Waistband with external buttons?

[FreddyBeachPete]

I recently purchased an old kilt through an on-line ad. Sadly, it is too tight for me to wear (advertised as a 34" but me thinks it is 32"!) so I will be looking into getting it altered. While the main body of the garment is a lovely heavy-weight tartan material, the broad waistband is plain black fabric and there are buttons on the outside. On trousers I would assume them to be for suspenders (or braces as some would call them). On a kilt though - any ideas?

[HeathBar]

They would be for suspenders/braces, same as the trousers. Its likely an old military kilt. A tunic would have been worn over them, so hidden from view.

[Chas]

Same thing. I have a vintage kilt in MacDonald tartan, but it has the buttons on the inside.

If a kilt is worn with a waistcoat, then a belt is not usually worn. Some wearers require a belt, so a compromise is reached.

Regards

Chas

[figheadair]

If it's an old military kilt (c20th) then the buttons may also have been for fastening the Battledress Blouse to the top of the kilt than for braces. The so-called 'blouses' had eyes on the inside of the waistband both front and rear. Battledress trousers had corresponding external buttons

[The Wizard of BC]

I'm going to second Pete's comment.

Military uniforms are very different from civvies. Tunics and blouses(blouse is the military term for jacket, not a girls shirt) often have all sorts of things to keep the other parts of the uniform in place.

The black waistband is very common as is green. If you find buttons on the inside it will usually be for braces. If they are on the outside they will usually be for the tunic.
Another hint will be the spacing. If there are two buttons at the back of the kilt and they are spaced about 4" apart they will usually be for braces. If they are spaced about a foot apart and are more to the side then they are usually for the tunic.

I have had many old military kilts come into my shop and have often found buttons on both the inside and outside. Went fully kited up nothing will move and get out of place during parade.