2 VS 3 Straps

[OC Richard]

Kilt Klutter! A great term there Jock!

For myself, it's probably in part a "less is more" aesthetic but moreover sheer laziness, as I scurry off to pipe at a church gig or funeral or what have you.

A reason for everything, though: the jacket fits better without a waistcoat or belt under it, the kilt hangs better with 2 buckles, and as for kilt pins I don't like the idea of punching holes in a perfectly good kilt. Less kit, but everything of the best quality I can find.

[OC Richard]

True, but military kilts also have the third strap.

It's probably because they have a much higher "rise" than civilian kilts, and the lower strap on an Army kilt is more or less where the upper strap is on a low-rise civilian kilt.

So you can see why kilts like these would need two straps





(note the position of the lower strap on the fellow at left on the lower photo)

[Tobus]

It's probably because they have a much higher "rise" than civilian kilts, and the lower strap on an Army kilt is more or less where the upper strap is on a low-rise civilian kilt.

Actually, it's in the same place as a civilian kilt. The "rise" is above the top strap, and both the upper and lower straps sit at the same place on the body as they do on a civilian kilt.

[creagdhubh]

***

The kilts I've had made for me (BTW all traditional handsewn kilts) all have 2. When I'm playing in a pipe band and they issue me a kilt, the first thing I do is take off the 3rd strap.

I don't see what purpose it serves other than make the kilt pucker on one side and not hang as well.

***

[creagdhubh]

Less kit, but everything of the best quality I can find.

Precisely!!!

[creagdhubh]

Actually, it's in the same place as a civilian kilt. The "rise" is above the top strap, and both the upper and lower straps sit at the same place on the body as they do on a civilian kilt.

But military kilts haven't always been this way. As Richard pointed out through the various photos pictured above, military kilts used to have a considerably higher rise than what we are typically accustomed to nowadays. Hence the reason for a third strap.

[creagdhubh]

According to kiltmaker, Highland tailor and owner of WestCoast Kilts in Vancouver, BC, Robert MacDonald:


"How many buckles and straps should a kilt have?

Many customers ask me why my kilts have one buckle and strap on each hip rather than one on the left and two on the right as seen on other kilts.
Before the left-hand strap and buckle was introduced sometime in the late 1970’s, kilts were held on with two straps on the right hip.(before that they were held on only with the waistbelt!) Other kiltmakers have continued making kilts with the extra strap on the right side just because people expect to see it there.

I can add a third strap and buckle of you insist, but that third buckle on the lower-right serves no purpose and I’m going to charge you extra for it as a waste of time and resources."

[Tam Piperson]

According to kiltmaker, Highland tailor and owner of WestCoast Kilts in Vancouver, BC, Robert MacDonald:


"How many buckles and straps should a kilt have?

Many customers ask me why my kilts have one buckle and strap on each hip rather than one on the left and two on the right as seen on other kilts.
Before the left-hand strap and buckle was introduced sometime in the late 1970’s, kilts were held on with two straps on the right hip.(before that they were held on only with the waistbelt!) Other kiltmakers have continued making kilts with the extra strap on the right side just because people expect to see it there.

I can add a third strap and buckle of you insist, but that third buckle on the lower-right serves no purpose and I’m going to charge you extra for it as a waste of time and resources."

Surely he must mean the 1870's not the 1970's. I've seen many kilts from before the 1970's that have three straps and buckles.

[Spuggs]

A lot of great info folks. Cheers. My Scotland the Brave is on the way with 2 straps, this baby is for a very special occasion with the lovely girlfriend. Personally, aside of not serving any real function, the 3rd strap looks a little to emo for me.

Really interesting info though. You folks are very well informed. Love the forum.

[NeightRG]

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 agree completely. In fact, I have an otherwise pretty traditional kilt that doesn't have a fringe. I often go without a pin, I don't own or plan to own a pair of shoes with buckles or brogueing, nor a gauntlet-cuff jacket or ribboned bonnet, and the one time that I wore a sgian dubh was my wedding day.

Do I have anything against any of these things? Not at all. I just don't feel that all or any of them need to be present for me to be wearing a "proper kilt"

Personally, aside of not serving any real function, the 3rd strap looks a little to emo for me.

Haha. Did you see the "kilts" that Hot Topic was selling? Heck, those things were loaded with straps that had no real purpose... Can almost look at it as a caricature of the point behind this thread.