Rugby Wear

**Highland Logan** · 20th January 20, 05:10 PM

My thoughts, are that if the shirt was designed to not be tucked into pants or shorts, then untucked. But always up to the one wearing the shirt.

Frank

**OC Richard** · 22nd January 20, 05:56 AM

Originally Posted by Highland Logan

Nice photos! Where was this, and +2 points for the goat hair!

Frank

Thanks! These were taken at USA Sevens in Las Vegas AFAIK the only annual international rugby tournament on US soil. I play the pipes when Scotland is playing! Flower Of Scotland and all.

The 2020 USA Sevens will be in Carson, near Los Angeles, in the stadium that's home to the LA Galaxy, on February 29th (!)

**OC Richard** · 22nd January 20, 05:59 AM

Originally Posted by cessna152towser

shirt tucked under kilt is better as it exposes the belt and shows more of the kilt.

Also for me the top of the kilt is a place to tuck in the programme (as you can see in one of the photos).

**Karl R** · 23rd January 20, 08:18 PM

Originally Posted by Father Bill

If you do choose a belt, you should likely avoid one of those 'belly-plate' buckles in favour of a two or one tongue buckle.

I apologize for the thread hijack, but what do you mean by "belly-plate" buckle?

Kilt belts seem to come with a reasonably standard size buckle. Since I live in Texas, that's an average (or a smidge below average) size for a belt buckle.

**OC Richard** · 23rd January 20, 08:46 PM

Originally Posted by Karl R

Kilt belts seem to come with a reasonably standard size buckle. Since I live in Texas, that's an average (or a smidge below average) size for a belt buckle.

There are two traditional sizes of waistbelts worn in Highland Dress.

One is the 2.5 inch wide Victorian "dirk belt", worn to support a dirk. Though originally civilian, it was adopted for military pipers in the 1840s and today is regarded as a "military style" belt. It generally came as a set with a crossbelt, which supported a sword.

The other is the slightly narrower, and purely civilian, Evening Dress belt adopted in the early 20th century for use with the then-new Montrose jacket. It was generally worn alone, no dirk, no crossbelt.

Here's full Victorian civilian Evening Dress showing the dirk belt and crossbelt

This style of dirk belt and crossbelt has been maintained to this day by the army pipers

Here are two sets of hardware: left modern chrome-plated, right vintage solid German Silver

A set including plaid brooch, 1930s

The narrower 20th century civilian Evening Dress belt appeared as part of the Montrose jacket

By far the most common pattern of civilian Evening Dress buckle

Here it is being worn

**Karl R** · 23rd January 20, 08:59 PM

Originally Posted by OC Richard

There are two traditional sizes of waistbelts worn in Highland Dress.

Here's full Victorian civilian Evening Dress showing the dirk belt and crossbelt

I hear what you're saying, but I'm still missing the point. Are the gentlemen in the photos wearing belly-plates, or not? It looks like they have an extra 1/2" (at most) in each direction over the ones I attach to my belt.

**OC Richard** · 23rd January 20, 09:03 PM

Originally Posted by Karl R

I hear what you're saying, but I'm still missing the point. Are the gentlemen in the photos wearing belly-plates, or not? It looks like they have an extra 1/2" (at most) in each direction over the ones I attach to my belt.

I've never heard the term "belly plates" and I'm not sure what it means.

With ACW accoutrements the term "belt plate" is used for rectangular solid belt buckles, as opposed to a "frame buckle" which is an open rectangle with tongue.

With Highland Dress I've generally heard them called "buckles" regardless of shape.

Also not sure what you mean by "an extra 1/2 inch in each direction". The buckles are rectangular. Nowadays they're always "landscape" but in Victorian times they would often be "portrait". The photo I posted above shows both dirk belt buckle styles with the same hardware pattern.

These Highland belts don't buckle like a belt used for jeans. The buckle has a loop for the belt (which loops back onto itself) on one side, and a tongue on the other side, that goes into a hook-like loop of metal. So you do the adjusting BEFORE you put the belt on.

The rear of the buckle

The belt

**Hirsty** · 23rd January 20, 10:59 PM

Until I moved over The Pond, I used to go to almost every international match at Murrayfield. Until about 10 years ago I think I was one of the few to wear a Rugby jersey and kilt - it seemed that it was one or the other. It is much more common nowadays.
You tend to see both, tucked in or hinging out. I personally am of the latter persuasion. Wear what is comfortable for you as both look fine in a casual environment.

**Hirsty** · 23rd January 20, 11:02 PM

One other thing - if you are ordering the official Scotland Jersey made by Macron, order at least two sizes larger than you usually wear.
I bought the fan's jersey made of cotton. I usually wear an XL but had to purchase a XXXL and it is still a wee bit on the tight side.

**Father Bill** · 24th January 20, 04:16 AM

Originally Posted by Karl R

I apologize for the thread hijack, but what do you mean by "belly-plate" buckle?

Kilt belts seem to come with a reasonably standard size buckle. Since I live in Texas, that's an average (or a smidge below average) size for a belt buckle.

Yes, wear what you can get that you like. For Highland wear, the rectangular shiny buckles are generally for more formal wear so it would be mixing orders of dress. You’ll have to decide if you want to look like a Scot or a Texan.