Do they wear anything under kilts?
55% of kilt-wearing men say they wear dark underwear, and 38% go commando. 7% wear shorts or tights. Those Scottish gentlemen who do wear kilts will be pleased to know that women are big fans of kilts, Scottish women in particular.
Traditionally the apron (the flat flap at the front) of a woman's kilt or kilted skirt was worn with the seam on the same side as a man's kilt (i.e. to the right). But today most female customers prefer the seam to be placed on the other (left) side.
An earasaid, or arasaid is a draped garment worn in Scotland as part of traditional female highland dress. It may be a belted plaid (literally, a belted blanket), or an unbelted wrap.
Traditionally, women and girls do not wear kilts but may wear ankle-length tartan skirts, along with a colour-coordinated blouse and vest. A tartan earasaid, sash or tonnag (smaller shawl) may also be worn, usually pinned with a brooch, sometimes with a clan badge or other family or cultural motif.
Today, kilted skirts are still fairly popular, but there is little reason that women shouldn't opt for a more traditional style kilt if they wish to. Pipe bands are a good example of this, where women members of the bands kilts are visually no different from the men's kilts.
"True Scotsman" is a humorous term used in Scotland for a man wearing a kilt without undergarments. Though the tradition originated in the military, it has entered Scottish lore as a rite, an expression of light-hearted curiosity about the custom, and even as a subversive gesture.
Remember, when you put your kilt on, it is a high waisted garment, and the kilt should come well above your belly button. If you try to wear your kilt lower on the hips, where most men typically wear pants today, it will not fit properly.
A kilt should fall to the top or middle of the knee, and barely graze the floor when you kneel. "The most common fault is to see kilts 'hingin' doon' below the knees," claims the Scottish Tartans Authority, a plaid-promoting agency. "A good bit of flesh should be visible between hose top and kilt bottom."
Are there any tartans I can't wear? For the most part, you're free to wear any tartan you wish.
Your kilt should be worn with the pleats to the rear and the fringes on the right hand side. It is high on the waist, at the tummy button - this is the correct way to wear a kilt as it will allow it to drop down to the top of the knee.
Are kilts warmer than pants?
For many men, the natural instinct is to ditch the kilt and upgrade to pants when the season turns. However, if you really want to stay warm, the fact is that a kilt does the job better. It all has to do with how air flows throughout each garment.
Highlanders wore a garment, called in Gaelic, lèine cròiche - 'shirt of saffron', (made from linen, dyed saffron from the Crocus plant), which was tucked inside the kilted, lower part of the 'belted plaid' and reached well down - although not protruding beyond - the tartan.
There is no problem for non-Scots to wear a kilt if they are wearing it for a legitimate reason. Such reasons would include any event – a wedding or some parties but be careful with how you wear it. The Kilt is a flexible outfit made of heavy wool that anyone can wear both formally and informally.
Of those who have worn a kilt, just over half (55%) say they tend to wear underwear under their kilts, whilst 38% go commando. A further 7% wear shorts, tights or something else.
Originally used for eating and preparing fruit, meat, and cutting bread and cheese, as well as serving for other more general day-to-day uses such as cutting material and protection, it is now worn as part of traditional Scottish dress tucked into the top of the kilt hose with only the upper portion of the hilt visible ...
All shirts should be tucked into the kilt for a neat look. Dress shirts are the more formal option of the two. This look would normally be styled with a bow tie or tie.
Go big on top, narrow on bottom
Pair any full-cut top, blouse, jacket or tunic with a slim base of trim pants, leggings or straight or skinny jeans (here's where the latter come in handy even if you no longer love them).
Yes, if you are the Groom at a wedding, but otherwise, we recommend to leave this piece of clothing to the main person at the event. Sometimes we see the best men and fathers of the bride and groom wearing plaids, but only when the Groom is wearing one.
National dress, such as kilt and sporran for Scots, is also commonly sighted at traditional funerals. Dark ties are recommended, though it may be that a specific colour that has special meaning for the deceased and their interests – such as football colours – are encouraged.
Socks should be worn just below knee level (2-3 finger widths below your kneecap is a good guide) Socks should also be turned over at the top.
Why don't you wear pants with a kilt?
It is rumored that the Scottish military code from the 18th century prescribed a kilt but did not mention underwear. Scottish soldiers took such instructions as a challenge rather than an oversight, and thus the underwear-less tradition began.
Depending on whether you are right of left handed, the sgian dubh (knife) fits inside your right or left sock on the outside of your leg. You should leave a couple of inches of the sgian dubh shown coming out the top of your sock.
If your event is during the day, plain colours are the prime choice; for formal events, ecru (cream) or tartan hose are the norm. In contemporary stylings, black hose has become increasingly popular as well as darker colours, like the Ancient Blue, Ancient Green and Charcoal socks. Do not, repeat not, wear white socks.
History is Yours
Known as an 'open tartan'‚ a Black Watch plaid kilt is perfectly acceptable for all to wear at Highland Clan gatherings‚ regardless of Clan affiliation. Worn by state leaders, military heroes, highland athletes, and people who just love the look.
What Tartan Can You Wear if You Have No Scottish Heritage? Luckily, for those with no Scottish blood or ancestry, there are universal tartans and non-clan tartans they can wear. These types of tartan include Highland Granite, Isle of Skye and Black Watch.
Within the clan, a chief would encourage members to marry each other to keep the bloodline pure. However, marriages were also used between neighbouring clans to forge alliances, and there were often commercial gains involved in a union, such as the exchange of livestock or land.
Odds are it will be about 2-4" above your normal pants size: i.e. if you wear a 36 in your jeans, you will take a 38 or 40 in your kilt.
Although kilts are traditionally associated with Scotland, they are also long-established in Irish culture. Kilts are worn in both Scotland and Ireland as a symbol of pride and a celebration of their Celtic heritage, yet each country's kilt has many differences which we'll explore in this post.
Wearing baggy pants underneath: skinny jeans, stockings, socks, and leggings are perfectly fine under a kilt. Wide leg jeans paired with a knee-length tartan skirt is not only an odd outfit, but it takes the attention away from the kilt.
Further, while Scottish kilts have a long history of tartans, the Irish one is a little spotty. The Irish kilt was most likely a long tunic made from solid color cloth, usually saffron or dark green. Again, the solid colored tunic acted as a symbol of Celtic nationalism in the 19th and 20th centuries.
What was forbidden for Scottish Highlanders *?
The Highlanders were forbidden on pain of death from wearing a tartan plaid (the kilt is the more modern equivalent), bear arms, or carry a dirk or dagger.
The Scottish Highlanders were forbidden to speak their Gaelic language or wear their national dress and large numbers were forcibly driven out of their homeland.
If you are wearing a kilt on a hill walk, wellies or hiking boots are definitely going to be the most appropriate option but when wearing a kilt to a more formal event, brogues are the way to go.
Anyone can wear a kilt if they choose to, there are no rules. In fact we encourage our international friends to wear a kilt, it's a bonnie garment after all, is it not? This goes for clan tartans too, anyone can wear a clan tartan even if they are not affiliated to that particular lineage.
There is no problem for non-Scots to wear a kilt if they are wearing it for a legitimate reason. Such reasons would include any event – a wedding or some parties but be careful with how you wear it. The Kilt is a flexible outfit made of heavy wool that anyone can wear both formally and informally.
That's right, it's much easier to put on your kilt after your shirt and shoes are on. Socks should be worn just below knee level (2-3 finger widths below your kneecap is a good guide) Socks should also be turned over at the top.
Kilt Hose (socks)
To complete your look, Kilt Hose are the next most important accessory after a Kilt and Sporran. All kilt hose are taller than most socks, and cover your calf.
If you're going to a wedding or other form event, this is the shirt you should wear. Keep in mind that no matter which shirt you choose, you should keep it tucked into your kilt.
All shirts should be tucked into the kilt for a neat look. Dress shirts are the more formal option of the two. This look would normally be styled with a bow tie or tie.
