Question on how to wear a belt with kilts

[Hamish]

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Does anybody know if the catalogue is still available from Geoffrey's? That was a valuable reference.

Indeed it is! All 23 pages of it. Call them for a copy: 0131 557 0256 from the United Kingdom or Toll-Free from North America on 1-800-566-1467 (don't forget the time difference though!).

While you're at it, ask for a TFCK catalogue as well - 34 pages there!

By the way, with reference to sporran straps and belt loops: when I started wearing the kilt back in 1950, I was advised NOT to feed the sporran strap through the kilt's belt loops - they were for the belt. That is how I have worn the sporran ever since. In those early days of my new kilting experience, I gained most of my 'knowledge' by sending for Highland Dress catalogues from every known kiltmaker - and carefully studying the photographs. I do not recall ever seeing anything to make me think I was wearing the sporran strap incorrectly! In any case, if the strap is lying free immediately below the belt, the sporran becomes so easily moved to one side or the other - through the loops and the strap's buckle gets caught in them preventing repositioning of the sporran!

[Hamish]

Now Hamish, first you tell the gentleman that there are no rules and then you make a statement that sounds like a rule exists. You stated; "Also, if possible, try to match the buckle of your belt with the kilt pin"...? Who said there was any rule requiring a kilt pin? I haven't worn a kilt pin in over a decade and I probably never will again, just don't care for them. I own a few of them and some of them have dust from the Mount St. Helens eruption on them, that's how long since they've been moved...lol

Chris.

There ARE no rules, Chris! Those statements of mine, are expressing my opinions - nothing more!

[Blu (Ontario)]

I normally wear the belt through the beltloops. I've never noticed any adverse affects. However, tomorrow afternoon I will be wearing a kilt and jacket to a memorial service. I will wear the sporran through the beltloops and the belt over top since there seems to be some logical reasons to do so. A test drive so to speak.

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[M. A. C. Newsome]

Just to clarify, I'm not necessarily advocating wearing your sporran strap through the belt loops. I'm just saying that is what they were originally intended for. I don't wear either belt or sporran strap through any sort of loops and get by just fine. A normally proportioned gentleman doesn't need to wear his sporran belt through any kind of loops -- as Barb indicated, this is more for men who have no hips.

Most men, so long as you are not wearing your sporran strap overly loose, should have no need of them.

Matt

[Archangel]

There ARE no rules, Chris! Those statements of mine, are expressing my opinions - nothing more!

Hamish and Keef with the same philosophy, how cool is that?

[James]

It is not about rules, rather practicality and appearance: hence the need for belt loops, even though they might be rarely used.

Under ideal circumstances both kilt and belt will stay in place without any aids-but we do not live in an ideal world. We move about, get in and out of cars-chairs-bend down and so on and so on, and then the belt can ride up or down..

The result being that the line up between belt and kilt can go wrong over the course of the day-and it looks horrible to see a belt riding up or down in relation to the kilt. The belt loops ensure that does not happen-more so if like me these days, the wearer has a less than perfect figure.

Too some find that a belt can be too tight, and so uncomfortable: the use of belt loops ensures that it stays in place, yet does not need to be too tight.

In an earlier post, I mentioned the need if one is wearing a dirk-again they stop the belt getting out of place and making the wearer look ill-dressed.

Such problems do not occur if wearing a waistcoat, but then there is little need of a belt.

So the answer is quite simple, regardless of what any maker might say, if getting a proper kilt, make sure there are belt loops-they will only be needed rarely-but are there for when they are needed.

Here it is well to remember the changes that have taken place, in my youth it would be very rare to see a kilt being worn without the jacket and waistcoat, so there was little need for loops, and so 'possibly' why some makers get confused. Now however more and more people are wearing the kilt without a jacket, and see the belt as a finishing touch to their appearance-I think they are right. So to ensure looking smart, it is now necessary to have belt loops, and on occasion use them.

As for the military kilt, that is a red herring: for the belt would be worn outside the blouse/tunic, and be tight enough so as not to be dragged down by any equipment. However on both my blues and service dress uniforms-there were little metal hooks to support the belt-akin in fact to the loops on the kilt. Again essential, more so when wearing a sword/side arm, for a uniform - any uniform looks horrid when the belt is dragging down and not at right angles to the ground all round.

So the whole topic is not about this or that source/authority, or whatever, it is about the actuality of wearing the kilt, and looking smart whilst so doing.

James

[Martin S]

" So the whole topic is not about this or that source/authority, or whatever, it is about the actuality of wearing the kilt, and looking smart whilst so doing."

I like that, James!

When I first wore a kilt many years ago, I put the sporran strap through the loops (I had no belt), but was soon told not to. Indeed, it is better to be able to move the sporran to the side sometimes, which is difficult when it is in the loops.
I've never had a sporran fall round my knees, which is what I imagined might happen.

Not wearing a belt takes a toll on the straps and cloth if you want the kilt to fit snugly. When these bits wore out on my first kilt, I started wearing a belt regularly to hold everything together, and have continued to do so with all my subsequent kilts -- and it goes through the loops.
I have even taken the straps and buckles off some kilts.

I don't like to see a kilt that sags at the back because of the enormous weight of all those pleats.

Martin

[jjoseph]

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By the way, with reference to sporran straps and belt loops: when I started wearing the kilt back in 1950, I was advised NOT to feed the sporran strap through the kilt's belt loops.... .....In any case, if the strap is lying free immediately below the belt, the sporran becomes so easily moved to one side or the other - through the loops and the strap's buckle gets caught in them preventing repositioning of the sporran!

I normally wear my sporran strap (flat black nylon) thru the loops beneath my leather belt. The strap stays hidden and the sporran is very secure. (I have a quick release buckle allowing me to lift it outta the way when driving, etc.) I was a bit too free to slide about when on the outside of the buckles for my liking, but it was beaucoup easier to pull around to the side when nature called. Unless there's a serious etiquette issue on this one, I'd say it's probably down to your body type (how/where the strap fits) and what is comfortable.

[Ryan Ross]

...Probably less than 5% of the kilts I make have belt loops.

Aye,
Matt

Guilty.


...I'm a shameful "belt loop" nerd.

[MuffinMan]

Okay if I don't wear a belt with the jacket and waistcoat, and my kilt is alittle on the large size due to weightloss can you wear braces instead?

MM