12:39 PM

Originally Posted by unclevenus

So would the second photo look more ideal? Just didn't know if I was encroaching that territory of an old man that wears his pants to his shoulders. Wasn't sure if that was a good look with kilts. Thanks for everyone's reply, though!

Those old men wearing their pants to their shoulders look that way because they're wearing their pants at the natural waist. :P

**Cecil** · 6th September 12, 12:45 PM

It looks pretty darn good to me. I am waiting on my kilt myself. It was shipped last night and its suppose to be here Friday. Got my fingers crossed it will fit fine.

**MacMillans son** · 6th September 12, 05:08 PM

With the caveat "everything I learned about wearing the kilt I learned here from those with lots of experience". NOT to say I am a model of perfect kilt wearing, just a recent photo to support Jocks description. I'm the fellow on the left.

And I will be the first to admit, wearing an unbifurcated garment that high on the waist and showing that much leg below does take some getting used to. If that was not true, we would not see so many men with the kilt covering their knees and their hose pulled all the way up to meet it. I would council you to wear the kilt as it is traditionally worn and get used to it. Do resist all temptation to succumb to any desire to "cover up".

Carry on!

**Tobus** · 6th September 12, 01:58 PM

Originally Posted by unclevenus

So would the second photo look more ideal? Just didn't know if I was encroaching that territory of an old man that wears his pants to his shoulders. Wasn't sure if that was a good look with kilts. Thanks for everyone's reply, though!

Honestly, I can't tell much from the second photo. The sweater (which is really too long to be worn with a kilt) throws everything out of proportion. Plus it hides your shape and I can't tell if it's at the right height or not. But as for the bottom, what I'm seeing on your right knee (left in the photo) is about as low as it should ever go. Preferably, we should be seeing all of both kneecaps, so you could stand to hike it up a bit from what we're seeing.

Even in the first pic, it's hard to tell where the top of the kilt is. I can't see the hem. You've bloused your shirt to cover it. Can you do another photo with your shirt tucked in neatly and the kilt pulled up so the tops of your kneecaps are clearly exposed, and then let us take a look at where the top is?

**Jock Scot** · 6th September 12, 12:42 PM

OK to my Scots eyes your kilt needs raising to the top of the knee cap -------your pictures do not appear to show that, by quite a margin.

Now, there is no hard and fast "rule" here, but many would say that the kilt and wearer are seen to best advantage with the bottom of the kilt at a wee tad above top of the knee cap height. Most would agree, I think , that no lower than the centre of the knee cap would be the lower limit.

Go on, try raising the kilt at least an inch and perhaps rather more than that and see how it goes.

**HenryT** · 6th September 12, 05:18 PM

Originally Posted by Jock Scot

Now, there is no hard and fast "rule" here, but many would say that the kilt and wearer are seen to best advantage with the bottom of the kilt at a wee tad above top of the knee cap height. Most would agree, I think , that no lower than the centre of the knee cap would be the lower limit.

Agreed.

**madmacs** · 6th September 12, 07:30 PM

Put a wide belt on then take a second look... I'd say an inch higher, my general rule given by the kilt maker was 2" below the ribs... But she did have the advantage of actually measuring me and fittings before it was finished...

Doesnt look bad as it is though...

**Pleater** · 6th September 12, 12:51 PM

You need to have more kilt than you might think in order for it to look right - wearing it higher on the body than the pants' waist level puts it in proportion to your height.

Anne the Pleater :ootd:

**frankmacclintock** · 26th November 12, 05:55 PM

Hi, what length of kilt is it? (5yard, 8yard?). I'm pretty sure that, for the heavier 8 yard, military-style kilt, the waistband is higher rather than lower. A suggestion would be to wear no belt but a short highland waistcoat. (I have a kilt that's almost short enough for the waistband to be at trouser level, plus a high-waisted military-style one. I prefer the latter.