Braces with kilt?

[Kennedy]

I looked at this topic with interest. I just purchased a new kilt at the Stone Mountain Highland Games in Atlanta. I wear braces. I don't wear suspenders. I wear braces on my legs not on my waistband (post-polio). I was wondering if someone had some advice to cover up the lumpiness of the hooks and laces on the front of the braces. Then I found out that you were discussing suspenders! It is too bad that the man didn't ask someone to help him get his "braces" adjusted so that the waistband didn't ride up! It looks like he has on elastic "braces" instead of twill "braces." He likely pulled the straps to a nice snug fit and never thought about how the elastic would return to its unstretched length in a short period of time. He should, indeed, wear his ancient Campbell with pride. And it was correct that no one commented on its appearance so as to embarrass him. I, too, would wear my ancient Campbell with pride (my great-great-grandmother was a Campbell), but I am a Kennedy, so I wear my ancient Kennedy with pride.

Now, does anyone have a suggestion as to how to cover up the lumpiness of the hooks and laces of my braces? Even as heavy and thick as kilt hose are, the lumps still show through the hose. For anyone who doesn't know, my leather braces lace up exactly like army combat boots that have eyes only on the foot part of the boot, but have hooks up the front.

[rondo]

I looked at this topic with interest. I just purchased a new kilt at the Stone Mountain Highland Games in Atlanta. I wear braces. I don't wear suspenders. I wear braces on my legs not on my waistband (post-polio). I was wondering if someone had some advice to cover up the lumpiness of the hooks and laces on the front of the braces. Then I found out that you were discussing suspenders! It is too bad that the man didn't ask someone to help him get his "braces" adjusted so that the waistband didn't ride up! It looks like he has on elastic "braces" instead of twill "braces." He likely pulled the straps to a nice snug fit and never thought about how the elastic would return to its unstretched length in a short period of time. He should, indeed, wear his ancient Campbell with pride. And it was correct that no one commented on its appearance so as to embarrass him. I, too, would wear my ancient Campbell with pride (my great-great-grandmother was a Campbell), but I am a Kennedy, so I wear my ancient Kennedy with pride.

Now, does anyone have a suggestion as to how to cover up the lumpiness of the hooks and laces of my braces? Even as heavy and thick as kilt hose are, the lumps still show through the hose. For anyone who doesn't know, my leather braces lace up exactly like army combat boots that have eyes only on the foot part of the boot, but have hooks up the front.

Can you show a pic? Sometimes, rather than trying to cover up something, it may be better to accentuate it in a personalize it in a positive way.
Rondo

[Muddy]

Just wear 'em and don't worry about anything. I sometimes wear them. I'm pretty sure male scottish highland dancers do to when competing? Just go for it.

[ForresterModern]

I have had three kilts that have ended up being just a tad too loose after losing some weight and have worn each with braces/suspenders during the weight transition period and thereafter as needed, but purchased subsequent kilts in appropriate size to fit the newer size me. I used tartan suspenders/braces with clam style attachments and it can be tough to get them to hold two layers of wiastband with heavyweight 16 oz tartan, but can be done. My braces/suspenders are of the non-elastic variety, except for a couple 6 inch sections in the back to allow for minimal stretch, so are not prone to pulling back up from the originally set height, except when bending over they may caus some drift upwards over my hunched over torso temporarily. Call John at Keltoi as he offers an option for including buttons on the inside of the kilt to accomodate the button variety of braces/suspenders being worn with your kilt when ordered from him. My Kingussie build has them but luckily I have not had to use them. I do wear a belt with my suspenders/braces nearly always--originally it was because I needed some place to hang my sporran hangers from---sporran hangers being necessitated by the same reason the suspenders/braces were, namely a sizeable gut and unsizeable butt, relatively speaking, = no identifiable waist or even an inverted one with the wiast measurement greater than the hip measurement (yes it happens). But after an inital wearing or two I decided that if wearing both braces/suspenders and a belt I needed to cover the contraption with either a sweater or a waistcoat/vest and jacket. I did just this very thing a couple weeks ago at the Stone Mountain games with none aware other than myself and my wife who saw me getting dressed and later undressed (and maybe the one guy in the public restroom who saw me readjusting things after relieving myself in the non-standing way). I found over time however that hanging heavy things from my belt tended to drag it south and under my gut which, much like the gentleman in the picture, could become unfortunately comical, so have shifted away from sporran hangers to a sporran strap for all but the most formal affairs, where I tend toward the belt and suspenders and sporran hanger rig due to the kilt I typicall would wear to those events being one of my remaining loose fits.

My father wears both belt and suspenders/braces with pants frequently---one holding the pants securely up and the other holding the gut somewhat securely in (to support the back)--and IMHO it does not appear that bizarre or unusual, but then he lives in West Virginia where bizarre and unusual can be the norm.

Hasn't anyone here heard of a basic principle of engineering/design called the "belt and suspenders" approach to life? That principle is based on the premise that when there are two different and non-conflicting methods of support available, it may be advisable to use both so that either one is less likely as a solo means of support to fail---a built in up front fail-safe design.

[rondo]

Hasn't anyone here heard of a basic principle of engineering/design called the "belt and suspenders" approach to life? That principle is based on the premise that when there are two different and non-conflicting methods of support available, it may be advisable to use both so that either one is less likely as a solo means of support to fail---a built in up front fail-safe design.

Yep! I drive a truck, pull flatbed trailers. Suspenders hold my work p@nts up, belt holds tools and other implements required for job but provides a backup for the braces should a button pop off. Been wearing work p@nts this way for years. Besides...my work p@nts come with belt loops and bachelor buttons so both should be used...right?
Rondo

[aonghas]

I am very new here, I also have lost a lot of weight in the last few months and was considering whether to wear suspenders with the kilt. I may have to since my backside seems to be missing also. Good to have so much knowledge within easy access.

[Mikilt]

I am very new here, I also have lost a lot of weight in the last few months and was considering whether to wear suspenders with the kilt. I may have to since my backside seems to be missing also. Good to have so much knowledge within easy access.

aonghas,
I met a fellow one year at a Ren Faire. We struck up a conversation because we were both wearing kilts. He was wearing suspenders with his and I gotta say that they just didn't look right to me. YMMV

You might be better off getting your kilt tailored if possible. There are plenty of kiltmakers here on the forum who do alterations.