Kilts Straps

[bubba]

On the traditional high rise kilt the second strap is the one that primarily holds the kilt at the waist, the upper strap holds the rise closed and allows adjustment. On more modern kilts with a lower rise one strap on each side is sufficient, for example, if you wear it at navel height you only really need 2 straps. If you wear it at rib height you need 3.

[GlassMan]

On the traditional high rise kilt the second strap is the one that primarily holds the kilt at the waist, the upper strap holds the rise closed and allows adjustment. On more modern kilts with a lower rise one strap on each side is sufficient, for example, if you wear it at navel height you only really need 2 straps. If you wear it at rib height you need 3.

I wear mind at the traditional height, and two straps works just fine. But that may also be because the traditional height is above the widest part of my belly, so it also acts to support the kilt and hold it in place.

[M. A. C. Newsome]

I covered this in my blog a while back. Check it out:
http://blog.albanach.org/2005/08/why...lt-straps.html

Aye,
Matt

[Bob C]

The third one definitely makes the kilt fit better. My tank has one. My party kilt does not. I prefer the fit and feel of the tank.

[Barb T]

Everyone should read Matt's blog linked above. He's absolutely right.

The only kilts I always put hip buckles on without asking are dancer's kilts, because the hip buckle helps keep the apron edge from flying up during the Highland fling, etc. (dancers don't wear kilt pins to help weight the apron edge).

Most men look a lot better in their kilts if they have only a waist buckle unless they have a nice flat tummy. A hip buckle pulled too tight makes the kilt pull in under a pot belly, unfortunately.

Having said all this, I _do_ put hip buckles on lots of kilts. I always ask, and , while I do try to talk people out of it, I add a hip buckle if someone really wants one. Bands like to have kilts all look the same, and, in my experience, it's a rare band kilt that doesn't have 3 buckles (including our band kilts). And many men want three buckles. I'd have to say that I make more 3-buckle kilts than 2, even not counting the dancers.

Barb

[GlassMan]

I covered this in my blog a while back. Check it out:
http://blog.albanach.org/2005/08/why...lt-straps.html

Aye,
Matt

Thanks for the link! That was a great blog entry and explained a lot.

I'm definitely not one of those flat waisted types. In fact, my behind is kind big so even with the waist strap at the middle hole or smaller, my hip strap is always at the very last hole before I run out of leather. If I don't, I get a really ugly pull across the front.

Ahh, now it's time to get out the old sewing kit and take this third strap off my new Stillwater.

And I'd better tell Rocky to not put a hip strap on the kilts he's making me.

[Rick]

My Hector Russell ~8 yard kilt only has 2 straps. This is a traditional high rise kilt and it fits very well. Compared with 3 strap kilts, this one, along with my two Matt Newsome kilts are the best fitting.

I was at the tailor shop to have a kilt jacket altered. I wore the kilt so the tailor could properly set the measurements. He noticed that it only had 2 straps. He commented that on altering the waste size of another gentlemen's kilt, setting the position of the third strap gave him no end of trouble. It caused the apron to pull.

My future kilts will only have 2 straps.

Rick