Waistcoat and belt

[svc40bt]

I figured we had beat the hose topic to death lately so I would start a new topic to go to town on. I have been admiring all the waistcoats showing up on here. Have had no luck finding one to fit me. I am considering making one myself.

Anyway, my question is is there any style I could make that you fine folks think would work with a belt? Given the small difference between my waist and hip measurements a stout belt really is necessary to keep the kilt up. I was thinking one of the straight bottomed ones.

Let the contrary opinions begin.

[Panache]

If you need a belt to keep your kilt up to where you want it might I suggest that you use braces instead?

This is the right option with a waistcoat and trousers and I see no reason why it wouldn't be the right option with a kilt.

Cheers

Jamie

[svc40bt]

I considered braces but where do the front buttons go? I only have tabbed braces from when I wore a suit to work everyday, not to mention I wouldn't want to risk damaging the kilt fabric with the clamp on type.

[piperdbh]

Thanks for the new opportunity for controversy!
I wonder if some sort of strap-and-button arrangement could be installed to the bottom of the waistcoat which would fasten to a corresponding holder attached to the kilt? For instance, buttons could be sewn to the inside of the top of the kilt, near the first and last pleats so as to not pull on the aprons, and straps with buttonholes could be sewn to the inside bottom of the waistcoat/vest, and the wearer could then attach the two, thereby holding the waistcoat down and the kilt up at the same time. These appliances would not be seen, and if done right, I believe it might solve a lot of people's problems. This system could also be used for pants/trousers/britches, as well, attaching to the buttons that some pants already have for suspenders/braces.
If anybody patents this system, I want half the royalties.

[McMurdo]

In my opinion anyway, a belt should never be worn with a waistcoat, if your kilt does not fit properly I'd suggest a better fitting kilt.

[svc40bt]

Oh, the kilt fits quite well. Rocky does fine work. Unfortunately, my shape is the problem, specifically the lack of hips/posterior and the excess of abdomen. I have the same difficulty with trousers. Wear a stout 1 3/4 inch belt with them, and still find myself hiking them up from time to time. Perhaps if I lose another 50 lbs it would solve it.

[george7]

It's not customary to wear a kilt belt with waistcoat, it happens, and sometimes it looks OK. On the suspenders... how about some lederhosen styled deer leather get-ups?

[Carolina Kiltman]

I would still go with the braces (suspenders). There is a type that fastens on the side only.

I agree that the clips could damage the kilt, so I would suggest sewing a tab on the inside (catching the hair canvas interlining) and clip the braces to them.

I have used them for years with work clothing, and find them much more comfortable than the usual "fore and aft" type.

http://www.duluthtrading.com/home/ho...G014013&admkt=

[Kiltman]

In my opinion anyway, a belt should never be worn with a waistcoat, if your kilt does not fit properly I'd suggest a better fitting kilt.

Spot-on!

[Bugbear]

I would guess that you could easily rig up something for braces to keep them from biting into your kilt. * Oops, that got covered while I was writing. *

There has been talk of the belt being worn over the waistcoat, but I think that was very rare and long, long ago.