Kilt Height

[MacGumerait]

Two straps, eh? I might give that a go. Does it really make that much of a difference in comfort and aesthetics? I see lots of endorsements from some really knowledgeable and experienced chaps.

I usually leave my hip strap looser anyway and it serves one purpose for me: holding my otterbox (casual wear only and only when I don't wear a jacket.) rather than chucking it in my sporran (to cut down on weight). It doesn't pull and isn't warping the fabric (I was very careful of that before making a habit of it). Gotta love 16oz wool. Sturdy stuff.

I know what you mean Bren , those otters can get heavy and unruly if you try to put them in your sporran , I can't keep them from trying to bite me .

Oh , wait a minute , are you talking real otters ?

[BCAC]

I know what you mean Bren , those otters can get heavy and unruly if you try to put them in your sporran , I can't keep them from trying to bite me .

Oh , wait a minute , are you talking real otters ?

I have to admit to having "googled" otterbox myself. My phone case doesn't have a name!

[Tobus]

I agree with Rocky, most kilts I see in Scotland anyway have the 3 straps. Only time I have seen the 2 are on hire kilts and budget kilts quite often only have the 2. I have been told on many occasion by shop assistants that the 3rd strap ensures a better fit.

I can't speak for Scottish kilt shops, but I'd say the majority of traditional kilts I see "in the wild" have the 3rd strap. To me, it just looks traditional and "right". I love to see a full-yardage substantial kilt with that extra bit of visible leather and metal. But that's just my personal taste.

As for why it's there, I wouldn't say it has to do with ensuring a better fit, but it is helpful in ensuring better conformance to the body of the wearer. It may be splitting hairs, but I see it as a real difference. A well-made tailored kilt should fit the wearer just fine with only two straps. And it should still wear well if the customer prefers not to have the 3rd strap. Ideally, the tapering in the fell area should make the kilt fit the person's body snugly and there's no need for the extra lower strap. But the kilt is just hanging or draping from the top.

On the other hand, some people (like me) prefer the 3rd strap because it helps keep the apron just a smidge more conformed to the body by sort of "closing the loop" around the fell area to ensure that the kilt stays a bit more snug around the hips. It's not a huge difference; rather, it's a very subtle one. And it will very much be a function of the wearer's body shape, the width of the apron on the kilt, and the height of the 3rd strap. Some are higher, some are lower. But the other thing the hip strap does is keep the apron edge following the leg when you sit, kneel, etc.

As you can see in the photos below, my natural stance when I'm "at ease" tends to throw one leg forward. In the first photo, this kilt has a wider apron with the hip buckle higher up. So it's not doing a whole lot in terms of keeping the apron in place. All it's doing is providing a little more contour to my body shape when it's snug. And it's OK to snug it up a little tighter when it's a higher hip strap like this. In the second photo, though, the hip strap is much lower, and the apron is narrower. So I wear that strap more loosely. It's not so much keeping the kilt contoured to my body, but it does keep the apron edge aligned with my leg when I bend.




An extreme example would be when I kneel or raise one leg up (say, to tie my shoe). Below you can see that the hip strap is keeping the top of the apron (above the strap) securely in place, and the apron is forced to bend at the hip strap, which keeps it exactly in line with my leg. Is it absolutely necessary? Well, no. But I think it does have some functional advantage. Or at least, it's what I'm used to.

[creagdhubh]

Many of the older kilts that have been passed down through the generations within various Macpherson families in Badenoch (to include our Chief's family in Blairgowrie) have only two straps. I think two, or three straps are both traditional; it's simply a matter of personal preference. In the past, I have seen many Macphersons, as well as Mackintoshs in Inverness-shire, wearing a kilt with only two straps. The majority of these kinfolk are older gentlemen.

Cheers,

[Son of the Rock]

My brother and I both have kilts made by Hector Russell and they are both 2 straps. My dad's kilt is from Kinloch Anderson, which I believe is also 2 straps, and judging from the Kinloch Anderson and House of Tartan websites, they appear to be 2 straps. I hope I don't sound confrontational, I'm just going by what I've experienced with Scottish kiltmakers. Of course, there are definitely still plenty of Scottish kiltmakers that are 3 straps by standard, such as Scotweb's Balmoral kiltmakers.

[WillowEstate]

Yes, Rocky, but we were replying to a digression started by WillowEstate. Sorry for the confusion.

Indeed, I was actually registering a yes vote for the hip strap but to complete the picture, pointing out the other alternative that the OP may not have considered. I apologise to anyone who feels it an unnecessary digression.

Nathan - I'll P.M. you.

[creagdhubh]

My brother and I both have kilts made by Hector Russell and they are both 2 straps. My dad's kilt is from Kinloch Anderson, which I believe is also 2 straps, and judging from the Kinloch Anderson and House of Tartan websites, they appear to be 2 straps. I hope I don't sound confrontational, I'm just going by what I've experienced with Scottish kiltmakers. Of course, there are definitely still plenty of Scottish kiltmakers that are 3 straps by standard, such as Scotweb's Balmoral kiltmakers.

Good points, mate. Yes, Kinloch Anderson's kilts are made with two straps, but you can specify three if you so prefer. I believe they've made their kilts with two straps for quite some time, and this is especially evident in some of their old advertisements. One for example, shows men in Highland evening attire wearing a high waisted (Kinloch) coatee without a third strap to be seen. I really like the look of a "two-strapped" kilt with a coatee, or any other high waisted doublet or jacket, since the top two straps and buckles are completely hidden from view. Of course, when wearing a doublet with tashes, or so-called "Inverness flaps," all the straps and buckles are unseen no matter if it's two, or three.

[TheOfficialBren]

I know what you mean Bren , those otters can get heavy and unruly if you try to put them in your sporran , I can't keep them from trying to bite me .

Oh , wait a minute , are you talking real otters ?

Haha. Very funny, my friend.


This is the type of carrying case that I currently use. It is the Otterbox Defender. The phone is fully encapsulated and the case then docks with the belt clip. I don't always use the belt clip but kilted it fits perfectly onto my hipstrap for casual wear.

[MacGumerait]

Sweet , I like it Bren !! That thing looks like it's kryptonite proof , not to mention being otter resistant as well !

Best , Mike

[TheOfficialBren]

Darned near! Best investment for my phone. Ever. Plus I don't have to continue buying those pesky screen protectors that inevitably bubble and start lifting.

(Sorry, OP, for the derail.)