Kilt Belts

**ozone** · 25th November 06, 12:17 PM

I have a question for y'all: how should a kilt belt fit? When I got my kilt about 2 years ago, the sales people cranked down on the kilt and the belt to make it extra snug. Now, having stretched a wee bit (me, not the materials) I find that when I try to put on my belt, the fabric underneath bunches up and the pattern distorts. This is now with the belt at its last hole. I never have found the belt too comfortable to begin with....

Anyway, with the kilt on, I measure 34.5 inches around the belly button. Off, I measure 32. So....what belt size do people recommend and should the wool bunch up underneath?

Thanks ahead of time for any answers.

**The Wizard of BC** · 25th November 06, 01:23 PM

The kilt belt on a Traditional is decorative only. It should be fairly loose. With the kilt cinched, up the belt should be loose enough to move from side to side. If it is so tight that it bunches the kilt, you probably need a larger belt.

**M. A. C. Newsome** · 25th November 06, 03:00 PM

I disagree when Steve says the belt should be "fairly loose." I've seen a lot of guys wearing the kilt belts way too loose and they slide down the kilt and just look a mess.

The belt shouldn't bee too tight, either. If it's bunching up the cloth of the kilt, the belt is too tight (or more likely, the kilt is too big!).

In other words, the belt should be properly fitting. It should fit snug enough to stay securely in place, but not so tight as to be uncomfortable or distort the look of the kilt.

However, I will say that in all instances I have seen of the belt bunching up the fabric of the kilt, it was because the kilt itself was too big.

As to your original questions, though, I find most belts will have enough adjustment built in that if you just order according to your actual waist size, there is more than enough adjustment to allow for any girth the kilt itself may add.

**Nanook** · 25th November 06, 03:23 PM

Originally Posted by ozone

I have a question for y'all: how should a kilt belt fit? When I got my kilt about 2 years ago, the sales people cranked down on the kilt and the belt to make it extra snug.

Kilts should be "extra snug" and belts should be quite firm but not so tight as to cut off the circulation of blood. A well fitting (traditional) kilt is nearly like a moderate corset. If its not cut high enough or won't stay put then braces (suspenders) are on call and not a "tight" belt. Belts, has has been pointed out, have other functions than support. If the fabric is bunching up then I suspect that the kilt is not snug enough. I suspect that you still need to "crank down" on the kilt.

**The Wizard of BC** · 25th November 06, 03:45 PM

OK Matt, a case of two versions of the same thought. I like your expanation better.
I guess I've had too many guys in the shop lately that are trying to use the belt to hold up their kilt. I have taken to to showing them that if you grab the belt buckle and try to yank it from side to side, the belt should move but not the kilt.

Thanks for saying what I don't seem to be able to.

**ozone** · 25th November 06, 06:24 PM

OK, when I crank down the kilt, the belt I have is still too tight and the tartan pattern gets distorted. I did order a new belt from scottishkilts.net that ranges from 32-36 waist line...hopefully this will give me some wiggle room. Anyway, why does the pattern distort when I crank down the kilt? Specifically, the pattern on the apron creates an S-curve distortion on the vertical lines in the set. Any ideas?

Thanks again for all your input so far.

**Nanook** · 26th November 06, 04:00 AM

Originally Posted by ozone

OK, when I crank down the kilt, the belt I have is still too tight and the tartan pattern gets distorted.

Is this a traditional kilt? Made of proper kilting cloth using traditional methods and intended to be worn in a traditional manner? I'm rather confused as the "waist" region of kilts are made to be extremely resistive to distortions, the leather of the straps giving nearly more to belly demands.

Not all, of course, kilts are designed or suited to be worn in the traditional snug manner. Many modern "kilts" are cut lower and some use lighter materials and are intended to hang.

Much of the Sialkot (Punjab, Pakistan) made "traditional styled" budget kilts--- which I do consider reasonable recreational garb (off topic)--- have neither proper waist stabilization nor use an appropriate weave to shape or compress the wasitline. Its rather moot since most don't trim the pleats and only a few even sew them down given the cost sensitive demands of the wholesaler to be able to sell a hand-sewn 8-yard "surprise" material (can be anything from new wool, wool/poly to cotton or viscose blends) kilt at the $25 USD price point--- in Scotland alone the components for straps can cost more.

**M. A. C. Newsome** · 26th November 06, 05:27 AM

Originally Posted by ozone

OK, when I crank down the kilt, the belt I have is still too tight and the tartan pattern gets distorted. I did order a new belt from scottishkilts.net that ranges from 32-36 waist line...hopefully this will give me some wiggle room. Anyway, why does the pattern distort when I crank down the kilt? Specifically, the pattern on the apron creates an S-curve distortion on the vertical lines in the set. Any ideas?

Does your kilt have two straps on the right hip? If so, what is probably happening is that you are wearing that lower strap too tight.

That lower kilt strap serves absolutely no purpose other than to distort the look of the kilt if it is too tight. It simply has no function and certainly does not help the kilt stay on.

If you want to know why it is there in the first place, read my blog post on it:
http://blog.albanach.org/2005/08/why...lt-straps.html

I usually reccomend taking those suckers off!

Aye,
Matt

**Cawdorian** · 26th November 06, 07:12 AM

The pucker under the belt can be removed by tightening your kilt another notch, you can also pull a small pucker out of your kilt by pulling both ends of the apron toward the sides or back.

**Nanook** · 26th November 06, 09:58 AM

Originally Posted by M. A. C. Newsome

If you want to know why it is there in the first place, read my blog post on it:
http://blog.albanach.org/2005/08/why...lt-straps.html

Excellent article. I've, however, been under the impression that pins were used on "untailored" kilts as late as the past century as supplied to ordinary soldiers and co-existed with straps on more elaborate, finer quality tailored kilts.

After reading your article the question to ask is: Why do civilian kilts, for the most part, adopt lower (and lower) rises?

I usually reccomend taking those suckers off!

I think kilts look a bit off without them. Its part of the "look". Even casual kilted garments (like Kinloch Anderson's Breacan where the waist line is even lower) or women's kilted skirts (also low waist) have them. Its part of the language. Kilts don't need to have 3 straps, nor be made of tartan cloth, nor even be flat in the front but its the design that is, for the most part, currently expected.