Poll: What do you use your belt loops for?

**Santa Kona** · 21st September 10, 08:47 PM

Sporran Straps Only for me also.

**Riverkilt** · 21st September 10, 08:59 PM

Sporran strap only. Can't recall the last time I wore a belt with a tartan kilt - don't need one - THAT is what the kilt straps are for.

If I'm wearing a vest, or jacket, in lieu of a sporran then nothing.

**Whidbey78** · 21st September 10, 09:46 PM

My sporran strap always goes through the loops as does my belt when I wear one. I know it isn't completely proper, but it just seems strange to me to put a belt over them. Just a "thing" with me. Of course I also wear the sporran strap over the belt.

I wear my pleats in the back so I am at least doing that part "right."

**Ancienne Alliance** · 22nd September 10, 01:39 AM

Kiltmakers like Barbara Tewksbury, Matt Newsome, Lady Chrystel etc. just don't make belt loops unless they are asked to...

Try to find out why !

Best,

Robert

**Jock Scot** · 22nd September 10, 01:44 AM

No idea I don't have any. Until I joined this site some years ago, I did not know that some kilts had them.They seem a tad unnecessary to me.

**Ancienne Alliance** · 22nd September 10, 02:12 AM

Quoting The Art of Kiltmaking, page 104.

"It's very common today to see kilts made with large loops in the back and to see kilt belts put through these loops. Traditionally, however, men's kilts were made without loops, and the firts loops put on a kilt in the mid 20th century were, in fact, for a sporran strap, not a belt.

What happens when a kilt belt is put through loops on the back of the kilt? Bending and sitting cause the belt to pull up on the loops where they are stiched to the kilt. Over time, this distorts the nice straight line of the tartan in the pleats at the attachment points of the loops and also pulls the kilt hem up directly below the loops so that it no longer holds a straight bottom line. If you don't believe this, take a surreptitious look at kilts at a Highland games; This is a particular problem with lighter weight kilts and with kilts that are worn a lot (e.g., band kilts).

Ideally, then, loops should be small enough that a belt can't be put through them and should be reserved for a sporran strap, if the wearer is worried that the sporran may slip down. And you should certainly sew sporran loops on any kilt made for a male dancer.

Some men insist on loops big enough to put their belts through. If an explanation of the consequences doesn't dissuade them, just smile and sew big loops on."

Thank you Barbara.

à bon entendeur, salut !

Best,

Robert

**Mike_Oettle** · 22nd September 10, 04:17 AM

Thank you, Robert, for posting Barb’s explanation.
My regimental kilt certainly had no belt loops. The belt around the waist was unlooped, as was the strap for the pouch.
I did rather wonder why some kilts had loops. Perhaps I ought to specify (when I have a kilt made) that I have no need for them.
Regards,
Mike

**artificer** · 22nd September 10, 05:06 AM

I'll own up. I like loops. I use them for both the belt and strap. My waist line is rather straight until it gets down to my rear. I like the loops as they help keep the belt just where I want it, and keep the sporran strap from drifting south.

Traditional? maybe not, but it beats fiddling with your belt all day.

**OC Richard** · 22nd September 10, 06:54 AM

Originally Posted by Jock Scot

No idea I don't have any. Until I joined this site some years ago, I did not know that some kilts had them.They seem a tad unnecessary to me.

Hear, hear!

Military kilts never had them. My kilts don't have them.

Note that this poll didn't have an option for my situation, owning ordinary kilts that lacked sporran loops. The poll seems to assume that all kilts have them, which is far from the case.

As far as I can figure, people who were unaccustomed to wearing kilts thought (by false analogy with trousers) that the dirk belt's function was to hold up the kilt and the sporran loops' function was to hold the dirk belt and they began shoving the dirk belt through the sporran loops. These customers began asking kiltmakers for bigger loops, the cart pulling the horse.

In my old Highland Dress catalogues the belt is called the "dirk belt" and was almost invariably worn to support the dirk. In The Highlanders Of Scotland the dirk belt is associated with a dirk in all cases but one exception, a coatless man doing the stone toss. No dirk, no belt. No belts worn under waistcoats.
This seemed to change when the Montrose Doublet was devised in the early 20th century, which was worn with a belt (whether with a dirk or no).

**OC Richard** · 22nd September 10, 06:58 AM

Originally Posted by Ancienne Alliance

Quoting The Art of Kiltmaking, page 104.

What happens when a kilt belt is put through loops on the back of the kilt? Bending and sitting cause the belt to pull up on the loops where they are stiched to the kilt. Over time, this distorts the nice straight line of the tartan in the pleats at the attachment points of the loops and also pulls the kilt hem up directly below the loops so that it no longer holds a straight bottom line.

Some men insist on loops big enough to put their belts through. If an explanation of the consequences doesn't dissuade them, just smile and sew big loops on.

I've seen this exact thing at Highland Games, the back of the kilt resembling the Golden Gate Bridge, that is, two peaks going up at each belt loop and drooping in a big arc in between.