Basic kilt wearing questions:)

[Nathan]

ad 1) Sitting down
Like MiKilt said: “When sitting down, simply reach back and give your pleats a sweep forward so that they lay flat under your bottom and your legs.”
Further when sitting, keep your legs together or be sure to press down the apron and sporran between your legs.

ad 2. Type of sporran
With sporrans it is difficult to advise you, not knowing in which connections you are primarily going to wear your kilt.
As my kilt wearing to 95% is “nice casual” my first choice is a day wear sporran. I have them in black and brown, as I have belts and shoes.
Mine are plain, i.e. without tassels. The reasons for this are: 1) I like good design, and that to me means simplicity (I’m a Dane). 2) I hate so sound like a drummer, when I move around.

I do have two semi dress sporrans, but I seldom wear them, not even always when they had been more appropriate than my day wear sporrans. Again design/look counts to me more than rules or tradition.

ad 3) Chain, strap or hanger
I always wear my day sporrans with leather straps. I know they are said to wear the kilt less than a chain, and good if so. Again my main reason, however, is the cleaner design of a strap compared to that of a sporran chain.



More on sporrans here

http://www.dress2kilt.eu/en0103_buying_accessories.htm

http://blog.dress2kilt.eu: post 65 and 66.

More on sitting in a kilt here

http://dress2kilt.eu/en0104_dress2kilt.htm

I don't know if this is your site, GG but there is some bad advice right at the top of the page. It states as the number one rule of dressing in kilt attire,

"1. Start with the upper part of your body. You need a shirt of some kind. It should always be SOLID coloured (never mix different patterns) and of course in harmony with the colours of your just received kilt and kilt hose (not necessarily the same colours, but matching). "

This runs in direct contradiction to what is considered stylish for daywear by Highlanders. It would make me very hesitant to take any other claims on the site at face value.

[GG]

Nathan, could you please be a little more specific? I haven't got the slightest idea of what you are referring to.
And Yes, the site is mine. Where is the contradiction to what is considered stylish for daywear by highlanders?

[Tobus]

Nathan, could you please be a little more specific? I haven't got the slightest idea of what you are referring to.
And Yes, the site is mine. Where is the contradiction to what is considered stylish for daywear by highlanders?

I believe he is referring to the common traditional style of wearing a tattersal shirt (which has a pattern) with the kilt. We've had many discussions on this board on that subject. Mixing patterns is not taboo when wearing the kilt. It's normal to see Highlanders wearing a tartan kilt with a tattersal shirt and even a tweed jacket with another pattern. None of it has to match, although the degree to which they don't match is a matter of personal preference.

The only real "rule" is that different tartans are generally not to be worn together.

[Tobus]

Savage,
The best advice I ever got on sitting in a kilt was from a band playing at the Games in Arlington. The chorus of the song went: "Knees together, boys! Knees together!"

I do find it to be a function of the you're of chair, height of other people's eyes, and weight of your sporran.

I disagree with the "knees together" mentality for sitting in a kilt. For starters, it's a bit awkward to try to sit down while reaching behind you to sweep the pleats and keeping your knees together at the same time. It requires a coordinated balancing act, depending on what kind of chair you're sitting down into. And once you sit down, even with your legs together, there's a V-shaped gap between the underside of your apron and the curve of your thighs. That's an open window to see right up your kilt. I'm sure I'm not the only male who took advantage of that as a lad when girls in short skirts would sit with their knees together.

I've found the best way to sit with a kilt on is to sweep the pleats with one hand while pushing the apron and sporran down with the other hand, and sit with legs apart. Having your legs apart gives you better balance during the sitting process, and pushing the apron between your legs as you sit will ensure that everything is covered. And besides, it's more comfortable!

[creagdhubh]

1) What Tobus said above.

2) A plain daywear sporran (no cantle; three leather tassels made of smooth and supple bridle leather in any shade of brown, from chestnut to conker (McRostie of Glasgow).

3) A plain leather sporran strap (with brass buckle and in any shade of brown, from chestnut to conker) for daywear and a silver, chain-link sporran strap (black leather with silver buckle) for black tie occasions.

[GG]

Thank you very much, Toby. I’m glad you took the time to clear things up. You certainly learn as long as you live.

Well, I’m happy to know that it is (still) not wrong to wear a solid colored shirt, which I myself definitely prefer, due to aesthetics and look. I have, however, modified the page in accordance with what you just wrote, now stating that it expresses my personal opinion and that Highlanders may see it differently:

http://dress2kilt.eu/en0104_dress2kilt.htm

[sailortats]

I do not like wearing a sporran strap (belt). Maybe it is the way I am built but if I wear a strap I find that the bottom of my sporran is pushed into the kilt apron leaving an unsightly depression in the lay of the apron. The result is that I look like I am wearing a very baggy pair of shorts. It is also somewhat uncomfortable.

[GG]

So what do you wear in stead of a strap, Sailortats, a hanger - or no sporran? If you are walking for several hours the sporran in place can feel somewhat annoying.

[JohntheBiker]

1. I would agree with Tobus as well. However, it does take a bit of practice and if you need sweep instructions, ask the females in your life - they know. If you are a gentleman of substance, the knees together suggestion is impractical and uncomfortable.

2. If you intend to dress formally, you probably need two sporrans (see Nathan's post). If I could only have one, it would probably be a chrome-cantled black hunting sporran.

3. Although there are lots here that are dead set against chain-link sporran straps and warn against apron wear, I have a good quality one and have not had a problem. That having been said, I generally use a leather sporran strap and I occasionally use hangers (see gentleman of substance reference above).

[sailortats]

Greg; I wear the sporran chain. I have them in chrome and brass tones. I never wear the kilt without wearing a sporran but may remove it indoors if I am sitting for long periods of time (not usually the case).