How to Wear: Kilt Flashes

If you have just purchased your very first kilt, or perhaps inherited one from another member of the clan, you are now perhaps wondering whether you should be pairing a set of Kilt Flashes (sometimes also called Garter Flashes) with your outfit? Well you have come to the right place! Read on to find out where the tradition of flashes originally started and the correct way to wear yours.

Kilt Flashes were first used back in the days of the Feileadh Mor (also known as the Great Kilt - more on this in a recent blog post), as men wore socks with this outfit in order to keep their shins warm. However, they found that their socks would fall down constantly throughout the day, and to stop this problem they started tying a yard of plaid ribbon around the socks under the knee. The ends of the ribbon would hang down from where they had been tied, and modern flashes are worn the way they are today, to mimic the original style.

There is also an old folklore tale that says Kilt Flashes were worn to show a mans marital status. Legend has it that if a mans Kilt Flashes were displayed then this meant that he was single and available, whereas if his flashes were hidden this meant he was either married or courting with someone.

Kilt Flashes are two pieces of fabric with a small V taken out of the bottom and attached to a piece of elastic, commonly referred to as garters. They come in a pair (one for each leg) and are extremely practical holding the socks up on the leg however wild the ceilidh dancing. The flash should be worn on the outside of the leg. Kilt socks are made longer in the leg so they can be folded down over the elastic of the flashes to create a cuff of usually about 3 inches.

Kilt Flashes can either be a solid color that compliments the plaid of the kilt or made up in the same plaid to match your kilt. Or of course you could pick a color or plaid that clashes with your kilt, or choose a different plaid, showing your allegiance to two clans or families or wearing the ancient variation with a modern kilt, making a style statement. Although there are rules surrounding Kilt Flashes, you can really wear whatever color you would prefer. So what you are you waiting for? Order your Solid Colour Kilt Flashes or Plaid Kilt Flashes today!