With the 2024 Fringe Festival coming to a close, it got us thinking about all the people who got to experience our beloved capital. Every August Edinburgh welcomes in the region of 3 million people from all over the world, making it the epicenter of global culture and arts. The city turns into a bustling hive of theatrics and colour. The buzz of the festival is contagious and here at MacGregor and MacDuff, we see a rise in people coming to our Edinburgh kilt store looking to hire a kilt to wear at the Fringe. As a result, we thought it would be a great idea to list a few kilt pointers on wearing a kilt for our first-timers and out-of-towners.   How to Choose the Right Kilt Outfit for the Occasion Kilts and highlandwear outfits can be worn to a wide range of occasions, from casual events to formal settings. When considering your kilt outfit, think about the formality of your event. For weddings, galas and Burns Supper, a traditional full kilt outfit is the etiquette. For more casual gatherings, such as ceilidhs or the Fringe Festival, a tweed or ghillie kilt outfit is acceptable. Our Edinburgh Kilt Shop has a range of formal and casual kilt outfits to hire. If you live locally or are in Edinburgh for an extended period, you can choose a made-to-measure kilt outfit, giving you a highlandwear option you can enjoy for years to come.   What Tartan Can I Wear? Each tartan has a significant meaning to someone but the main confusion we find is in regards to clan tartans. Clan tartans represent specific Scottish families and heritage lines. There is a preconceived notion that if you aren’t part of that clan, you can’t wear the tartan. This is not the case at all and while clan tartans to hold a lot of meaning to the particular family, there are no rules about non-clan members wearing them. If you still don’t like the idea of wearing another clan’s tartan, there is an abundance of universal tartans to choose from. These tartans have no clan connection and usually have a slightly more modern design. When buying a kilt from our Edinburgh store, you can choose from over 4,000 different tartans. These same tartans are also available to hire in our Choose Any Tartan Kilt Hire. This option is where we create a brand new kilt in your measurements for your upcoming event and once you are done with it, you send it back to us like a regular hire. You can also choose to keep it for an additional cost if you fall in love with it.   How to Wear a Kilt Properly While there are a lot of elements to a kilt outfit and it may look a little daunting at the start, there are only a few things you need to consider when putting on your kilt. First and foremost, the pleats go at the back. It may sound obvious but it's a very important note. Your kilt should sit around your naval and hang just over the top of your kneecap. Your jacket should be left open and never buttoned so you can see the detailing of your waistcoat. For a more detailed look at the correct way to wear your kilt outfit properly, check out out Kilt Outfit Style Guide.   What Accessories Do I Need With My Kilt? A full kilt outfit will include a few accessories like kilt pins and hipflasks, but the two most important are the sgian dubh and sporran. A sigian dubh is an ornamental dagger that is placed in the top of your sock. Historically, a sgian dubh was a multi-purpose tool that highlanders needed for daily life. Today they are worn for decoration but you can actually get sgian dubh’s with bottle openers on the blade if you like something a little different. There are a multitude of different options when it comes to finding one you like but it’s best to make sure the colour matches your overall outfit. Sporrans come in three different styles, day, semi-dress and dress, with the latter being the most formal option. For casual events like the fringe, you can wear any of these types but a day or semi-dress sporran is more appropriate. A dress sporran is usually the right choice for weddings. They come in a variety of different furs and styles so take your time finding your favourite.   Where Can I Find Your Kilt Shop In Edinburgh? Our Edinburgh Kilt Shop is located just 5 minutes from the airport in Newbridge. It’s an ideal location for tourists flying in and out of the city as they can pick up or drop off their outfits on the way. It’s also an excellent location for locals too as there is ample parking. This means that you won’t have to worry about carrying your kilt hire or new outfit through the busy streets of the centre, just pop them in the car, hassle-free. Our store is by appointment only so make sure you book ahead of time if you’d like to get the Kings of Kilts experience at our Edinburgh Kilt Store. If you are planning a visit to Edinburgh and want to arrange an outfit, you can book a Virtual Kilt Fitting Appointment so that your outfit will be ready for when you arrive. We look forward to seeing you in the capital soon!