Does a Kilt Need a Belt?

**Nathan** · 17th February 14, 11:44 AM

Originally Posted by Jock Scot

Post ammended, Nathan.

Touche, Jock. Touche...

**Jordan** · 17th February 14, 04:59 PM

Originally Posted by Hawk

.....if I'm right, while looking through the photo spread on the link from that outing to the Burns Supper, he is wearing that Kilt and Sporran at the evening festivities, with jacket and appropriate hose......so indeed, he was on his way.......am I right Jordan?

Hawk

Indeed, He borrowed the whole PC outfit from his friend and just adapted what he had for the purpose at hand during the weekend.

Originally Posted by Nathan

SNIP
Second of all, if things like sporran choice are "unimportant" this whole website is pointless.
SNIP

I just wanted to reply to your Sporran comment, I do think that a sporran is an unimportant part of an outfit to a certain extent.
Providing someone wants to wear a sporran then what sporran you wear 95% of the time is irrelevant.
Most people over here (Scotland) If they own any form of highland Dress then they only own one I.E. One kilt One Sporran One pair of (White) Hose etc.
You can quite often see a Dress sporran at the football when the Tartan Army are out and about and I can pretty much guarantee that its the same sporran as would be worn if at a wedding (Sans football top). The whole purpose of it is to hole your wallet/keys etc and unless you are a member of Xmarks or in a position where your outfit is commented on or deemed appropriate or not in "the public eye" (XMTS favorite HRH springs to mind) then most people just make do with what they have.

Just my tuppence of course.

**rondo** · 17th February 14, 06:53 PM

Originally Posted by Riverkilt

A kilt needs a belt like jeans need a belt and suspenders....

The kilt straps work well, that's what they are for.

Ah, hmmmm...
205854_126996604060370_4795119_n.jpg
Just sayin'
Rondo

**BBNC** · 18th February 14, 01:32 PM

Unfortunately, some of us are more portly than others, and even with the straps snugged up, a belt is needed, otherwise the kilt will slide down, especially when its an 8-yd, 16oz tank. I am thinking about installing a rubber strip on the inside, like those used in trousers to help keep a shirt in, as even with a wide belt, I feel I have to check for slippage from time to time. My sporran hangs from belt straps.

BBNC

**Nathan** · 18th February 14, 05:32 PM

Originally Posted by Jordan

Indeed, He borrowed the whole PC outfit from his friend and just adapted what he had for the purpose at hand during the weekend.

I just wanted to reply to your Sporran comment, I do think that a sporran is an unimportant part of an outfit to a certain extent.
Providing someone wants to wear a sporran then what sporran you wear 95% of the time is irrelevant.
Most people over here (Scotland) If they own any form of highland Dress then they only own one I.E. One kilt One Sporran One pair of (White) Hose etc.
You can quite often see a Dress sporran at the football when the Tartan Army are out and about and I can pretty much guarantee that its the same sporran as would be worn if at a wedding (Sans football top). The whole purpose of it is to hole your wallet/keys etc and unless you are a member of Xmarks or in a position where your outfit is commented on or deemed appropriate or not in "the public eye" (XMTS favorite HRH springs to mind) then most people just make do with what they have.

Just my tuppence of course.

I for one think you should dress smartly even if you're not in "the public eye". I wore an evening sporran casually while playing in a Celtic band for years. I had lent my day sporran to another band member so I'm not playing holier than thou (or holier than thy buddy for that matter...) I will say that when I view those photos of myself today, I'm somewhat embarrassed because a day sporran would have been correct. Not only did I look out of sorts, but I ruined a lovely sealskin evening sporran. Is wearing the right clothing at the right time ever really "important"? It depends if you want to be viewed as stylish or well dressed. Does it matter if someone wears a tracksuit to a wedding or a tuxedo to a sporting event? I suppose that depends on who is looking at them. Fashion is never as important as many of the more weighty issues in the world but dressing appropriately denotes a worldliness and not doing so suggests either an ignorance or disregard for the proper convention or a lack of financial means.

Regardless of the choices that the tartan army makes, I think one of the reasons xmarks is valuable is that it educates people both in Scotland and abroad about the appropriate orders of dress for the various bells, whistles and doo dads one can purchase at the tartan shop. Sure, there will always be people who don't want to or cannot pay for two sporrans but if all I want to own is one pair of shoes for the purpose of covering my feet and I choose the patent leather ones, I'll still look pretty weird at the gym or mowing my lawn.

Public service announcement for the Tartan Army. Here's what happens when you abuse your evening wear... ;)

Six tassels...
Prom.jpg

OReilly's Red shirt.jpg

Three tassels...
OReiily's.jpg

Step er out 2004ish.jpg

No tassels...
Nathanwhistle1-300.jpg

sealskin starting to peel off and crack...
Celtae Band shot.jpg

Excess sealskin cut off and leather tassels attached...
daywear1.jpg

Modified sporran later bartered for a proper leather daywear sporran.

I've no pence and they've phased out the Canadian penny, so I guess that was just my two nickels...

**Green Dragon** · 18th February 14, 08:40 PM

I always wear a belt with my kilt. Growing up we were expected, no matter where we were going, to have shirts tucked in, hair combed and a belt on. It may just be a small town Texas thing but it has carried over to whatever I may be wearing, including my kilt.

**BBNC** · 21st February 14, 03:27 AM

Originally Posted by Green Dragon

I always wear a belt with my kilt. Growing up we were expected, no matter where we were going, to have shirts tucked in, hair combed and a belt on. It may just be a small town Texas thing but it has carried over to whatever I may be wearing, including my kilt.

It was a big city Northern thing, too. I was never comfortable wearing pants without a belt, even though I could have gotten away with it in my younger days.

BBNC

**OC Richard** · 28th February 14, 05:24 AM

Originally Posted by Father Bill

The belt is basically to support a dirk, which is extremely unusual, usually inappropriate, often a problem, and inevitably a nuisance. Other than that it's decorative.

Your kilt should fit without it.

Bill that's hilarious and spot-on accurate all at the same time. Brilliant!

The only time I ever used a dirk for anything was at my own wedding reception, where I used it to cut the cake!

I rarely wear a belt. I'm usually out piping at a gig, and I always wear a jacket, which I keep buttoned for smartness, so the belt would just be one more thing to bring and put on, and besides it adds extra bulk under the jacket (where there's plenty of bulk already!)

Sometimes it's too hot for a jacket and I wear a waistcoat. It should go without saying that I would never wear a belt under a waistcoat.

Once in a blue moon I'm out wearing the kilt casually when it's too hot for either jacket or waistcoat, and at such times I often will put on a belt, just to smarten up the outfit a bit.

The other times I wear a belt- rare- is when I'm piping in military style Full Dress and wearing a dirk.

**OC Richard** · 28th February 14, 05:39 AM

Originally Posted by Green Dragon

I always wear a belt with my kilt. Growing up we were expected, no matter where we were going, to have shirts tucked in, hair combed and a belt on. It may just be a small town Texas thing but it has carried over to whatever I may be wearing, including my kilt.

Posts like these reinforce my long-held notion that Americans like wearing belts with their kilts due to a false analogy with pants.

Pants are designed to be held up by a belt. Kilts, traditionally, have not been. The adding of belt loops to kilts is a recent thing (Army kilts have never had them) and appears to have been largely driven by the demands of American customers, who liken kilts to pants.

In old Highland Dress catalogues no such thing as a 'kilt belt' is mentioned or offered. What they do offer is a 'dirk belt' the purpose of which is to support a dirk.

**creagdhubh** · 28th February 14, 06:38 AM

Originally Posted by OC Richard

Posts like these reinforce my long-held notion that Americans like wearing belts with their kilts due to a false analogy with pants.

Pants are designed to be held up by a belt. Kilts, traditionally, have not been. The adding of belt loops to kilts is a recent thing (Army kilts have never had them) and appears to have been largely driven by the demands of American customers, who liken kilts to pants.

In old Highland Dress catalogues no such thing as a 'kilt belt' is mentioned or offered. What they do offer is a 'dirk belt' the purpose of which is to support a dirk.

Well said, Richard!