When it comes to wearing a kilt, there’s really only one thing you can get completely wrong and that's by wearing the pleats at the front. If your kilt sits a little high or a little low, you’ll be forgiven, but if you wear a kilt with the pleats at the front, you’ll never hear the end of it. For seasoned kilt wearers, it may be a little difficult to see how someone can make this mistake but it can happen which is why we always encourage new wearers to check out our How To Wear A Kilt Video.
Putting on a kilt is a fairly straightforward process once you know the steps. First, wrap the kilt around your body with the pleats at the back. The kilt should be positioned at naval height or an inch above it. Once you have the kilt at the desired height, cross the right-hand side of the kilt around your body. Place the strap through the gap in the material and fasten it with the buckle. Then take the left-hand side of your kilt and cross it over to the right-side buckles. Fasten these buckles comfortably tight and make sure the kilt is centered. Depending on your tartan, your kilt may have a line that runs down the middle of the apron that you can use as a guide to make sure it’s centered, but it’s worth using a mirror to double-check everything is lined up nicely. You want to make sure that the fringing is on the right-hand side and the first pleat on the left are sitting parallel to your hips.
Do you tuck your shirt in with a kilt?
If you are wearing your kilt as a formal outfit, your shirt should always be tucked into your kilt. We recommend putting on your shirt prior to your kilt as this makes sure the shirt is tucked in neatly. When wearing a kilt casually and without a dress shirt, it’s more of a personal preference but we think a tucked-in shirt in any case will always look better, as you get to see more of the outfit by doing so.
Should a kilt cover your knees?
Your kilt should overlap the top of your knee and sit in the crease at the back of the knee. How low or high it sits is determined by the overall length of the kilt and this is why we take this measurement when you buy one. If the kilt isn’t sitting at the right level over your knee, you can wear it slightly higher or lower to make the correct adjustment. While a kilt should be worn at the naval or just above, where the kilt sits over the knee is more important and should be prioritised.
Why do you not wear anything under a kilt?
The history of “going regimental” or not wearing anything under your kilt, goes back to when kilts were part of the Scottish military uniform, but underwear wasn’t. While some people will choose to go ‘true Scotsman’, a poll by YouGov in 2016 suggests that most people will wear underwear while wearing a kilt. The main thing that people need to consider when deciding weather to dawn a pair of briefs or not is hygiene. Underwear is an easy item to throw in the wash after a heavy night of dancing, while a kilt, being made of 100% worsted wool, is a much harder thing to clean. This is especially important if you are hiring your kilt. We will always recommend people wear underwear when wearing a kilt, especially if the kilt they are wearing isn’t one they own.
Are there rules about wearing tartan?
A common question we get asked is if there are rules about wearing a tartan that isn’t connected to their own family heritage. While tartan was once a sacred part of clan identity, today this is not the case. There are no rules that prohibit anyone from wearing a certain tartan because of their family name but some tartans do have certain restrictions. The Royal Balmoral tartan is a good example of this because the design is actually the private property of the head of the Monarchy. Only the King can grant permission for someone else to wear it. Our Mist range also has restrictions, not to the same extent as the Balmoral tartan, but MacGregor and MacDuff is the only company allowed to weave and sell any of the Mist tartans. That being said, for the most part, there are very few tartans you can’t wear.
Can you wear a normal jacket with a kilt?
Nothing is stopping you from making a fashion statement but traditionally, kilt jackets are shorter than normal suit jackets. The closest option to a regular suit-style jacket is our tweed jackets. Tweed jackets are modern and have a similar shape as a suit jacket, just slightly shorter. A Prince Charlie jacket is the shortest kilt jacket style and is considered the most traditional, perfect for black-tie events. The Argyll falls between both the Prince Charlie and Tweed jackets in terms of length. Argyll jackets are a great all-round choice as they won’t look out of place at formal occasions or at more relaxed events.
Can you wear a kilt without a sporran?
The short answer is yes, but should you? Traditionally speaking, if you don’t want to wear a sporran, you would normally wear a belt in its place. A kilt without a sporran or belt can look a little unfinished so we would always recommend wearing one of those options. The other thing to consider is where you will keep your phone, wallet or hipflask. As kilts don’t have pockets, a sporran comes in mighty handy for keeping your belongings safe. After all, this is what a sporran was originally used for, the items we put in them are the only thing that has changed.
Hopefully this article has answered a few of your questions but if there is anything else you need to know, take a look at some of our other blogs or get in touch with us via info@macgregorandmacduff.co.uk. We love helping new and seasoned kilt wearers in any way we can.