Would a single buckle closure fare well?

[Kriegbert]

https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/157179


We’ve had discussions on this site how a third buckle is largely superfluous, but how would a single buckle fare as in the second photo in this 19th century example?

[figheadair]

https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/157179


We’ve had discussions on this site how a third buckle is largely superfluous, but how would a single buckle fare as in the second photo in this 19th century example?

A couple of points about this particular example.

Firstly, the garment is 29th, not 19th century. Secondly, as the lefthand side is covered by the plaid it is not clear that this only has one buckle.

Single buckles were common on some military kilts at certain points but it is unclear whether the practice was adopted for civilian kilts generally. That said, I have worn single buckle closing for the past 40+ years and find there is no difference but all my kilts are 4-5 yards.

[OC Richard]

It looks like a military kilt, with the typical military two-prong black buckle.

We can't tell from the photos whether or not the kilt has the usual buckle on the wearer's left, I would imagine it does.

And it might or might not have originally had two buckles on the wearer's right.

That's the thing with ex-Army items, often they end up in civilian hands and are modified.

A musical instrument in a museum tells us little about how it originally was tuned, sounded, and played; to know these things we have to hear the instrument being played by a good musician who specialises in that instrument.

In like manner an item of military clothing in a museum tells us little about how it was originally constituted and worn; to know those things we have to see that item being worn by a member of that particular unit in the same time-period the clothing item dates to.

[Steve Ashton]

Most of my kilts have only one right buckle.

[Father Bill]

Most of my kilts have only one right buckle.

Steve, you do have an interior left do you not?

[Steve Ashton]

Correct. Most of my kilts also have the left strap and buckle on the inside.

Most kilts will have a belt (or the bottom of a vest) covering the buckles so they are not seen anyway.