How to pick a kilt
How to pick a kilt
So, you’ve decided to wear a kilt for your wedding day? Good choice
As natural kilt enthusiasts, we’d love to help. Here’s our guide to picking the perfect kilt.
Step One - Selecting a kilt
It’s time to start browsing different colours and patterns.
Grooms, perhaps you would like to wear your family tartan as a whole ensemble with the groomsmen or have everyone wear their own clan. Maybe you’ve spotted one that you like the colour of that you know would look amazing at your venue.
If it’s one colour of kilt for everyone, a subtle yet effective idea is to have the groom stand out with subtle details, such as wearing a different colour sporran, socks and tie - or a plaid over the shoulder with a brooch. Have fun with it!
Grooms, perhaps you would like to wear your family tartan as a whole ensemble with the groomsmen or have everyone wear their own clan. Maybe you’ve spotted one that you like the colour of that you know would look amazing at your venue.
TOP TIP: It’s essential that the groom and the rest of the wedding party get a proper fitting done, as even the most untrained eye can spot a kilt that doesn’t quite fit as it keeps getting hoisted up around the waist.
Step Two - Choosing the rest of the outfit
The decisions don’t end there – there's shirts, ties, waistcoats, jackets, socks, flashes (the wee bits of fabric that stick out near the top of the socks) and shoes to thinks about.
There are a few different styles of jackets and waistcoats to consider, from the squarer more traditional Argyle jacket to the more elegant Bonny Prince Charlie. The material that your jacket is made of is another factor - tweed is on trend at the moment because of its subtle colour and patterns, but it is also very warm and quite expensive.
Choosing the right colour of socks and shirt can make or break an outfit, you really need colours that will complement the kilt, waistcoat and jacket, and a good safe bet is either black or white.
Step Three - To hire or not to hire
If you don’t already own a kilt, it could be nice to buy the one you wear at your wedding, so you are reminded of your special day every time you put it on. But they’re expensive! If you’re not going to wear it much, the best option is often to rent a kilt.
Some hiring companies will offer six for the price of five on kilts, shop around to get yourself the best deal. Make sure you leave enough time for all this as kilts are in very high demand during wedding season.
TOP TIP: If hiring, leave yourself plenty of time to find the best deal, and get fitted quickly! Wedding season can be extremely buys for kilt shops and last-minute stress shopping is no fun.
Step Four - How to get dressed on the day (yes, really)
Wedding day has finally arrived, and it’s time to assemble all the pieces of formal dress into one killer outfit – this can get some people into a panic.
But this won’t be the case if you follow these simple steps:
Firstly, put on all the easy stuff like the shirt, tie, socks, flashes and shoes. This will be helpful to do before you have a kilt restricting your movements and getting in the way.
To put on the socks, you should stretch them out all the way up your leg and put one of the flashes on just under the knee with the fabric bits to the outside of your leg, these will help hold the sock up for the whole day. Then fold the top of the sock down a couple of times so that the elastic of the flash is covered.
Brogues have very long laces that are wrapped a few times around the bottom of your leg and tied around the middle of your shin.
Brogues have very long laces that are wrapped a few times around the bottom of your leg and tied around the middle of your shin.
Get your kilt on:
You will notice there are three leather straps, two on one side, one on the other. Hold the unfastened kilt behind you with the two straps on your left and bring the singe strap over to the left-hand side where you will feed it through a hole in the fabric to a buckle stitched to the outside.
Fasten this up to a comfortable tightness. Now bring the side with the two straps across to the buckles on your right-hand side, first fastening up the bottom one and then the top- this will allow the kilt to sit properly.
The bottom of your kilt should sit at the top of your kneecaps.
Remember your sporran. This can be a bit fiddly so you might need some assistance to put the chains through the loops at the back of your kilt and fasten the buckle so that the sporran sits around the groin area.
All that’s left to do now is put on the waistcoat and jacket and enjoy your wedding day. Cheers!
Remember to show us your new kilt wearing skills by tagging us on Instagram @unison.pipers