Hi Cryptonom,

I have to agree with what Bubba and David have already stated, but I'd like to take the opportunity to expand on their words a little.

A Kilt Belt is often considered to be a 2¼" wide leather belt with a large, oblong, celtic-design buckle. That is really more of a Dress Belt and would be totally out of place with a casual, self-coloured contemporary kilt, such as those you mention. A plain wide leather belt with a large pronged buckle looks best, or possibly a military style webbing belt depending upon how you are dressing overall.

The Sporran Strap If you must wear a sporran with the kilt, and there is absolutely no need if the kilt has pockets or comes with its own fabric sporran, then keep it as plain as you can, and a leather one is best. Utilikilts and Amerikilts are casual garments, not Dress Kilts, and so a fur or otherwise Dress Sporran would, again, be totally out of place. Straps are to be recommended over chains because of the harsh wearing effect on the fabric - this is much more important with woollen kilts but is, nevertheless a consideration. Sporran chains are associated with Dress outfits rather than casual or informal ones.

Kilt Hose generally looks better pushed or rolled down to the ankle when worn with boots and casual kilts (or kilts worn casually!) It is a matter of achieving a 'visual balance' with your entire body. Hose and boots, worn as above, tend to add 'weight' at the bottom of your frame - anchoring you to the ground in a way. Curiously, the effect does not work with shoes; with shoes the hose looks better worn up to a couple of inches below the kneecap. When wearing the hose pulled up like that, it is not at all necessary to wear garter flashes - unless you are wearing a tartan kilt (even then, it's not essential but is usual). The flashes should then match one of the colours in the tartan, unless your kiltmaker has provided you with tartan flashes with the kilt!

You mentioned Sandals. These are fine with kilts in summer and when you are dressing really casually, perhaps with just a T-shirt - but leave the hose off. Hose or socks do NOT work with sandals - as a rule!

Kilt Pins are really more decorative nowadays than anything else. They were introduced to add a little extra weight to the front apron of the traditional kilt, but most modern ones are too light to have any effect. One thing to beware: never pin the front and under aprons together. That way lies the path to ripped kilts should you snag the pin on anything fixed! Personally, I feel that kilt pins are totally out of place on modern casual kilts - it is as if the wearer is trying to make his American kilt look Scottish when, in fact, he should be proud to be wearing a uniquely American-designed kilt! If you want to, however, there is nothing stopping you. It is your choice.

There are thousands of photos of guys in kilts scattered across the Net - individuals albums, kiltmakers websites, etc., etc. Look at as many as you can and form your own ideas about what works and what doesn't. You'll soon learn to judge these things for yourself.

Above all, take a good look at yourself in a full-length mirror before leaving your home kilted, Many guys (and gals) would not step outside their homes if they really looked at themselves before venturing out! But they do and then wonder why folks they meet laugh at them ..... it's not the kilt that's being mocked; it's the overall messy 'look' the kilt-wearer is presenting to the world!!

I've 'gone on' somewhat with this, but I hope it has helped you. Good Luck, and don't forget to let us see your photos as soon as you have some.