The dress code surrounding a kilt is somewhat baffling to those unused to this very Scottish garment, and all the rules that surround it. While we have already written guides on how to measure for a kilt and the difference between a traditional kilt and a casual kilt, what we are lacking in is some clear guidelines on the length of your kilt. You can have a beautifully made kilt but if it is too short or too long, this really spoils the look and today, we provide you with all the information you need to be an expert on the thorny issue of where your kilt should lie.
Although there are different styles of men's kilt, the length at which they should be worn does not differ at all. Traditionally, the kilt should hang to the middle of the knee cap, and in order to take this measurement the man must kneel on the floor and a second person will 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 if the measurement sways slightly from this it is nothing to worry about as everyone has very different body shapes.
The following measurements provide a handy 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 ultimately, regardless of traditions or rules, the length at which you wear your kilt is your personal preference. If you would prefer to wear your kilt either above or below the knee, then that is okay, at the end of the day you have to be both happy and comfortable when wearing your tartan.