Third Buckle/Strap

**MacMillan of Rathdown** · 23rd June 11, 08:56 PM

I've got one, two, and three buckle kilts and find them all equally satisfying to wear. In the past, when I've ordered a kilt, I've left the "buckles and belt loops" up to my tailor.

**Bugbear** · 23rd June 11, 09:01 PM

* Never mind, too hard to explain... *

**Chas** · 24th June 11, 02:27 AM

Kyle, leave the third buckle and strap. If it is not getting in your way, it is not doing any harm.

I am in the process of getting a hand-tooled strap as a replacement for the third strap on my RAF tank. I am also looking for a suitable silver buckle. Although the other two might be covered up the third will always be on display. So why not make it as good looking as possible?

Regards

Chas

**OC Richard** · 24th June 11, 04:04 AM

I always have just the two straps & buckles.

Maybe it's just the way I'm shaped, but on me kilts hang better without the needless third strap.

I've wondered where the 3rd strap came from, and the idea posted earlier that they originated on extremely high-waisted military kilts makes sense... the third strap might be at around the position the top strap is on low-waisted civilian kilts.

I also wonder WHEN the straps & buckles were added to kilts. I've read that 18th and early 19th century military kilts were held in place by blanket pins, that military kilts of this period exhibit evidence of being repeatedly pinned at the waist.

**creagdhubh** · 24th June 11, 08:23 AM

Originally Posted by Chas

Kyle, leave the third buckle and strap. If it is not getting in your way, it is not doing any harm.

I am in the process of getting a hand-tooled strap as a replacement for the third strap on my RAF tank. I am also looking for a suitable silver buckle. Although the other two might be covered up the third will always be on display. So why not make it as good looking as possible?

Regards

Chas

I think I will Chas. I really haven't had any problems with comfort, stretching, hang of the kilt, etc, so I guess why remove them? I suppose the next kilt I order, I'll be sure to inform my tailor to make it only with two straps and buckles!

Thanks gents, interesting thread.

Slainte,

**creagdhubh** · 30th June 11, 08:21 AM

I have successfully removed all of the belt loops from my kilts, as I have no need for them, but have left the third strap and buckle. However, with that being said, the next round of kilts I order will have only two straps and buckles.

Cheers,

**English Bloke** · 30th June 11, 10:15 AM

I don't use belt loops for a kilt belt but I do thread my sporran belt through them. I also have kilts with three and two but I wouldn't go to the bother of removing buckles. They don't worry me that much.