How important is a belt?

**Oddern** · 14th April 11, 11:05 PM

My advice is, if you wear a waistcoat or sweater that covers the top of your kilt, do not wear a belt. It's to bulky. If you are not wearing a waistcoat or anything covering your kilt top, do what you feel looks best.
Skål!

**AKScott** · 14th April 11, 11:57 PM

I agree with the above. With a tucked in shirt, lace up boots and scrunched down hiking socks, my fiance prefers the look with a kilt belt. I see it as a fashion accessory with out function, except for keeping her happy.

With a sweater or etcetera, I have no problem leaving off a fashion accessory that serves no useful purpose.

**Lime** · 15th April 11, 01:39 AM

It is just an accessory, you don't have to wear it, and whether it looks good or not depends on what you are wearing. With my previous kilt (a military style with quite a high rise) I hardly ever wore a belt as a good few inches of tartan would appear above it which looked slightly odd. I generally wore a waistcoat or jumper instead.

With my newer kilt (which sits on the natural waist) I quite like wearing a belt but purely because I like the look (it is just a wide bridle leather with a brass buckle not a kilt belt with the fancy buckle). It isn't tight enough to be uncomfortable and just provides a bit of balance to the ensemble.

**robbiethepiper** · 15th April 11, 01:48 AM

With a tucked-in shirt and without a vest/sweater then a belt looks better, but please avoid plate buckles for daywear....Robbie

**Matty Ross** · 15th April 11, 06:38 AM

Less a matter of size than of relative proportions. My gut is bigger than my hips which are bigger than my butt. Suck in the gut, the kilt falls off

Thats what I was trying to say. For some of us going beltless just is NOT an option.

**eagle43172** · 15th April 11, 01:16 PM

I prefer a belt because I like the look, but don't regularly wear one with a waistcoat or sweater that would cover it. But I take care to wear it at the top of the kilt...to me nothing, not even white hose, looks worse that a belt worn showing 3 or 4 inches of tartan.

**kc8ufv** · 19th April 11, 06:10 AM

Originally Posted by Matty Ross

Thats what I was trying to say. For some of us going beltless just is NOT an option.

Gotta agree. My UKs don't fit anymore without a belt. Tis one of the problems of loosing weight. (I really should list them and replace them, but I want to stabilize around my goal first)

**chrisupyonder** · 7th January 12, 07:19 PM

When I am at home wearing my cheap 5yd casual, I don't wear a belt. If I am going out, wearing any kilt, I usually wear a waistcoat and jacket, so no belt. In the summer if going out with just a shirt, tucked in, I do wear a belt.
In other words, if out and about and the top of the kilt can be seen, then I wear a belt, otherwise no.

A daytime wedding would for me be a tweed jacket and waistcoat with tie with a leather day sporran, not semi or dress, no belt. Later for the reception where you may take your jacket and waistcoat off, take a belt along with you and slip it on. Only takes a few seconds.

I do use the belt loops because the belt is not holding up the kilt, it is just for show and I wear it fairly loose, so the loops stop the belt riding up when I sit down etc. I never use the belt loops for the sporran belt.

Chris.

**Jock Scot** · 16th April 11, 06:24 AM

The belt is not essential, but I think that without a waistcoat the kilted look is rather diminished without a properly proportioned belt. In my youth, not wearing one was "not done" and was considered that you were not properly dressed without one, if no waistcoat was being worn.Informally around the house, or doing the gardening-----when the staff were away(!!!!!) ------for example, then well, alright.

Interestingly for day wear, the (dare I say it?) traditional "prong" type belt buckle, usually in brass, was the expected version and the "plate"type buckle was exclusively for evening wear, if you so chose. Whilst this may raise an eyebrow of some of you, the "plate" buckle was regarded as a very much as "Johny come lately" attire, if worn during the day.

**robbiethepiper** · 16th April 11, 07:43 AM

Originally Posted by Jock Scot

Interestingly for day wear, the (dare I say it?) traditional "prong" type belt buckle, usually in brass, was the expected version and the "plate"type buckle was exclusively for evening wear, if you so chose. Whilst this may raise an eyebrow of some of you, the "plate" buckle was regarded as a very much as "Johny come lately" attire, if worn during the day.

Absolutely correct, as usual!