Clan Crest on a Kilt---Where?

**OC Richard** · 16th January 11, 01:26 PM

It's odd and sort of interesting that one of the best Pipe Bands in the world, and located in Scotland, wears large clan crest cap badges on their kilts in place of kilt pins.

It looks strange to me.

As I explained to a fellow piper, "you know, they make special badges just the right size and shape to wear on the kilt...
they're called kilt pins!"

But historically this band might be in the right: in The Highlanders Of Scotland only six of the 33 kilted figures having that part of the kilt visible have kilt pins: two open circles, one open oval, one looking like a modern clan crest cap badge, one the crest without surrounding circle, one a complex design. No blanket pins, no pins shaped like "classic" early 20th century kilt pins (sword & targe etc).

**cessna152towser** · 16th January 11, 01:32 PM

I'd be inclined to agree with what others have said, I never accessorise a modern kilt with clan regalia. Though as has been suggested you could attach it to the Utilikilt pocket if you really don't want to wear it on a blazer or on a traditional tartan kilt.

**Lallans** · 17th January 11, 07:40 AM

I used to wear a sporran with my UKs, I guess just because I wasn't secure enough not feel obliged to tag such a kilt as a Scottish item- but since I have a Survivor model with the major pockets, it got to feeling a little silly and I discontinued the sporran, which anyway was a little too dressy. I can't imagine how a clan patch would look on a UK, but you are on new ground there- perhaps you can set a trend.

Do you have a way you can post photos of possible setups with the kilt and the patch? I'm quite curious.

**BraveheartedO-fWolf** · 18th January 11, 09:21 AM

For those who are waiting for a photo...I am hoping to get to that this week.

**BraveheartedO-fWolf** · 20th May 11, 09:35 AM

Here's how I ended up wearing the badge.

**WolfmanJack** · 21st May 11, 08:23 PM

Conceivably, one might wear a clan crest on a tweed kilt, like the kilt worn below by our own Lord Hamish; but to me, it conveys a certain disrespect for the clan and its heraldry. Much better, I think, to display the crest on the left chest of the jacket.

**Silent Raven** · 31st May 11, 03:24 PM

may i be so bold as to ask where you acquired such a beautiful accessory? id love to get one for myself.

**BraveheartedO-fWolf** · 31st May 11, 08:49 PM

Silent Raven

I picked it up 7 years ago at the Estes Park, Colorado, Scottish Festival...I don't rememenbr the outfits' name. Sorry....no help at all.

**Jock Scot** · 1st June 11, 04:08 AM

I may be an old traditional Scot, but for the life of me I don't understand your thought processes on this. However, I do fully accept that you are quite entitled to do as you please.

The modern kilt(some would say it is not a kilt) that you are wearing is not supposed, as I understand it, to have any connection to the Scottish kilt. Why then, put a Clan badge on it to give it a Scots connection? Why not get a kilt in the appropriate tartan if you want to signify your Scots connections and put that badge on a blazer where it belongs?

**English Bloke** · 1st June 11, 04:29 AM

I hear what you're saying Jock but having worn a traditional kilt in a very (very) hot place I can understand the attraction of a light weight cotton-canvas kilt on purely practical grounds. I don't wear one meeself, I have one as part of my collection and I occasionally wear it inside the mansion but I haven't yet ventured out of doors in it and doubt I ever will.

That said I can also appreciate that those with a Scottish connection may still wish to advertise the fact by means of a badge. This seems to fit the purpose adequately. Don't get me wrong. Utility Kilts are not Scottish Kilts but are, all the same, often worn by people with a sense of Scottishness in them.