Lets talk tartan waistcoats

[Dale Seago]

Actually this reinforces a very old custom: you wear a Dirk Belt when you wear a Dirk.

In my vintage Highland Dress catalogues the belts are referred to as "Dirk Belts" because that was their purpose. (Their purpose was not to hold up the kilt.)

That was my understanding too:

http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/s...76#post1174676

Jock Scot has pointed out (post #39) that ". . .in normal events the dirk is rather overdone and definitely more theatrical than traditional". But the subject of the photo being a pipe major, it's not surprising he'd tend to be a bit more ostentatious in his attire.