Apparently I need braces

[Morris at Heathfield]

I received the first kilt I've worn as an adult about a year and a half ago. It wasn't made for me, and it's a bit large, but I've been wearing it to gigs ever since. The problem is, even with my belt as tight as it will go, the kilt has a habit of migrating downward until the selvage is below my knees. Anyway, just recently our band's piping instructor decided I need braces, i.e. suspenders. I've never worn suspenders with trousers, let alone a kilt, so I'm a bit at a loss. Does anyone here have advice on what to get, where to get it, how much to pay for it, and what alterations may need to be done to my kilt? I'd rather not do any more damage to my (or the band's) kilt than I have to.

And if may piggyback another question on this thread, I've had a similar problem with my garters either coming unhooked or sliding down my calf while marching. I try to wear my hose low enough to show some knee, but I'm wondering if I may be wearing it too low, or if I just need smaller garters.

[Zardoz]

Clip style suspenders would be the way to go, they won't damage the kilt. They're in most department stores' men's sections for less than 20 bucks.

http://www.suspenderstore.com/clca2.html

not sure about the sock issue, sounds like you need to adjust the garters a little tighter, or get smaller, tighter hose.

[Downunder Kilt]

Depending on the weight of the kilt, I would go for the button type braces. It means sewing 6 buttons to the inside of your kilt but I believe that they a far superior to the clip on style. The clip on ones can slip and I have seen it happened during band competition (not a good sight). If you are a regular band member I am sure the QM would allow you to sew on the buttons. The cheapest and probably the most servicable braces are ex MOD ones(ex army etc) or firemans braces

As for your hose and garters, I'd say tighter garters is the only option

[PEEDYC]

I had this problem a couple of years ago and I found that clip braces did the trick and I actually felt more comfortable without the tight belt holding my beer belly in.

[Chas]

A couple or three observations.

The waist could be tightened by two inches, easily, by moving the buckle on the right hip and the strap on the left hip. I have done this on my kilts and can now do it in under 59 minutes.

I have had to wear braces in the military and in civilian life - buttons are far superior. Clips in an emergency - buttons for reliability.

If you are going down the button braces route; put on your kilt; get someone else to put the braces over your shoulders; get them to mark the button spots with chalk. Even if you do it with a mirror, you will get it wrong.

There are advantages and disadvantages with both systms. -

If you move the buckle/strap, your kilt will be tighter. Could restrict your breathing, if you need the extra puff for blowing a wind instrument.

If you wear braces, you also have to wear a waistcoat or jacket - no shirtsleeve dress.

Regards

Chas

[greenfordranger]

http://www.duluthtrading.com/store/c...ers/92992.aspx


These suspenders have worked great for me! These suspenders go on like a shoulder holster, if you've ever put one of those on Great quality & great prices from these people is very common! Good luck! I use mine to hold up a HEAVY carpenters belt when working around the house so I KNOW they'll hold up a kilt

[Tobus]

Braces may help keep your kilt from sliding or falling down, but they still won't make an ill-fitting kilt look right. The best solution here (albeit not the cheapest one) is to get a kilt that's actually fitted to you.

I'm a tad confused as to how your garters could get 'unhooked'. I assume these are elastic garters with flashes and not traditional garter ties? The hook styles on these should not be coming unhooked, especially if they're constrained by the turndowns in your hose. If they have velcro closure, then obviously you need to switch to a style that has metal hook/clasp systems. These will never, ever come undone. Nor will they loosen up while marching.

[Morris at Heathfield]

Thanks, everyone, for the advice. I hadn't thought of moving buckles or straps, but I think that may be the best long-term option. If that's not acceptable to the QM, I'll have to decide whether to go with button braces or the heavy-duty clip-on suspenders.

To clarify a few points: I'm a drummer, not a piper, so I don't have to fill my lungs during a performance. Our band added waistcoats to our uniforms some months ago, so suspenders would not be obvious. I don't think getting a new kilt would be either in my budget, or the band's budget any time soon. Also, I'm reasonably certain that our kilts are made of 16 oz. Lochcarron Strome, in a tartan that is now only produced (or at least advertised) in 10 oz. Reiver. I think all of our kilts were made a decade ago. Regarding my garters, they're the conventional elastic kind. I'm not entirely certain how they come unfastened, but I suspect they slide down first, then the loss of tension allows them to come unfastened. Actually, it's only happened that way once, with one garter. The other garter just slid down a little. On a second occasion one of the garters slid down, but didn't come unclasped, while the other remained in place. I wear large, "one-size-fits-all", "popcorn top" piper hose supplied to me by the QM. After examining my garters, I think I may be able to tighten them up a little, and that may do the trick.

[ehiker]

Just for visual reference, my friend Kari took this picture last year at Colonial Williamsburg...



I think it looks rather smart, myself.

[rondo]

I wear braces on all my trousers. For jeans, metal buttons on the outside of the trousers with heavy braces [ie. Carhart]. For dress slacks bachelor buttons inside the waistband with lighter [dress] braces. I have never worn braces with a kilt because my kilt rides much higher than trousers but if I were going to I think I'd use the bachelor buttons inside the waistband like dress slacks but depending on the weight of the kilt could see using the heavier braces. But...IMHO...moving the straps/buckles would be the superior option in this case.
Rondo