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A kilt is a knee-length pleated garment typically worn by men. Originating in the Highlands area of northern Scotland, kilts resemble wrap-around skirts with overlapping aprons in the front and pleats in the back. To wear a kilt, wrap the kilt around your body so the pleats are at your back. Then, fasten the buckles and adjust the garment so it rests at your waist and hangs down to your knees. Keep reading to learn how to put on a kilt correctly and wear other traditional accessories, like hosiery, to achieve a Highlands look.
Steps
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Wrap the kilt around your body with the pleats to the back. The top of the garment should be situated at the natural waist; the two aprons will overlap in the front. It should hang around your knee. [1] X Research source
- Take your right arm and wrap it around your front. The edge of the right should meet up with the left, where there is a small hole in the lining for a strap to go through.
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Fasten the kilt by buckling the aprons. Most Kilts [1] have a leather strap on the right apron, which is often called the under the apron. Pull the strap through to the outside until it's comfortable. You should be just able to get your thumbs inside the waistband. [2] X Research source
- Fasten it to the buckle, just like a belt, at the outer edge of the left waist.
- With your left hand on your right hip, fasten the leather strap on the left apron, or front apron, to the buckles on the right; usually, there will be two. Do the top strap first.
- If your kilt features a third strap further down the right hip, fasten it to create a smooth fit across the stomach. Make sure it's not bunching toward the top or along the buckles.
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Adjust the kilt. If you have buckled the kilt correctly, the fringed edge of the kilt should be along the right side and the kilt should be centered on the body. Most kilts feature a pivot point in the tartan in the center of the front apron. This is the place where the tartan pattern mirrors itself. This pivot point should be in the center of your body.
- It should have a good A shape to it. Adjust as necessary, making sure that you're comfortable and everything is laying correctly.
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Put on the kilt hose, garters (an elastic band) and flashes (colored ribbons). Generally, keep the flashes with the kilt they match. Pull the kilt hose, which resemble knee socks, over the knee before you deal with the other two pieces. [3] X Research source
- Fasten the garter and flashes just below the knee. The flashes should be off to the outside of the leg.
- Fold the kilt hose to below the knee about 3-4 fingers down and over the garter, displaying a few inches of the flashes. Smooth it all out and adjust as necessary, making sure both sets of flashes are displayed at the same angle. eg: Left Hand at 11 am, Right Hand at 1 pm.
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Put on your brogues. Don't tie them halfway up your legs! There are two ways to tie them; choose the one that appeals most to you. [4] X Research source
- The High-Front Tie : Start by making sure your laces are the same length. Tie half a knot, keep some tension on the laces, wrap them around the back of your ankle, twist once or twice and then again around the front,(sometimes around the back twice, depends on laces length)making an X.The when back at the front again, tie it off to the side of the shin bone with a Half Hitch Bow is best.
- The Low Tie : Follow the steps described in the High-Front tie method, but scrunch everything down so that it remains around your ankle instead of up your calf. With this method, tie in a bow or a half hitch bow.
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Attach the sporran. A sporran is a leather or fur pouch that is traditionally worn at the front of a kilt. Fasten the sporran strap using the loops at the back of your kilt. The sporran should be centered and hang about 1 hands width below the bottom of the Waist Belt. [5] X Research source
- Otherwise, place the sporran at the back of your body and fasten the buckle in front of you. Swing it around so the sporran is now resting on your abdomen.
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Attach your favorite kilt pin. They're available in a huge variety of styles and range from the classic to the contemporary. Pin your kilt pin through the front apron only . Pin it 4" (10 cm) up from the bottom hem and 2" (5 cm) in from the side. [6] X Research source
- In addition to being decorative, the kilt pin's weight helps keep the kilt from flapping, preserving your modesty when a breeze whooshes by.
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Put on your jacket and vest. This part is fairly self-explanatory. The only thing to remember is that in the back of the vest there's a little strap that can be adjusted to your size. Use it; you'll look better if the vest fits you right. [7] X Research source
- For less formal occasions, the waistcoat is unnecessary. Use your judgment.
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Don't forget your sgian dubh! That's your knife (a traditional part of Highlands attire) -- arguably the most exciting part. This little dagger goes in your right sock if you're right handed, left sock if left handed. If you have a kilt pin, it's a good idea to have it match.
- Push it down into your sock, just enough to have about 1 inch of the handle showing.
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Community Q&A
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QuestionHow is the blanket worn?Community AnswerIf you mean the "fly plaid," the corner of the square is pinned to the upper left shoulder, and the rest is draped over the shoulder and allowed to just hang down the back.
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QuestionWhat is the polite gentlemanly length for the kilt?Community AnswerAn appropriate length is just above or just below the knee - not too far up or down, as the kilt is not a dress or a skirt.
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QuestionHow high above my navel should I wear a kilt?Community AnswerHow high or low on or above your hips is up to you, as long as the bottom hem is just above or just below the knee.
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Tips
- A variety of shirts may be worn with a kilt, but the traditional style is a white collared button-down shirt with cuffs.Thanks
- Make sure your kilt is buckled snugly to keep the garment in position, but not so snugly that the kilt forms wrinkles along the waistline.Thanks
- The hem of the kilt should fall at the middle of your knee. Get down on your knees and the edge of the kilt should be about 1 inch to a half inch off the ground.Thanks
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Warnings
- Because the sgian dubh is considered a weapon, you may not want to include this as part of your attire at public eve1nts for security reasons.Thanks
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References
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ailXV_2j6bw
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QxI3UDWflH8
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gcv72NRFt6g
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3gNoRZhh82I
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F6N_7H0ZIl8
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=50rEIHC6lB0
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QxI3UDWflH8
- [2]
About This Article
Article Summary
X
To wear a kilt, first wrap the kilt around your body with the pleats to the back. Then, fasten the kilt by pulling the strap on the right apron through to the outside and fastening it to the buckle, as you would a belt. Finally, adjust your kilt so its centered on your body with the fringed edge along the right side, and draped in an “A” shape. If you want to add a kilt pin for decoration and to keep your kilt from flapping around, put it through the front apron, about 4 inches up from the bottom and 2 inches over from the side. To learn how to wear a sporran and put on your kilt hose, garters, flashes, and brogues, read on!
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Reader Success Stories
- "I was unaware of how long my kilt should be! Now I know, even though it is 2.5" below my knees. However, I do wish your article stated how high (above the navel) it should be. " ..." more
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"I was unaware of how long my kilt should be! Now I know, even though it is 2.5" below my knees. However, I do wish your article stated how high (above the navel) it should be. "
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"Very helpful! I am very much interested in my Scottish roots. I recently purchased a kilt and wanted to know what else was proper to wear with it! Thank you!"
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"I very much liked the explanation how to dress and wear a kilt. I would have liked something about casual kilts and how to make one for a man."
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"This information is helpful to men like me who are formal as necessary."
"How a kilt should be worn, i.e. length above/below knee."
