Those loops of ribbon on the sides.....

**JSFMACLJR** · 14th February 10, 07:04 AM

Originally Posted by sydnie7

Uh.. . OK. . . surely not identical setts?

I don't know what you are looking at, I am afraid. The sett of the Balmoral tartan kilts seems to be the same to me; the Stuart kilts obviously are different. Perhaps the Balmoral tartan kilts were woven by different weavers?

I don't think it matters, though, do you? I pointed out that the Duke of Windsor had only four kilts. There are some here who consider themselves naked without at least ten!

**sydnie7** · 14th February 10, 11:36 AM

Originally Posted by JSFMACLJR

I don't know what you are looking at, I am afraid. The sett of the Balmoral tartan kilts seems to be the same to me; the Stuart kilts obviously are different. Perhaps the Balmoral tartan kilts were woven by different weavers?

I don't think it matters, though, do you? I pointed out that the Duke of Windsor had only four kilts. There are some here who consider themselves naked without at least ten!

Yes, sorry, I meant that the Stuart kilts obviously are different.

And there are also folks who want more than one or two, or four, pair of p@nts. Heck, I have more than four pair of black shoes LOL Horses for courses, as the saying goes.

There's another thread linking to an article about an Arizona kilt rental/sale shop. The proprietor states "you need only buy one kilt in your life" or words to that effect. Puts me in mind of my personal situation, in that my main livelihood is producing sales training material for the auto industry. Buy a new car! Of course, I last bought a new car in 1979. . . and am still driving it. . . but all you other folks, go out and buy a new car!

**slohairt** · 15th February 10, 08:30 AM

I've also seen kilts folded and hung from a peg using those loops. I put them on my kilts just as a matter of habit. I don't recommend hanging a kilt for any great length of time by that manner, but for short term storage (such as hanging from the peg of a public washroom stall door!) it works quite well!

**slohairt** · 15th February 10, 08:32 AM

It's also interesting to note the off-white lining of those kilts. It's something you used to see all the time but I seldom get requests for it. Everyone usually wants black, unless the kilt is being made from a dancing tartan.

**JSFMACLJR** · 15th February 10, 08:45 AM

Originally Posted by slohairt

It's also interesting to note the off-white lining of those kilts. It's something you used to see all the time but I seldom get requests for it. Everyone usually wants black, unless the kilt is being made from a dancing tartan.

I've noticed this too! All of our old kilts have white linings. The three kilts I have had made in the last 15 years all have black. If I had thought about it, I would have told them to use white.

I wonder why this is?

**longhuntr74** · 15th February 10, 09:22 AM

Originally Posted by JSFMACLJR

I've noticed this too! All of our old kilts have white linings. The three kilts I have had made in the last 15 years all have black. If I had thought about it, I would have told them to use white.

I wonder why this is?

I think it's pretty simple. White shows dirt and sweat and gets yellowed over time. Since laundering of the kilt is something that is not typically done on a regular basis, makers have migrated to dark linings to hide visible signs of dirtiness.

As I have a love of history and vintage, I will be tempted to use white when I make a kilt I think.

**slohairt** · 15th February 10, 12:24 PM

Originally Posted by longhuntr74

I think it's pretty simple. White shows dirt and sweat and gets yellowed over time. Since laundering of the kilt is something that is not typically done on a regular basis, makers have migrated to dark linings to hide visible signs of dirtiness.

As I have a love of history and vintage, I will be tempted to use white when I make a kilt I think.

Oh, undoubtedly. For the modern kiltie who habitually wears his kilt with his shirt untucked, this is especially noticeable. However, if the lining is off-white to begin with (and it usually is) than it isn't too much of a problem with your shirt tucked in. I use an off-white lining in my personal kilts just because I like the way it looks, but as I previously wrote, all of my (non-dancing) customers request black.

**Arlen** · 16th February 10, 08:34 AM

Originally Posted by JSFMACLJR

I've noticed this too! All of our old kilts have white linings. The three kilts I have had made in the last 15 years all have black. If I had thought about it, I would have told them to use white.

I wonder why this is?

Both of my older Kilts have off while linings and my more recent ones have black.
I've noticed that stains do show terribly on the white ones after I have been dancing a lot. (At a workshop or ball / at a dance demo etc)

I can never decide whether or not I am glad to see the stains and know to clean them or to have them hidden by the black and never know how dirty they are!

**Phil** · 16th February 10, 09:58 AM

To get back to the OP, I seem to remember reading somewhere that these loops of ribbon-like material were originally for soldiers to hang their kilts up in a tent while away campaigning. They wouldn't have had wardrobes and hangers there.