Poll: What do you use your belt loops for?

[pdcorlis]

Phil Corlis wrote: “If a kilt is shipped to me with loops, I take my stitch picker and remove them.”

That seems the sensible thing to do. I was wondering, though, what the lower loop would be for.
Regards,
Mike

Sorry mate, lower strap on the right hip. Not really necessary, and in some cases it can distort the shape of the kilt apron.

Cheers

Phil

[Tobus]

Sorry mate, lower strap on the right hip. Not really necessary, and in some cases it can distort the shape of the kilt apron.

Cheers

Phil

Although I'm no expert on kilt-making (nor did I stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night), I have found that the hip strap helps conform the kilt to the shape of your body. Without it, the kilt is only held up by - and suspended from - the top straps and kilt belt. Those top straps only apply a cinching force at the very top, relying mostly on friction to keep the kilt up, but they do nothing to keep the lower part of the fell snug to the hips and distributing the load of the wool around the back where all the weight of the pleats are. The hip strap helps keep the kilt in its proper place and draping properly, via this load distribution effect.

Does this make the hip strap "necessary"? Well, no. Of course not. But it does, in my opinion, make for a more comfortable and better-fitting kilt. I have kilts with the hip strap and without, and I find the hip strap to make a huge difference.

Of course, my disclaimer will be that a lot depends on the construction of the kilt, the shape of the wearer's body, and so on and so forth. I know some of the well-known kilt-makers have suggested that it's desirable to go without the hip strap, and I won't attempt to refute their experience or expertise. But for many folks, I think the hip strap makes for an overall better kilt.

If it's distorting the shape of the kilt apron, it may be a result of the kilt not being fitted properly, or the hip strap being installed too low.