Two buckle kilt

**Farmer Jones** · 14th January 19, 05:39 AM

I have seen a kilt with 2, not 3 leather straps and buckles. In all other respects (material, construction, size) it appears a normal kilt. Is this a practice? or did the maker forget something?

**Tobus** · 14th January 19, 05:42 AM

The third strap/buckle (the lower one on the right hip) has never really been standard on civilian kilts. Some have them, some don't. It's just an option that some kiltmakers or customers may or may not choose.

**Balaamsass51** · 14th January 19, 05:46 AM

Agree with Tobus. My Watson kilt made by Matt Newsome only shows 1 strap/buckle. The second ones are there, but hidden in the construction.

**Farmer Jones** · 14th January 19, 05:57 AM

Originally Posted by Tobus

The third strap/buckle (the lower one on the right hip) has never really been standard on civilian kilts. Some have them, some don't. It's just an option that some kiltmakers or customers may or may not choose.

Thanks, I did not know that. I have a military kilt and a civilian casual (5 yds) and they both have 3 buckles. I assumed that because my civilian kilt also had 3 buckles that this was a norm. Does the 3rd strap over the hip not help the kilt sit on the hips and not slip down so easily?

**Jock Scot** · 14th January 19, 06:00 AM

Originally Posted by Farmer Jones

I have seen a kilt with 2, not 3 leather straps and buckles. In all other respects (material, construction, size) it appears a normal kilt. Is this a practice? or did the maker forget something?

All the kilts that I have worn during a fairly long life have had two straps and buckles. It depends what the kilt maker prefers and to an extent what the customer requires. Either way, its no big deal.

**Tobus** · 14th January 19, 06:28 AM

Originally Posted by Farmer Jones

Thanks, I did not know that. I have a military kilt and a civilian casual (5 yds) and they both have 3 buckles. I assumed that because my civilian kilt also had 3 buckles that this was a norm. Does the 3rd strap over the hip not help the kilt sit on the hips and not slip down so easily?

When a kilt is worn properly at the natural waist, it should not slip down. The third buckle shouldn't have anything to do with that.

Matt Newsome has an article that briefly talks about this third buckle and its history: http://kiltmaker.blogspot.com/2005/0...lt-straps.html

**plaid preacher** · 15th January 19, 08:49 AM

Originally Posted by Tobus

When a kilt is worn properly at the natural waist, it should not slip down. The third buckle shouldn't have anything to do with that.

Matt Newsome has an article that briefly talks about this third buckle and its history: http://kiltmaker.blogspot.com/2005/0...lt-straps.html

Tobus, that is what they say. Alas, some of us are outties and not innies when it comes to our waists. I'm afraid my waist is my thickest part of me. that being said, it wouldn't matter how tight I pulled a third strap, it would never be able to keep my kilt up. Even for those of us with a bulging physique, it's the waist strap that is important.

**WillowEstate** · 21st January 19, 08:44 AM

The other side of the coin, my military MacKenzie Seaforth kilt (older than me and I've had my three score and ten) has two buckles, both on the right side. The inner apron doesn't have one, friction holds it up. It's 22 ounce wool, sometimes referred to as blanketweave and needless to say, heavy!

**Barb T** · 21st January 19, 11:52 AM

Except on a dancer's kilt, the hip buckle is really only decorative. As Plaid Preacher has said, the hip buckle does not help keep your kilt up. And, if a "gentleman of substance" buckles the hip strap tight, it pulls the kilt in under the belly, which accentuates his paunch. The apron would hang better if it just had two buckles at the waist, and the gentleman would look slimmer. I do put the hip buckle on if someone really wants it, but I try to put it on so that, even when buckled tightly, it won't pull the apron in under the belly.

The second buckle on a Highland dancer's kilt does serve a purpose, though, and that is to control the apron a bit when a dancer is leaping around and turning.

**jthk** · 14th January 19, 08:45 AM

Originally Posted by Farmer Jones

I have seen a kilt with 2, not 3 leather straps and buckles. In all other respects (material, construction, size) it appears a normal kilt. Is this a practice? or did the maker forget something?

The other replies on this thread have taken care of the business but I'd add that my kiltmaker has assured me that the bottom hip strap and buckle is, essentially, pointless. If present, it should be buckled relatively loose so it doesn't pull and distort the front apron. Most of my kilts have three buckles but two of them have only two buckles. One is a 4-yard box-pleated kilt with the internal hidden buckle on my left hip and the visible buckle on my right. The other is a 8-yard styled knife-pleated kilt that I've taken the bottom buckle off myself.

Jonathan