Belt Loops

[arrogcow]

I suspect that a belt riding up is only a problem if the kilt is not worn over the navel. Worn lower on the hips would probably allow the belt to ride up, and that may be the reason why this is a new phenomenon. Just a guess.

I never use the belt loops for anything, belt or sporran. There are strictly superfluous for me, and I think I will have them omitted from the next custom kilt I purchase.

Great discussion.

My tartans are worn over the navel. The problem is that that is not the narrowest part of me. narrowest is under the belly, and the belt through the loops fights against the pull of gravity and the push of gut.

Adam

[Barb T]

I put the belt through the belt loops (novel idea huh?)

This might sound like a "duh" statement - after all, if they're called belt loops, what are they supposed to for, anyway, except to put a belt through?? I will point out as Matt and I have pointed out several times on this forum that kilts did not traditionally have loops of any kind. Small loops (narrower than belt width) started to appear about half a century ago to keep the sporran strap from slipping down, although, actually, this isn't a problem on most people. Loops have since gotten larger and larger until you can actually fit a belt through the loops (likely because someone who couldn't fit his belt through the sporran loops complained that they weren't big enough, even though they weren't meant to put a belt through in the first place). People now call them belt loops. So, it isn't really a silly affectation to wear the belt over the loops. If a kilt has loops, the sporran strap goes through the loops and the belt over them.

And, while it might help keep your belt in place, it _does_ distort the kilt over time every time you sit down. Just look at well worn band kilts the next time you're at a Highland games - the horizontal stripes aren't horizontal any more - they look like a cardiogram with two blips below the loops.

Cheers,

Barb

[McMurdo]

Thanks Barb

That explains why my 57 yr old kilt has small loops for putting the sporran strap through that no kilt belt I have ever seen would fit through.