Advice on Kilt

[Tobus]

Not sure who "they" are! I would never dream of putting the sporran strap through those loops. Whether you use them for a belt is really a matter of individual choice as is the choice of wearing a belt at all.

Alan

I had to search way back to remember the discussions we had. I found this one from 2011. It was actually a quote from a co-author of the book The Art of Kiltmaking (see post #19 in that thread) where it was recommended not to put the belt through those belt loops, but to reserve them for a sporran strap if the wearer fears the strap slipping down. So I suppose it was not a traditionalist viewpoint at work there, but practical advice from a kiltmaker. Barb Tewksbury posted some photos in that thread to show why it's not a good idea to use the belt loops for a belt, as they will distort the kilt over time.

I find myself not wearing a belt most of the time these days, but I still put my sporran strap through the loops out of habit. I don't necessarily think the strap would slip down out of place, but it does ensure that it's high enough at the rear not to interfere with my lower hip buckle/strap on my kilt as it comes around the side.

[Tarheel]

I find myself not wearing a belt most of the time these days, but I still put my sporran strap through the loops out of habit.

I have the same habit of putting my soprran strap through the two loops closest to my sides. I ignore the rear and front loops for the strap.

[ThistleDown]

I have the same habit of putting my soprran strap through the two loops closest to my sides. I ignore the rear and front loops for the strap.

The tab straps on the side were originally intended for kilt hanging. The rear loops probably came about with the one-size-fits-all demands of the for-hire trade because a kilt really doesn't need a belt if it has been properly fitted, but can you tell us a bit more about the 'front loops'?

[Tarheel]

but can you tell us a bit more about the 'front loops'?

I see now that the word front was not a proper choice. There is one loop in the rear of my kilt, There are two loops on side and two more just in front of those but not quite to the apron. Those loops fall just in front of my ilium or hip bone.

[tpa]

All my kilts have come with loops and the oldest is over 60 years old. I have never used them for the sporran straps because I find it much easier to buckle the strap at the front then swivel it round to the back without it catching on loops. If the strap is a chain on which the sporran cannot slide, then swivelling the sporran round to the side is much easier if the leather ends of the chain do not have to pass through loops.

If I wear a belt it is to hold things other than the kilt so does not need to be very tight and I do usually thread it through the loops as they prevent whatever is hanging off it (pouch, camera, penknife, etc.) disappearing around my back.

[Jock Scot]

All my kilts have come with loops and the oldest is over 60 years old. I have never used them for the sporran straps because I find it much easier to buckle the strap at the front then swivel it round to the back without it catching on loops. If the strap is a chain on which the sporran cannot slide, then swivelling the sporran round to the side is much easier if the leather ends of the chain do not have to pass through loops.

If I wear a belt it is to hold things other than the kilt so does not need to be very tight and I do usually thread it through the loops as they prevent whatever is hanging off it (pouch, camera, penknife, etc.) disappearing around my back.

I suppose I have worn the kilt for just a wee tad longer than the age of your oldest kilt TPA and within a fairly large kilt wearing family too. I have to confess that until I joined this website I had no idea that there were such things as belt loops on kilts! Suffice to say that the family, past and present, has managed perfectly well without belt loops on the kilt. Each to their own.

[The Wizard of BC]

One of the things we see quite often in kilts today is that they are not built with a flare to the rise, above the top straps.

A kilt made as shown in "The Art of Kiltmaking" will have this flare.

The smallest part of the kilt is at the level of the top straps.



The straps hold the kilt on and if you wear a decorative belt it will sit at the smallest part. The belt will not ride up above the top of the kilt.




Many kilts made today do not have this flare to the Rise. The smallest part of the kilt is at the top of the kilt.



This can cause all sorts of problems. The kilt will always try to droop down so that the smallest part of the kilt is in the smallest part of the body. Because the smallest part of the kilt, is not where the buckles and straps are, the kilt will always feel too big or will have to pucker to fit.

Another problem this lack of flare causes is that the belt will try to rise up, above the top of the kilt.
If you put the belt through the sporran loops the belt will pull up on the loops. This causes the Tartan fabric to be distorted in the back and begin to develop a "W" pattern. After a while this distortion becomes permanent and no amount of steaming will make it go back again.

This kilt is almost brand new and you can see the "W" pattern of distortion already starting to show.



The reason that the sporran loops were put on kilts in the first place was to keep the sporran strap from falling down on guys with narrow hips or a very flat butt. But they have become sort of a standard feature on many kilts today. Because of the lack of flare makes guys feel that they need a belt to keep the kilt up, and of course, pants have belt loops so they put the belt through the loops.

This is what a belt and sporran should look like when the strap is through the loops. This is a guy with very little difference between his waist and hips.



Of course if your kilt is designed to have a trouser like waistband, with true belt loops, then all bets are off. But notice that the kilt is still not pulling up on the loops. On this kilt the loops are decorative.

[tpa]

I suppose I have worn the kilt for just a wee tad longer than the age of your oldest kilt TPA and within a fairly large kilt wearing family too. I have to confess that until I joined this website I had no idea that there were such things as belt loops on kilts! Suffice to say that the family, past and present, has managed perfectly well without belt loops on the kilt. Each to their own.

I guess you just adjust to what you have grown up with. I assumed all kilts had belt loops until I joined this website!

[YOJiMBO20]

All my kilts have come with loops and the oldest is over 60 years old. I have never used them for the sporran straps because I find it much easier to buckle the strap at the front then swivel it round to the back without it catching on loops. If the strap is a chain on which the sporran cannot slide, then swivelling the sporran round to the side is much easier if the leather ends of the chain do not have to pass through loops.

My kilts have all had belt loops that I use for the sporran belt only. My band, like most, uses chain belts, and I found the easiet way to put mine on is to unclip the chain from the sporran on one side (keep the belted part fastened) and pass it through the loops then clip it back into the sporran.

I make sure to unclip one side for putting it on and the other side for taking it off to stop the belt buckle from snagging on the loops.

[Tarheel]

Thanks for the photos Ned. With the colors in your kilt, there is an endless combination of accessories for you to choose from. I think you made the right choice.