Question on how to wear a belt with kilts

[RCallan]

I think I read somewhere you can wear a belt with a traditonal kilt but it should be worn out side the belt loops??? (Then why have belt loops at all?)
And what about casual kilts like UK. You really need to wear a belt through the belt loops so that it holds up the kilt ...plus it just looks better.

What's the rule???

[Hamish]

I think I read somewhere you can wear a belt with a traditonal kilt but it should be worn out side the belt loops??? (Then why have belt loops at all?)
And what about casual kilts like UK. You really need to wear a belt through the belt loops so that it holds up the kilt ...plus it just looks better.

What's the rule???

There are no rules! There are opinions, however. One: please never wear a belt if you are wearing a waistcoat/vest. Two: please don't wear a dress-belt when dressed casually. Three: always ensure the colour of your belt is the same as that of your sporran and footwear (ie: black with black, or brown with brown). Also, if possible, try to match the buckle of your belt with the kilt-pin - although this is often difficult to manage!

If a traditional, 'high-rise' kilt is tailored correctly, you should not really need a belt (some kiltmakers do not provide belt loops on their kilts, for this reason). However, I think a suitable belt adds the finishing touch and invariably wear one.

Agreed, some contemporary kilts actually need a belt to hold them together, but whether they need one or not, it's always best to wear one.

Finally, all kilts require wide belts - 2" minimum; 2¼" is perfect. Trouser belts just will not do - so get rid of them when you get rid of your trousers!!!

[cloves]

Trouser belts just will not do - so get rid of them when you get rid of your trousers!!!

or maybe try to find a way to make them into nice leather sporran straps!

[KiltedCodeWarrior]

Funny, I had been thinking about starting a similar thread. I have seen reference to the fact that the loops are actually for the sporran strap and not for the belt. Personally, I always use the loops for belt loops and do not thread the sporran strap throught them. Anybody have any histrorical information (Matt?) on the intent, or accuracy, of loops on a kilt?

[Archangel]

I usually recommend that people look to Geoffrey kilts when they have these kinds of questions. Look through the pictures and see what the traditions are. I just looked and the gallery is more 21stCentury kilts but the answers are more on the main site. Later on check out the 21stCentury.

Does anybody know if the catalogue is still available from Geoffrey's? That was a valuable reference.

[KiltedKnight]

There are no rules! There are opinions, however. One: please never wear a belt if you are wearing a waistcoat/vest. Two: please don't wear a dress-belt when dressed casually. Three: always ensure the colour of your belt is the same as that of your sporran and footwear (ie: black with black, or brown with brown). Also, if possible, try to match the buckle of your belt with the kilt-pin - although this is often difficult to manage!

Now Hamish, first you tell the gentleman that there are no rules and then you make a statement that sounds like a rule exists. You stated; "Also, if possible, try to match the buckle of your belt with the kilt pin"...? Who said there was any rule requiring a kilt pin? I haven't worn a kilt pin in over a decade and I probably never will again, just don't care for them. I own a few of them and some of them have dust from the Mount St. Helens eruption on them, that's how long since they've been moved...lol

Chris.

[James]

Some kilts have both sporran and belt loops.

For day to day wear they are not of necessity relevant, but do remember that the kilt was and is on occasion worn with such things as a dirk, further i a belt is worn, it should be level with the top of the kilt all round.

Anything else just looks sloppy.

The belt loops ensure that the belt stays in the right position, and there is no chance, of it slipping-being pulled down by the weight of the dirk.

Think here the little metal attachments at the waist of a dress uniform, so ones belt etc remains level all round and in the correct position: and is not dragged down by the weight of say a sword.

In the end the belt loops are a part of the kilt, and necessary: that does not say the wearer must use them: but certainly they should be there on a decent kilt.

James

[Robin]

I don't use the belt loops anymore...no need for them and they look odd. I sometimes put the sporran strap through them, but there's no need for it also.

Do as you please...nobody would say you do something wrong either way

[arrogcow]

While there is no "need" for the belt loops in a perfectally tailored kilt, some of us go up and down a bit in weight on a regular basis. When I'm at my smallest, my tank has the tendency to slip down a little if I'm not wearing a belt at all, and will slip out of the belt if not through the loops.

Adam

[Barb T]

Loops started out as something to put the sporran strap through so that it wouldn't feel like it might be headed south as you moved around. This is really only an issue if you have a flat kiester. Most people have cheeks big enough to keep that from happening.

A belt doesn't need loops, because it's solely decorative, it isn't used to hold a kilt up, and it's unlikely to fall down. Despite that, sporran loops are commonly made big enough for people to put belts through, and people do call them belt loops. I try to talk people out of putting a belt through the loops, because, over time, it pulls up the bottom of the kilt directly under the loops and distorts the bottom line of the kilt. If you don't believe me, just have a look at a well-worn kilt (e.g., a band kilt) at the next games you go to.

Barb