The dress code surrounding a kilt can be confusing to those unused to this very Scottish garment. Follow the links for how to measure for a kilt and the difference between a traditional kilt and a casual kilt, however the length of your kilt is also very important.
You can have a beautifully made kilt, but if it is too short or too long, this can spoil the look.
Although there are different styles of men's kilt, the length at which they should be worn does not differ - the kilt should hang to the middle of the knee cap.
To take this measurement, the man must kneel on the floor and a second person measure from the belly button (where the kilt will be worn) to the floor. A kilt is worn much higher than trousers so don't be offended if your waist measurement differs vastly from the size of your jeans. There is more information on this process on the Men's Kilt Sizing Guide.
If you are planning on wearing a Prince Charlie Jacket then your kilt must be worn nice and high on the waist to accommodate for the shorter style of jacket. With an Argyll Jacket or no jacket, you can wear the kilt a little lower if you prefer, and the length measurement should be adjusted accordingly.
As a guide, the length of a man's kilt should be about a third of his height, however a slightly different measurement is nothing to worry about as everyone has very different body shapes.
The following measurements provide a cross-check of height to anticipated kilt length, but don't panic if you don't correspond, long torsos and short legs or vice versa make for quite different results:
Height 5' 6" to 5' 7" (167 - 170cm) usually wears 22" to 22.5" (55.88 - 57.15cm) kilt length
Height 5' 8 to 5' 9" (172 - 175cm) usually wears 23" to 23.5" (58.42 - 59.69cm) kilt length
Height 5' 10" to 5' 11" (177 - 180cm) usually wears 24" to 24.5" (60.96 - 62.23cm) kilt length
Height 6' to 6' 2" (182 - 187cm) usually wears 24.5" to 25.5" (62.23 - 64.77cm) kilt length
Height 6' 3" to 6" 4" (190 - 193cm) usually wears 26" to 26.5" (66.04 - 67.31cm) kilt length
Height 6' 5" to 6' 7" (195 - 200cm) usually wears 27" to 27.5" (68.58 - 69.85) kilt length
These are our guidelines, however the length at which you wear your kilt is your personal preference. If you would prefer to wear your kilt above or below the knee, it is your choice and you have to be happy and comfortable when wearing your tartan.
Looking for a little reassurance or still have questions? Our tartan team will be more than happy to help - get in touch or book a measuring appointment online or instore.