Third Buckle/Strap

[Tony]

I rather doubt that the third strap is some form of Americanization of the kilt; All of my kilts were made for me in Scotland, some nearly fifty years ago; The oldest kilt still in my tin box is probably forty years old, has three buckles, and was made by-- wait, I'll have to go look-- Chalmers of Oban.

I believe you'll find Tobus was referring to the inside left strap style.

[creagdhubh]

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,

[Tobus]

I believe you'll find Tobus was referring to the inside left strap style.

Indeed, my comment there was about the internal left buckle being an American innovation, not the right hip buckle.

[Ian.MacAllan]

Indeed, my comment there was about the internal left buckle being an American innovation, not the right hip buckle.

It's not anyone's innovation, it's a resurrection by Matt Newsome.

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[Tobus]

It's not anyone's innovation, it's a resurrection by Matt Newsome.

.

But it's a resurrection of an American style of kiltmaking, yes? The Scots never made them like that, from what I gather. It's an American adaptation from the construction of ladies' skirts.

Not making any value judgment, just trying to clarify.

[Ian.MacAllan]

But it's a resurrection of an American style of kiltmaking, yes? . . .

If the "kilt from the 79th New York Cameron Highlanders" which Matt mentioned is indeed the only precedent from which he took the practice then I must agree with you, Tobus. I had thought the precedent was an older Scots' kilt but I may well be mistaken about that. Thanks for raising the point.

To an American, applying the term "innovation" to a mid-19th-century event seems ridiculous, but to someone raised in a culture which still calls an 11th-century creation "the New Forest" it may well seem inevitable.

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[OC Richard]

For me, my disuse of the 3rd strap is on all fours with my overall approach to Highland Dress: simplicity.

3rd strap: serves no purpose; makes kilt hang poorly; makes kilt take longer to put on.

Belt loops: serve no purpose; if used eventually makes kilt look bad in back.

Dirk belt: I don't wear a dirk, so it serves no purpose; another useless thing which takes time to put on.

Kilt pin: serves no purpose; makes holes in my nice kilts; potentially tears a big hole in my kilts if I snag it on something while marching through some crowded room while piping.

As a gigging piper, oftentimes I have to get dressed in a hurry (the 'hurry up and wait' thing) and oftentimes I have to get dressed in cramped places, so the less stuff I have to put on and the quicker it is to put on, the better.

[CDNSushi]

3rd strap: serves no purpose; makes kilt hang poorly; makes kilt take longer to put on.

Belt loops: serve no purpose; if used eventually makes kilt look bad in back.

Dirk belt: I don't wear a dirk, so it serves no purpose; another useless thing which takes time to put on.

Kilt pin: serves no purpose; makes holes in my nice kilts; potentially tears a big hole in my kilts if I snag it on something while marching through some crowded room while piping.

As a gigging piper, oftentimes I have to get dressed in a hurry (the 'hurry up and wait' thing) and oftentimes I have to get dressed in cramped places, so the less stuff I have to put on and the quicker it is to put on, the better.

This is a good case for form following function. I would agree that for such specific situations, there would be good reason to omit or adopt certain elements of Highland attire.

In my own situation, I always use belt loops with a belt because it makes everything stay together better. I've tried using a belt without the belt loops many times, and each and every time, inevitably, I find myself constantly having to adjust and put things back where they should be -- a royal PITA.

3rd strap: I adjust the tightness based on how the kilt is hanging, but I find that 1 to 2 notches looser than the top buckle is best, making it more decorative than useful, most likely. I have no compulsion to remove it though.

Dirk belt: Pretty much as quoted. I don't think very many people wear these regularly anyway. If I wore a dirk in Japan, I'd probably be arrested by the first xenophobic, bully cop that saw me (a lot of them wondering around... )

Kilt pin: I love my kilt pins. I think they add charm to an outfit -- a nice touch, if you will. I generally have 1 pin per kilt, and the pin stays on all the time, so I'm not constantly poking my kilts full of holes. 2 small holes -- that's it. But I do agree about the snagging thing. But that's something I'm willing to live with.

Different horses for different courses.

[Downunder Kilt]

Different horses for different courses.

Agreed, that's what it all comes down to CDNSushi

[creagdhubh]

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,