Does a Kilt Need a Belt?

[jetstar63]

It's no different from pants. I like to wear belts most of the time with kilts, hardly ever with jeans, and all the time with dressier pants.

[Wil]

Attachment 16718[/QUOTE]

Great looking Jabot! Might I ask where you acquired it as well as the cuffs from? I am in need of a new one as mine is too full of my liking

[Skipper1]

I have a number of kilts, ranging from the traditional high rise" heavy weight tarten to day wear MUGs from places like USAKilts and Freedom Kilts. I also have Utilikilts for work and things like paintball. It really depends on the kilt type and what I am doing as to whether I wear a belt or, at times, a sporran. My traditional kilts all fit properly without a belt, and, if I am formally dressed with jacket and waistcoat, I go without the belt (because it bulges under the waistcoat). If I am dressing more casually I wear a belt, in part because it provides a finished look that accents the waist, my wife likes the look of a big leather belt on me, and because it hides the telltale bulge of the tummy that old age seems to demand and the sporran accentuates. If I am out running in my sport kilt - no belt. If I am working in my utilikilt, I wear a belt to tuck tools into and forgo the sporran for safety reasons. So, horses for courses I guess.

[Jock Scot]

Need a belt? Well no, but they can be handy on occasion.

[DyerStraits]

I have a number of kilts, ranging from the traditional high rise" heavy weight tarten to day wear MUGs from places like USAKilts and Freedom Kilts. I also have Utilikilts for work and things like paintball. It really depends on the kilt type and what I am doing as to whether I wear a belt or, at times, a sporran. My traditional kilts all fit properly without a belt, and, if I am formally dressed with jacket and waistcoat, I go without the belt (because it bulges under the waistcoat). If I am dressing more casually I wear a belt, in part because it provides a finished look that accents the waist, my wife likes the look of a big leather belt on me, and because it hides the telltale bulge of the tummy that old age seems to demand and the sporran accentuates. If I am out running in my sport kilt - no belt. If I am working in my utilikilt, I wear a belt to tuck tools into and forgo the sporran for safety reasons. So, horses for courses I guess.

Excellent guidance, Skip, your approach is exactly the same as mine. I wear all of the same types of kilts in the same various ways as you do, and I am increasingly beginning to fully appreciate the unrestricted range of movement and serious comfort of wearing kilts as activewear, especially (and appropriately enough) for playing golf--without a belt of course.

The question of whether to wear a belt or not echoes that of whether or when/when not to wear a sporran, which is currently being addressed in another thread with the same practical, common-sense inputs.

[Jordan]

Personally I like to wear a belt just to break up the line between kilt and t-shirt (usually) I have gone without a belt before and I'm not against it, I just seem to pick up my belt when I'm getting dressed. I would also like to add that a great big waist plate is not needed for daily wear, my belt has a U shaped buckle I don't know the proper name but heres a picture. I'm on the left.



I don't think I've ever worn one with a waistcoat either and I don't intend on starting.

Just my tuppence.

[Downunder Kilt]

I think the common name for your buckle Jordon is a D buckle, and BTW, that "Bloke" next to you looks pretty mean.

[ASinclair]

I concur with everyone else. The kilt should wear just fine without a belt. Unless you are wearing a dirk, the belt is purely decorative.

[DyerStraits]

Personally I like to wear a belt just to break up the line between kilt and t-shirt (usually) I have gone without a belt before and I'm not against it, I just seem to pick up my belt when I'm getting dressed. I would also like to add that a great big waist plate is not needed for daily wear, my belt has a U shaped buckle I don't know the proper name but heres a picture. I'm on the left.



I don't think I've ever worn one with a waistcoat either and I don't intend on starting.

Just my tuppence.

Excellent points, Jordan. I also often wear a "jean belt"--with a 2.5 inch belt and buckle rather than the 3.0 inch belt and buckle that is standard for kilts--with both my solid colour canvas or twill utility kilts AND my traditional woolen tartan kilts. Some of my jean belts have a flatter, thinner buckle, which is good to wear under a sweater/jumper or vest/waistcoat, which prevents a bulge or "lumpy" look (but again, you really don't need a belt if your kilt has a proper snug fit), and jean belts also tend to be made of thinner leather, which is also good for the same reasons. Personally--and to your point--I also always wear a belt when wearing a tucked-in shirt with a kilt (and without a vest/waistcoat). I also think it makes for a smart, "finished" look.

[Jordan]

I think the common name for your buckle Jordon is a D buckle, and BTW, that "Bloke" next to you looks pretty mean.

That sounds about right, cheers.

He might look mean but he's a good "bloke" really

Excellent points, Jordan. I also often wear a "jean belt"--with a 2.5 inch belt and buckle rather than the 3.0 inch belt and buckle that is standard for kilts--with both my solid colour canvas or twill utility kilts AND my traditional woolen tartan kilts. Some of my jean belts have a flatter, thinner buckle, which is good to wear under a sweater/jumper or vest/waistcoat, which prevents a bulge or "lumpy" look (but again, you really don't need a belt if your kilt has a proper snug fit), and jean belts also tend to be made of thinner leather, which is also good for the same reasons. Personally--and to your point--I also always wear a belt when wearing a tucked-in shirt with a kilt (and without a vest/waistcoat). I also think it makes for a smart, "finished" look.

I just wanted to add that my belt is a kilt specific belt, it's wider than my standard belts for trousers.