How to Wear a Kilt

Have you ever wondered how to wear a kilt? Need help figuring out how to position your kilt pin or how to tie your ghillie brogues? In this video, we get dressed in our kilt, one step at a time, explaining things along the way.

Transcript:

Starting with your shirt and underwear already on, we are going to move to the kilt itself as the first thing to put on. Grabbing the end with the single strap in your right hand, the double straps in your left hand, and the pleats behind you, cross to the left side and put the straps snug through the hole and buckle on the left hand side. On the right side, there are going to be two corresponding straps which you will buckle and snug up as well. You will make sure that the center line of the kilt is in line with your buttons.

The next thing we will do is put on the kilt hose and flashes. I already have the cuff turned over on this sock. Pull the hose all the way up and take your flashes. Secure the flashes around the outside of the leg and connect with the metal clips. Adjust the flashes so the front edge of the flash is just outside the front edge of your shin. Pull the kilt hose down over two thirds of the flashes. Using your fingers as a guide your hose should be three fingers breadth below the kneecap.

The next part of the outfit we will put on are our ghillie brogues. Snug up the laces and pulling them taught, twist them around each other about 5 times. Pull them out to the sides and you will have a nice column going down the front of your leg. Pull the laces around back and make a half knot, then bring them to the front and do another half knot. Make “bunny ears”, pull the laces tight and double knot them so when you’re out for the day they won’t come undone.

The next thing we will put on is the kilt belt.

You can use the two loops in the back of the kilt, you do not have to. Those are actually sporran loops to help keep the sporran up. I tend to put my belt through those loops. Once the belt is on, adjust it to make sure it is centered on the front of the kilt.

The next part of the outfit is the sporran, that’s the bag that you wear in the front.

It comes with a leather strap you will pass around behind you. Pull the strap tight and buckle so the sporran hangs nicely in the front.

The next two parts of the outfit we will put on are the kilt pin and sgian dubh.

The sgian dubh simply goes in the kilt hose on the side of the dominant hand. It sticks about two inches above the kilt hose.

The kilt pin should be worn about six inches up from the bottom of the kilt and two inches from the edge. The kilt pin only goes through the top layer of the cloth (front apron), only through the top layer. Pin it straight down and secure the clasp. You’ll be good to go!

Next we will put on our tie. The first thing I will point out is that the kilt is worn much higher than your pants, so the tie will stop much shorter than it normally would. You want the bottom of the tie to end at the top of the kilt.

Lastly we will put on our kilt jacket and vest.

The Argyll vest, personal preference if you want to button or unbutton the bottom button, you don’t have to but you can if you want. The jacket completes the outfit. Make sure the shirt sleeves are slightly pulled out beneath the jacket cuff and you’re ready for a night out on the town!