2 VS 3 Straps

[Spartan Tartan]

Since this is a question of preference, I prefer two straps/buckles. I find the third has a tendancy to pull the apron in an unnatural way. But I do have kilts with 3 and I don't much fuss about it.

I will echo the left hip INSIDE buckle comment. I just got a nice kilt with this feature. Asthetics aside, it is much easier to buckle while getting dressed--that is probably just me, but this was what I noticed immediately. I can reach it more easily. Just an extra thought or point that I have noticed about myself.

I will say that I do not believe the number of buckles is paramount to formality. Nor am I a believer that the third strap/buckles is the current evolution of the tradition.

What I do believe is that kilt makers do as their teachers did. Or as they were taught. End of story. I believe a good number of kilt makers here do two buckles as their standard whereas others do three. It is what it is.

[JohntheBiker]

I began making kilts with only two straps for the kilts we are making for the Canadian Scottish Regiment. I also eliminated the strap hole on the left side, putting the strap and buckle on the inside.
This was because the regimental kilts are kept in stores and issued as needed. Not having the strap hole allows us to re-size a kilt in just a few moments.

We now make almost all our Kilts with 2 straps and the left on the inside. It has saved our customers money if their kilt needs re-sizing and in my opinion allows the kilt to hang much better.

We can keep the full strength of the stabilizer and interfacing intact. No weakness at the strap hole.

Leaving the third strap off has also virtually illuminated any distortion of the outer apron fabric by an owner who tightens the third strap thinking that if it is there, it must have a function.

Some of my older kilts still have three straps and buckles but I have caught myself forgetting to fasten the third strap.

Don't have any kilts with three buckles. With a "two-buckle" shape, and based on the comments in this thread, probably won't get one. The left buckle on the inside sounds interesting. Any photos?

[Dani Mac]

Thanks for the discussion. I've been debating 2 or 3 as I prepare to make my first tartan kilt. All of your comments help. I would like to echo JohntheBiker's request. Please post photos of the inside left buckle. I also request that when you post photos, anywhere on the forum, please identify the tartan. I enjoy learning about them.

[Tobus]

Don't have any kilts with three buckles. With a "two-buckle" shape, and based on the comments in this thread, probably won't get one. The left buckle on the inside sounds interesting. Any photos?

The internal left buckle is standard on Matt Newsome's box-pleated kilts. You can see a photo of it on his site: http://www.newhousehighland.com/kilt_details.html

Edited to add: Incidentally, Matt also has an entire article dedicated to answering the question of how the third strap came to be. http://kiltmaker.blogspot.com/2005/0...lt-straps.html

[creagdhubh]

Looking back through the discussion, I also find it interesting that folks would remove it (or opt not to have it) just because it's superfluous. Heck, the entirety of Highland attire is full of items that are there only for the sake of tradition and not modern practicality. If we're cleaning up our kilt attire to get rid of vestigial components, let's also ditch fringe on the apron, kilt pins, brogueing on shoes, buckles on shoes, gauntlet cuffs on jackets, ribbons/tails on bonnets, sgians dubh, and anything else that's merely decorative or otherwise "no longer needed".

I do agree that there are many facets of tradtional Highland attire, which serve more of a decorative and traditional role versus a practical, more modern one, (and arguably the third kilt strap can be viewed in this manner as well) I tend to believe that the third strap on a kilt may prove to be more of a hinderance than a useful, or to some, decorative aspect of the kilt. For many years, I wore my kilts with the third strap and often thought what was the point, since I never really fastened it too tightly (it was always "barely there") and I have always known that the third strap isn't supposed to be fastened tightly anyhow. I made the decision to remove the third strap based upon tradition, as my Chief's kilts are all made with only 2 straps, and so are the kilts of many other Macphersons I know in Scotland. I have asked the question to members of the Clan Macpherson whilst attending our annual gathering in Badenoch, "So, why the third strap and buckle? Is it really necessary on the kilt?" The majority of them had the same response: The addition of a third strap comes from the Scottish Regimental tradition; however, many kilts that have been made within various Macpherson families in Scotland, only have 2 straps. And no, it isn't necessary, though it was on regimental kilts.

In my opinion, kilts with either 3 or 2 straps and buckles look like a "proper" kilt. It simply boils down to personal preference, just as it does with deciding what style of jacket cuffs to go with, to tie your ribbon tails in a bow or leave them blowing in the wind, kilt pin or no kilt pin, brass cantled sporrans for day attire - silver for evening attire, etc, etc.

To each his own, of course.

Precisely.

Cheers,

[Tam Piperson]

I like the look of a kilt with three straps as well. For me, a kilt with only two straps looks like you are cutting corners and getting shortchanged. I would say the same in regard to kilts made from less yardage, fewer pleats, etc. I like for a kilt to have all the bells and whistles.

[Tobus]

I made the decision to remove the third strap based upon tradition, as my Chief's kilts are all made with only 2 straps, and so are the kilts of many other Macphersons I know in Scotland. I have asked the question to members of the Clan Macpherson whilst attending our annual gathering in Badenoch, "So, why the third strap and buckle? Is it really necessary on the kilt?" The majority of them had the same response: The addition of a third strap comes from the Scottish Regimental tradition; however, many kilts that have been made within various Macpherson families in Scotland, only have 2 straps. And no, it isn't necessary, though it was on regimental kilts.

Yep, and that's why I had included a disclaimer in the previous paragraph of my reply that even older traditional kilts have been made both ways. Having a kilt with only 2 straps is just as traditional as one with 3 straps, and there has never been a hard-and-fast rule. If your clan has a specific tradition of only 2 straps, then that's the one to go with. Clan MacPherson seems to have clan-specific traditions for almost everything!

It's probably also worth challenging the idea that the third strap was 'required' or 'necessary' on regimental kilts too. In shopping around for ex-MoD kilts, I've seen quite a number of them that only have two straps. I'm unclear as to whether they originally had three and the lower one was removed, or if they were made with only two from the builder. But nonetheless, many of them appear to have seen service with only two straps.

So yeah, it really just boils down to personal preference. I like the look of the extra strap, especially when the other two might be hidden by a belt. Having that bit of exposed leather and metal on the hip just makes it look more masculine and rugged to me. Not to imply, of course, that a kilt without it looks effeminate or anything. Nor was I implying that just because I think the third strap looks like a proper kilt, that one without it is somehow improper.

[creagdhubh]

Clan MacPherson seems to have clan-specific traditions for almost everything

Indeed. We are all quite a lively bunch!

[Paul Henry]

Don't have any kilts with three buckles. With a "two-buckle" shape, and based on the comments in this thread, probably won't get one. The left buckle on the inside sounds interesting. Any photos?

There are many of us who have been using the inside arrangement for a long time
some pictures here might help to visual it

[lukeyrobertson]

I have one kilt with three buckles the rest of two and one of them is Matt Newsome. What can I say. I like them all. It really is about preference. And truthfully, the third buckle serves no real purpose other than to add more leather and a shiny buckle. I like that, too.