Waist coat? Or belt?

[frank_a]

How does one determine whether to wear a waistcoat and no belt with a PC, or a belt and no waistcoat? Thanks! Frank

[Jock Scot]

I think its down to personal choice more than anything else. Some may say that a properly fitted waistcoat(no belt) probably sets off the whole look rather better though.

[McMurdo]

I would have to agree with Jock on this one. When wearing a PC I always wear the waistcoat as the coatee seems unfinished somehow without the waistcoat. Personally I think it looks much better with the waistcoat.

[The Wizard of BC]

I personally never wear a dirk belt with a Prince Charlie Coatee.
I always wear a 3 button waistcoat, tux shirt w/ studs and black bow tie with the PC.

There is no requirement to wear a Dirk Belt with a kilt in the first place. It is not worn to hold the kilt up, its original purpose was to support the dirk.

I suspect that calling the Dirk Belt a Kilt Belt is another of those marketing things. It came with the package deal.
We still see these horrible package deals sold all over the web. "Buy a kilt, PC, Belt w/ buckle, fuzzy fur sporran, white hose and ghillie brouges and your clan crest on everything for one low price".

They began to show up just as the wave of interest in the kilt started and kilts began to be available over the web. We can actually point to where and when this whole idea of of the "full kilt outfit" started. It may have done a greater disservice to the kilt wearing world than any other single thing.

If you look back in the history of X Marks we have been trying to dispel all the 'wrongness' perpetuated by these 'outfits' for a long time now. This is where we get the white hose, the matchy-matchy idea, the in-expensive kilt, and the entire concept of what is "proper" like it is some sort of uniform comes from.

[Father Bill]

I'm out of "Ayes" but much agreed, Steve.

[ASinclair]

What Steve said!

[Chas]

I don't think that there is a hard and fast rule, Frank, but certain things should be taken into consideration.

In no particular order -

Temperature of the event - waistcoats are warmer.

Waistcoat is a little bit more formal - the event might dictate.

Jacket on or jacket off - back to formality

Waist size of the wearer - a waistcoat can hide a lifetime of big lunches.

Finally - is a belt required to hold the kilt up, or will braces do? - Braces will be hidden by a waistcoat.