How important is a belt?

[thecompaqguy]

I don't think I'll bother with my belt so much - when I wear a jumper with my kilt, most times the bottom of the jumper covers the belt, so I'll just wear a sporran with it instead. Also the velcro's not sticking it well so it becomes too loose as the day goes on....

I've ordered a full-leather sporran strap instead of a chain, I'm sure that'll look good

[Peter Crowe]

I don't think I'll bother with my belt so much - when I wear a jumper with my kilt, most times the bottom of the jumper covers the belt, so I'll just wear a sporran with it instead. Also the velcro's not sticking it well so it becomes too loose as the day goes on....

I've ordered a full-leather sporran strap instead of a chain, I'm sure that'll look good

Purely for clarification purposes, in the UK 'jumper' is a synonym for a sweater/jersey. In the US a 'jumper' is a little girls pinafore. Being a Scot in America I have to translate these things almost daily.

[Ryan Ross]

The best answer I can give is:

When you have a belt like this...



...it's VERY important.

[NCMC]

If you are choosing between a good bottle of scotch and a belt, choose the bottle.
I wear a belt only as a piece of leather to attach a Tyger Forge belt buckle on. In short, wear what looks good in your opinion.

[Ryan Ross]

I wear a belt only as a piece of leather to attach a Tyger Forge belt buckle on. In short, wear what looks good in your opinion.

Sing it, brother.






Note: The right Tyger Forge buckle can also serve as valuable protection against evil entities that dwell in the deep. See post #73. :cthulhusmiley:

[Ryan Ross]

Case in point: The weather has been unseasonably warm here, lately. Like as has been said, you're not always going to want to wear a vest or sweater, whether for heat considerations or some other reason. We often speak here about "little touches that complete the look". I think the belt is a huge one of these.

For the traditionalists, I would think a belt would be a big plus, whenever a vest or sweater/jumper is not worn. Both because it seems to be almost universal throughout the history of the tailored kilt, and because for much of that history, and all of the history of the kilt before the advent of tailoring, it was necessary.

Another thing I always think of is that a good belt/buckle can make all the difference. Often times, the belt is skimped on or is worn in a less than ideal matter (maybe it's just not a good belt, or maybe it's worn too tight or too loosely), and I think that can become annoying for the wearer.

Another thing is that often times, it's hard to find a belt that really looks good with the sporran you're wearing at the time; color, texture, and style can all play into this part. The belt and sporran don't have to "match", but I think it makes a really good effect when they do. Artificer seems to be making a lot of sporran/sporran belt/waist belt sets right now, and I love seeing this; on rare occasions, it's possible to squeeze a set out of Ferguson Britt, also. I wish more folks would make that an offering, especially since I suspect that in the old days, belt and sporran were quite often made by the same craftsman.

Finally, you can use your belt to make a statement or add a bit of sittuational relevance to your outfit, in ways that are not possible to do with a vest or sweater.

Since I love visual aids, here's what I'm talking about. I wore this to Mass, last week; chi rho buckle, and the sporran and belt "go" with eachother (indeed, they were made to go together), and I think, produce a nice, simple, clean effect:

[Joshua]

Since losing 40lbs or so, I've changed my stance on the belt.

I'm a bit "squishy" where I used to have a prodigious gut, so my kilt tends to fold if I sit or bend at the waist. The belt tends to guard against this.

But in the overall, no, a belt is not needed. Personal preference, appropriate dress, and physical need apply.

[tyger]

Oh man! You guys really are looking sharp! I appreciate the compliments very much.

[tyger]

If you are choosing between a good bottle of scotch and a belt, choose the bottle.
I wear a belt only as a piece of leather to attach a Tyger Forge belt buckle on. In short, wear what looks good in your opinion.

Ha! Thanks guy.

That is pretty much how I look at it too.

I love swaping out buckles on any belt. I think the belt draws a line. It becomes a boundary for the kilt upper limit, much like the knees form the lower limit.

And I like having something that is discerning- others might have it, some might notice it- and I can feel it.

[Ryan Ross]

I love swaping out buckles on any belt.

I love that I have the ability to do that now, too. Just being able to mix things up a bit, get some variety going and whatnot, makes life, and kilt outfits, more interesting. Plus, once I have the brown belt in hand, I'll have four different permutations, right there.

Add in that I've got a brown and a black belt, each with plain pewter center-bar buckles, and that makes six different belt options, or three per sporran. Factor in three black sporrans and two brown, and that makes 15 different permutations, just from the belts and sporrans alone. Times four kilts, and you have 60 different permutations, just from sporran, belt, and kilt, never mind when you start with different colored hose, garters, bonnets, etc...

As someone who likes to keep what I wear, especially in a very casual setting, looking fairly simple and understated (kilt, belt, sporran, hose, and maybe a sgian dubh, visible garters, bonnet), all of those different combinations can help me keep trying out new things, without having to resort to more and more different types of accessories.

I think the belt draws a line. It becomes a boundary for the kilt upper limit, much like the knees form the lower limit.

I think that's the main reason I advocate the belt, myself. I mean, it's perfectly "correct" to wear no belt, but I care less about "correctness" and more about what I think looks good.

And I like having somthing that only a few discerning others have.

It may seem snarky to some folks, but I feel exactly the same way.