Kilts Worn at Long Length

**Howard Clark** · 27th August 08, 10:35 AM

I'm a top of the knee vote, myself, unless it is really cold, then I have one that hits a tad lower, but still not at the middle. In hot summer weather working in the blacksmith shop, a couple of the work kilts I made are shorter than the top of the knee. But I do not wear them out in public, and I work standing almost all the time. It is purely about my comfort/safety at work.

**Monkey@Arms** · 27th August 08, 10:37 AM

I've said this before. Its all about fashion. Kilt hems have been worn higher and lower at various times based on the kilt fashions of the day. We all have personal preferences, but unless you are wearing a kilt as part of a uniform, there is no absolute as to where it must fall in relation to your knee (or how high your hose must be).

I think Colin's point about off-the-rack sizes is a significant one. Combine that with modern fashions of long shorts, and wearing pants lower on the hips, and the result is lower kilt hems. Its not necessarily wrong, its just what is.

Best regards,

Jake

**werewolves** · 27th August 08, 01:40 PM

Originally Posted by Monkey@Arms

I've said this before. Its all about fashion. Kilt hems have been worn higher and lower at various times based on the kilt fashions of the day. We all have personal preferences, but unless you are wearing a kilt as part of a uniform, there is no absolute as to where it must fall in relation to your knee (or how high your hose must be).

I think Colin's point about off-the-rack sizes is a significant one. Combine that with modern fashions of long shorts, and wearing pants lower on the hips, and the result is lower kilt hems. Its not necessarily wrong, its just what is.

Best regards,

Jake

Amen!

The first time I saw a guy in a UK, it was long. As in well below the knee long. And he looked great.

I tried ordering my first UK long to get that look. It looked terrible on me, so I got it chopped to mid-knee. Much better.

On me, I'm not a fan of above the knee. Looks silly, but to each his own.

I'm also pretty sure I've seen old drawings of Scots with kilts from mid-calf to mid-thigh. I could be wrong.

**Pleater** · 27th August 08, 01:53 PM

mutter mutter can't see knees grumble grumble.

Kilt without knees - humph.

Going around with long kilts on mutter mutter.

**Carolina Kiltman** · 27th August 08, 02:16 PM

Originally Posted by Pleater

mutter mutter can't see knees grumble grumble.

Kilt without knees - humph.

Going around with long kilts on mutter mutter.

I prefer just to the top of the knee or maybe a tad lower. But as I remember one of my elder relatives muttering, "A woman's knee is a joint, not an entertainment!" I think the same applies here.

**Nick the DSM** · 27th August 08, 02:23 PM

I don't care, as long as it looks good.

at first pants were worn around the waist, now they're at our knees! LOL
but seriously, they change all the time why can't the kilt???

Thoguh i wouldn't recommend wearing the waist of the kilt around the knees trying to be a scottish gangsta or something.

**davedove** · 29th August 08, 04:58 AM

Originally Posted by Carolina Kiltman

But as I remember one of my elder relatives muttering, "A woman's knee is a joint, not an entertainment!" I think the same applies here.

But why can't they be both?

**pdcorlis** · 27th August 08, 12:25 PM

Put me down as a top of the knee guy - I agree with Thompson that longer kilts look "trollopy" to me eye too.

**JohnQ** · 27th August 08, 12:37 PM

I would have to agree that for a traditional kilt, above the knee is the right look. I have 5 UKs. I bought one on clearance that was 24.5" (just below the knee) meaning to have it cropped by my gf. I've left it as is to have a bit of variety.

Body symmetry is also a factor in how a longer kilt looks. A slimmer body can pull off a longer kilt better than a more stout one.

**george7** · 27th August 08, 12:42 PM

Definitions of trollop on the Web:

slattern: a dirty untidy woman
adulteress: a woman adulterer
wordnet.princeton.edu/perl/webwn

The name Trollope is derived from the place-name Troughburn, in Northumberland. Troughburn was originally Trolhop, meaning (in Norse) Troll Valley, and the earliest recorded use is John Andrew Trolope (1427-1461) who lived in Thornlaw, Co Durham
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trollop

a woman held by others as retaining a vulgar and discourteous disposition; a strumpet
en.wiktionary.org/wiki/trollop

That's a lot to say about an inch or two of kilt length.