Waistcoat with a belt

[Asser 1]

His flashes aren't too far off. Especially his left, the regiments line the front flash up to the line of the shin. Maybe he is an old military man.

I'd also like to fix his garter flashes. Good grief.

[Tobus]

His flashes aren't too far off. Especially his left, the regiments line the front flash up to the line of the shin. Maybe he is an old military man.

I could appreciate that if the flashes were in roughly the same place on each leg.

[OC Richard]

Yes wearing a waistbelt over the waistcoat appears in many old images of people in Highland Dress. But to call it the only "proper" or "correct" way goes beyond the evidence I see.

As always, for a "reality check" I go back to The Highlanders of Scotland, for indeed that source is unique.

Of the figures which are wearing jackets and waistcoats, and the jacket is unbuttoned, I see:

16 men wearing no visible waistbelts

8 men wearing their waistbelt over both their jacket and waistcoat

2 men wearing waistbelts over the waistcoat

1 man wearing a waistbelt over his waistcoat but is jacketless

NONE of the waistcoats are tucked into the kilt, including the two men wearing waistbelts over their waistcoats. Here's one of them:



Also, NONE of the men are wearing waistbelts peaking out from under their waistcoats. This has always looked sloppy and "wrong" to me. It just wasn't done in the past... at least I don't recall coming across a vintage image of it.

Here's what it looks like:



Note how the black belt ruins the look of the shape of the bottom of the black waistcoat, foils the waistcoat's "line" and cut.

In a band, where you're stuggling to present uniformity, the waistbelts always fight against it, as they droop down to various level and are seen to various different degrees. How much better it looks, how much more uniform, and also how much more in line with tradtion it is to go without the belts:

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

Yes wearing a waistbelt over the waistcoat appears in many old images of people in Highland Dress. But to call it the only "proper" or "correct" way goes beyond the evidence I see.

As always, for a "reality check" I go back to The Highlanders of Scotland, for indeed that source is unique.

Of the figures which are wearing jackets and waistcoats, and the jacket is unbuttoned, I see:

16 men wearing no visible waistbelts

8 men wearing their waistbelt over both their jacket and waistcoat

2 men wearing waistbelts over the waistcoat

1 man wearing a waistbelt over his waistcoat but is jacketless

NONE of the waistcoats are tucked into the kilt, including the two men wearing waistbelts over their waistcoats. Here's one of them:



Also, NONE of the men are wearing waistbelts peaking out from under their waistcoats. This has always looked sloppy and "wrong" to me. It just wasn't done in the past... at least I don't recall coming across a vintage image of it.

Here's what it looks like:



Note how the black belt ruins the look of the shape of the bottom of the black waistcoat, foils the waistcoat's "line" and cut.

In a band, where you're stuggling to present uniformity, the waistbelts always fight against it, as they droop down to various level and are seen to various different degrees. How much better it looks, how much more uniform, and also how much more in line with tradtion it is to go without the belts:

Further to the above comments highlighted by bold type, with the exception of the last mentioned gentleman, every single person wearing a belt is also wearing a dirk or sword, often (usually) both. The gentleman not under arms is engaged in putting the stone, so one may assume that the belt is being worn to prevent the chance of injury whilst competing in a seriously strenuous athletic event.

Since this discussion is taking place in the "Traditional" as opposed to the "Wear What You Want" thread, I would have to say that if one wishes to present themselves as properly attired, then the belt should not be worn with formal day or evening attire, at all. If worn with less formal day wear then it should be worn instead of the waistcoat, not with it.

Unless, of course, one is engaged in putting the stone...

[Lyle1]

The other day, in the Kilt Advice Forum in a thread entitled "White Tie Detail Question, a picture of the Earl of Mansfield was posted, and he was wearing a belt over a formal waistcoat.

I did not particularly think the belt did anything for the Earl's appearance, but some of the gents pictured in this thread look good with a belt over a vest. I guess when it works it works, and when it doesn't it simply doesn't.

For me, the belt should not appear to be simply slapped on over top the vest as if the wearer felt compelled to wear a belt. The belt should look as if it was part of the outfit and be in harmony with the vest. Too many separate lines can confuse the eye and be distracting to the overall look.

[Woodsheal]

The belt when worn over the waistcoat is a dirk belt. If you're not carrying a dirk, you don't need a belt either over or under the waistcoat when it is worn (unless of course you're wearing a belted plaid!)....

[NorCalPiper]

Correct or not, I always wear a belt with my kilt and waistcoat.....But then again, I'll wear Argyll hose with my kilt and a t-shirt for a casual outing....

[Jack Daw]

The belt when worn over the waistcoat is a dirk belt. If you're not carrying a dirk, you don't need a belt either over or under the waistcoat when it is worn (unless of course you're wearing a belted plaid!)....

This is my opinion as well.

[Jack Daw]

When last seen, auld Farquharson was ambling about Invercauld, his sporran agape, leaving himself a trail of breadcrumbs so he could find his way back home:

I'm not as elderly, but I've made the mistake of neglecting to close my sporran a couple of times. When I catch it, it makes me feel like I've left my fly open (which I don't do at all...I swear). I like his jacket and waistcoat!

[M. A. C. Newsome]

I'm not as elderly, but I've made the mistake of neglecting to close my sporran a couple of times. When I catch it, it makes me feel like I've left my fly open (which I don't do at all...I swear). I like his jacket and waistcoat!

I resemble that remark!