Pin Purpose?

[Mr. MacDougall]

I've read in various places that the kilt pin should only go through the top apron, so it's clearly not to keep the kilt closed -- what, therefore, is the purpose of the kilt pin? Is it just a bit of bling, or is there a deeper, hidden meaning?

[ccga3359]

You are correct, only through the top apron as it could cause tearing should it get caught. For light weight kilt, the weight of the kilt pin helps keeping the apron from blowing up in a wind. On heavier weight kilts the pin is more or less ornimentation. Welcome to XMarks Mr MacDougall from southern Ontario.

[Braveheart88]

I believe it's to weigh down the kilt and help prevent it from being blown up by the wind. If you pinned it through both, the kilt would scrunch up when you sat.

[elitekiltedcommando]

Indeed. Merely helps to weigh down the apron, or ornamental, depending on the kilt. And Welcome to XMarks.

[Raptor]

Pretty much ornamental. Legend has it that a soldier's kilt blew open during a parade for Queen Victoria. She went over & pinned the apron down, & the rest is history.

[Mr. MacDougall]

Thanks for the welcome, and the information.

Next thought -- if it's just ornamentation, is there any particular reason not to wear pin jewelry that was originally intended as something else? A tie tac, for instance, or a lapel pin?

[cacunn]

If you search trough the forum you will find a number of different pins. There was a post just a few days ago that showed a Knife, Fork and Spoon that had been made into kilt pins. I often wear the Unit Crest from the US Army regiment I was in as a kilt pin.

As is often said a kilt is clothing not a uniform (unless you are in the military) just use some taste in what you use.

Welcome to the group.

[ccga3359]

Thanks for the welcome, and the information.

Next thought -- if it's just ornamentation, is there any particular reason not to wear pin jewelry that was originally intended as something else? A tie tac, for instance, or a lapel pin?

Just size really. A tie tack might be a tad small, but it's your kilt wear as you wish. A couple months ago I found a maple leaf pin on ebay about 1 1/2", posted a pic of it and got interested responses.

[The Supreme Canuck]

Next thought -- if it's just ornamentation, is there any particular reason not to wear pin jewelry that was originally intended as something else? A tie tac, for instance, or a lapel pin?

Well, for a lighter-weight kilt, you'll probably want something heavier since the pin might actually be needed. Other than that (and even in spite of it), wear whatever you want to.

Welcome, by the way.

[Mr. MacDougall]

I was actually thinking of wearing my aircrew wings with my US Navy tartan kilt, so I don't think size / weight is a negative factor. Hmmm. Thanks again, all.