Are 2 strap kilts lady kilts ?

[t_challa]

My ex military Mackenzie Seaforth has only two straps, both on the right side. The inner apron is just held up by the pressure of the top apron.

Do you have any issues with the inner apron moving or dropping when you move/walk/sit? I only ask as I have the opportunity to buy a kilt from an old friend. It belonged to his uncle and I think that it's just how you described.

[t_challa]

but I asoom this is as in Zephron Cochrane , if your a Sci-Fi you will now who im talking about He invented warp drive .

Always nice to find another Trekkie out there.

[ratspike]

And I have to chip in and say it's not always the same two straps! My ex military Mackenzie Seaforth has only two straps, both on the right side. The inner apron is just held up by the pressure of the top apron. I've seen a number of the 22 oz Military kilts like this.

My PV kilt has three - I tried not fastening the left one but that doesn't work - the lesser weight, perhaps or maybe he different friction of the cloth?

All of my personal kilts are made with no fastener on the left side and really like it. PV, wool, canvas, poly/cotton and ripstop, and they all stay put pretty well. I tend to wear mine fairly loose much of the time so I have to give the under apron an occasional tug, but in general it's not a problem. I bet that the unfastened strap on your PV was allowing the fabric to move around more easily, along with not having the same kind of friction that your wool kilt has.

[Norbo]

To my eyes the tartan in your pic matches exactly the Cochrane tartan as shown at

http://www.tartanregister.gov.uk/tar...e.aspx?ref=695

I see three large green blocks between each set of yellow pin stripes, and also three narrow green blocks (bars) between the red stripes in both "pictures".

If you look at this link at the yellow block and look at the red bands going down the link has 4 red bands including the 1's on the yellow line and my one only has 3 . it has just 1 down the center of the yellow block and the other has 2 .

http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/MTAwMFg3NT...Tpe05/$_57.JPG

http://www.tartanregister.gov.uk/tar...s.aspx?ref=695

[jhockin]

It is my understanding, mostly from Barb's excellent book (The Art of Kiltmaking), that lighter weight fabric is usually used for highland dancing kilts , male or female, and that the third strap is usually used for such kilts, but not really needed for a normal kilt, male or female. ( I stand ready to be corrected. )
All the kilts I have made, so far, have only two straps.

[mookien]

If you look at this link at the yellow block and look at the red bands going down the link has 4 red bands including the 1's on the yellow line and my one only has 3 . it has just 1 down the center of the yellow block and the other has 2 .

http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/MTAwMFg3NT...Tpe05/$_57.JPG

http://www.tartanregister.gov.uk/tar...s.aspx?ref=695

I'm not sure we're accounting for it in the same way, but I think I know to what you are referring.

I simply counted the number of times the yellow stripe crossed a red stripe between the intersection of two yellow stripes. In yours and the Cameron of Erracht there are 8 such crossings. In the Cochrane there are 12. So, that would argue for Nathan's assertion that your kilt is a Cameron of Erracht.

There could be other difference(s) in the sett, of course, but I'm not going to try to find any.

[Nathan]

If you look at this link at the yellow block and look at the red bands going down the link has 4 red bands including the 1's on the yellow line and my one only has 3 . it has just 1 down the center of the yellow block and the other has 2 .

http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/MTAwMFg3NT...Tpe05/$_57.JPG

http://www.tartanregister.gov.uk/tar...s.aspx?ref=695

http://www.tartanregister.gov.uk/tar...s.aspx?ref=495

[Ron Abbott]

Some military kilts only have one strap/buckle. My Gordons one was like that.
Others have two straps, both for the external apron.

[Nathan]

...So in conclusion, the strap configuration has nothing to do with whether the kilt is meant for males or females. Men's kilts, both civilian and military come in a wide variety of strap configurations. ;)

[OC Richard]

My hand-sewn professional kilts all are two-strap. The third strap only limits the motion of the garment and if used, usually should not be buckled as tightly as the others.

That's it in a nutshell.

I dislike the 3rd strap because
1) it doesn't accomplish any useful purpose
2) it's an extra thing to do when I get dressed and
3) it 'limits the motion' as the good Father says and puts stress on the front apron, pulling and stretching it, and often making the kilt bunch up on that side.

The exception to all of this are high-waisted Army kilts, the extra strap on the wearer's right not being as low as it is on a low-waisted civilian kilt, as least as far as I can tell.

My band-issued kilts always have three things I find no use for
1) the 3rd strap
2) belt loops and
3) strange loops which presumably allow the kilt to be hung, just how I can't imagine.

I remove the 3rd strap and try to ignore the other two annoyances.