For the very first time in a kilt
A kilt is indeed something very different compared to trousers; the way it looks and how it does feel, wearing it.
This page deals with the process from having received your tartan kilt and some accessories till you are ready to go out and about in your kilt.
Imagine, it is a beautiful Saturday morning and from the bathroom ypu hear the doorbell. Your wife opens the door, and a few seconds later she shouts that your parcel from Edinburgh has arrived.
Fantastic. You knew that it was on its way and now you can wear it to the bakery and the supermarket before breakfast. You'll be in a kilt for the very first time.
You open the parcel. All ordered items are there, kilt, sporran, belt & buckle, kilt hose, garter flashes. And you have already prepared for the rest. You shall wear the kilt with a polo and sneakers.
But where to start and end wiih all the unfamilar things, and how make it correct?
For me, it is easiest to start with shirt, socks, shoes, and then garters with or with or witout flashes.
The socks are long; in fact, they are over knees. The reason is that they shall cover the garters.
When choosing kilt socks their colour should be in harmony with the colours of your kilt and top.
Black, charcoal, and white socks can go with most tartans.
Fasten your garters 2-3 cm (approx. 1 inch) under your knee cap.
Here the flashes are mounted on the right leg. How to position the flashes? I have seen several suggestions on the internet. “9-15” o’clock should be OK, but better “10-14 o’clock”, meaning the flashes pointing slightly forward.
Fold the socks over the flashes. The garters should be totally covered, of course, and about half of the flashes should be visible. If your kilt socks are very long, they may have to be folded twice. Preferably the sock should sit a bit lower than in the picture, especially if the kilt is to the long side.
Now you are ready for the kilt. Put it around you. The pleats shall be at the rear of course. With your right hand you are holding what is to be the under-apron.
After having let the strap on the under-apron through the little slid next to the buckle on your left side, fasten it to the buckle.
Then fasten the over-apron. For that you have a buckle above your right hip and often one more below it.
Take a look into a mirror. Should your kilt be lowered or heightened a little bit? Is it centered correctly? Make adjustments if necessary. As an indicator hold your thumbs on the belt straps at the back. Here the kilt is sitting correctly and the length is perfect.
Time for the belt. It does not have to go through the belt loops. In fact, they are not belt loops but meant for your sporran strap! But being wide enough; why not use them for the belt, too? I always will
The kilt belt is in place, Some will say sporran first, then belt. It’s a bad idea, even if it might be more correct. You need to be able to slide your sporran to the side. Dependent on the sporran strap it is difficult or impossible when the strap is fastened under the kilt belt.
Now to the sporran. It shall hang on your front. This one has a leather strap.
Don't have the sporran hang too low. About 7-10 cm (3-4 inch) or a hand’s width below your belt should be appropriate. If your kilt is a jeans waist model the sporran might hang too low and you might better consider ditching it.
You are ready to leave - or almost. You need slide the sporran a bit to the left in order to level it.
And for going to the bakery on a Saturday morning I should have refrained from wearing the flashes.
Complicated, you think? Believe me, it is not. When you have dressed to kilt a few times you'll realize that it is faster than with trousers.
Now, a kilt is not just the Scottish tartan kilt. Since 2000, variants have existed, the most important type being the Utility kilt.
Next page
Utility Kilts
A utility kilt can make an excellent alternative or a valuable addition to the traditional kilt. What should you know about utility kilts? .
