Belt or no belt?

[rickmac15]

Welcome from N.C.

Rick

[Graywolf]

Citation and source, please?

So You're Going to Wear the Kilt, J. Charles THompson, 1979, page 55.

It directs you that the waist coat should not show below the belt. in most cases this means it must be under the belt and kilt, unless you wear your kilt very at the hips and not the natural waist.

[cavscout]

Interesting...I'd not read that tid-bit.

In the 3rd revised edition 1989, Thompson says,

"If the waist coat is cut with points that will come down too far, simply put your kilt on over the waist coat. Then the belt will hide the joining as it should."

Figure 7a on page 64 appears to show an example of a belt worn "over" a waist coat, but it is a bit hard to tell for certain given the black-and-white drawing.

Perhaps I'm loosing something in the translation but I think this would look odd.

I feel the more attractive arrangement is to wear either belt or waste coat, not both.

[Graywolf]

I concur. I first tried with a belt and waist coat, but I did not look right. Next time and since, I have always worn either waist coat or belt bu not both.

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

I too concur-- Mr. Thompson must have dropped a line out of the text or something. With ordinary white tie the waistcoat should not hang below the front edge of the jacket. (I know you'll see all sorts of photos to the contrary, but that's how it is supposed to look). Since Prince Charlie Coatees are derived from the ordinary tail coat, the line of the jacket and waistcoat would be the same. In any event, the bottom of the waistcoat has to extend over the top of the kilt-- usually about 2-3 inches depending on your build.

I think what Thompson probably intended to say was that the belt should not extend below the waistcoat-- unfortunately wearing a belt under the waistcoat spoils the look of the waistcoat, especially if one is in evening wear.

I had a friend (yes, I actually did have a friend, once, but that was a long, long, time ago) who always wore a dirk with evening wear. He over came the belt problem by modifying a shoulder holster (!) from which he hung his dirk.

Where there is a will, there is a way!

[Standard]

It would be nice to have a kilt belt, in case you wanted to wear one for some reason.

I'm guessing the Caledonian modern is gonna be a hand sewn kilt so will be to your body size. Unless you're real skinny and worry about the kilt sliding off you'll not need a belt.

Ron

Yes the Caledonian will have hand sewn pleats, and made to my measurements. No problem with being too skinny, although I wish that was a problem.

Just called up the Celtic Croft and ordered a belt and buckle this afternoon. Got the embosssed one with velcro adjustment. Seemed to me to be a greater range of adjustments over the traditional kilt belt method.

[Jack Daw]

I agree with James MacMillan, Bob C., and Jock Scot. If you are not wearing a waistcoat, then a belt should be worn. But, if you are wearing a sweater that comes below the belt line, then who will know?

In addition, for casual wear, I tend to forgo ghillies and wear hiking boots. I tend to always wear the long kilt hose, but I've noticed that native-born Scottish ex-pats in the States will wear any sock, which is beginning to catch on.

[Chef]

but I've noticed that native-born Scottish ex-pats in the States will wear any sock, which is beginning to catch on.

Jack is that maybe a Texas thing because of the heat and humidity? Speaking as an ex-pat, and for all the ex-pats I know, I've never seen any one of us in anything but kilt hose with a kilt.

[Don Patrick]

I wear my kilt for the first time tomorrow night at the Tilted Kilt in Houston, TX. Figure I'll need the belt. It seems to be more natural to me.

[jmercier]

I always wear a belt with my kilts ( dont have a formal waist coat ) I think a good belt goes a long ways to making a kilt look good. You dont need a belt with a fancy buckle or anything for it to look nice either, any wide belt looks better than no belt at all IMO.