Kilt Belt (question)

**Tenmiles** · 30th March 15, 04:06 PM

So, most pictures I see of a kilt belt being worn show it just about at the top of the kilt.

However, most kilt belts I see are fairly heavy-duty-looking affairs, and it seems to me that if it's worn right at the top, it has to go over the top kilt straps/buckles, which seems like it would be a bit uncomfortable.

Is this correct?
Or would someone wear the belt just beneath the top kilt strap/buckle?

(if that were the case, then the belt would be a couple inches below the top line of the kilt, and I don't seem to see that in pictures...)

How do you manage this? Do you just wear the belt "loose" enough so that it doesn't press the kilt buckles into your sides uncomfortably?

If so, does it mean that the kilt belt doesn't really do much to hold the kilt itself tightly to you? Is it purely for looks?

**Richrail** · 30th March 15, 04:09 PM

The belt is mainly for looks. The kilt straps hold your kilt on.

**Father Bill** · 30th March 15, 04:09 PM

Technically, it's a "dirk belt" so with no dirk... you don't need one! Most of us wear our sporrans and then if we're wearing a dirk belt, we just strap it on over top of everything else.

**Dughlas mor** · 30th March 15, 04:24 PM

Yes, it does go right over the straps and buckles, and no, it is not uncomfortable.

**Liam** · 30th March 15, 04:28 PM

The simple answer is "yes", it goes over the buckles/straps. While what the Padre says is correct, the belt when not wearing a waist coat provides a separation between the kilt and the shirt, in the same way a cummerbund does.

**OC Richard** · 30th March 15, 06:08 PM

I have a nice heavy Dirk Belt and a couple cool-looking Edwardian buckles and a dirk too... however I rarely wear that stuff.

In spite of my "figure" resembling a big potato I've never had any trouble with my kilts staying put.

Dirk Belts were never intended to support the kilt- my theory is that Americans (and others) use the belt for that purpose by false analogy with pants ("pants need a belt to hold them up, so a kilt must be like that too").

Ditto shoving the Dirk Belt through the kilt's loops (if the kilt has them- mine don't).

**Liam** · 30th March 15, 06:14 PM

With my "potato" shaped figure, I use sporran hangers instead of a sporran belt and the kilt belt is necessary.

**Tenmiles** · 30th March 15, 09:53 PM

Thanks for the clarification!

**Kylahullu** · 31st March 15, 01:31 AM

Originally Posted by Father Bill

Technically, it's a "dirk belt" so with no dirk... you don't need one! Most of us wear our sporrans and then if we're wearing a dirk belt, we just strap it on over top of everything else.

Technically I must slightly disagree. Some kilts might benefit of the use of the belt.

I have four woollen traditional kilts bought used. All of them either lack the stabiliser and/or the interfacer is in separate parts not connected to each other and/or the straps do not meet the interfacer. With that kind of structure the wool carries all the stress of the tightened straps if you do not wear a belt. (I have added reinforcements to some of them but that is an other story.)

I think that if a wool kilt is made without properly working reinforcing elements at the waist area a belt is needed to keep the kilt from little by little tearing apart. It will do it in the end but using the belt you might be able to lengthen the time. What I have read here and seen in those finds of my own I think this structure might be more common than one might think. It might work for a kilt if the kilt is used twice a year or so, and hangs resting in the mean time.

Just some thoughts, not the words of long experience.

**Father Bill** · 31st March 15, 04:42 AM

Okay . . . on a properly constructed traditional kilt, just strap it on. On anything else, all bets and bits are off. That's why I often urge proper, traditional kilts.