Kilt history

[Mel1980]

If someone is interesting in kilt hisory there is an interesting article about it on this website:

Kilt history

Have a nice reading!

[Kern]

I think Kilts look great although I don't own one.

I found this extract about the history of Kilts on the Internet:

''There is no documentation for "kilts" before 1575.It was taken up and preserved by the British military in the Highland Regiments - in fact most of what is called "Highland Attire" today was ironically either preserved or invented by the British Army Highland Regiments in their dress and then also invented by or for said regiments. It is actually of Indian Army invention - then coming into the Scots Regiments. The "little" kilt was adopted for use by the military as soon as the expense and cumbersomeness of the 'great" kilt was seen (i.e. by 1800). Glengarry caps are a military invention of about the 1820's, not adopted for regulation use until the 1850's. Sgian Dubhs (or some such knife) were normally carried under the jacket until officers of the Black Watch started sticking them in their kilt hose in the 1840's, then it caught on with everyone else. Metal Clan bonnet badges are actually an innovation of the last 50 years and copied as a style from the regimental bonnet badges (the symbols within the badges may be ancient - it is the idea of the Clan metal/pin on badges themselves that is new - the usual Clan bonnet badge was a sprig of a local plant). Feather bonnets are another military invention. The cut and style of most modern "kilt jackets" are off-shoots of military patterns. The writings of Sir Walter Scott, the Royal visit of George IV in full "Highland" regalia (organized by Scott), and the works of others such as the spurious "Sobieski Stuart" brothers, all in the early 1800's, followed by the keen interest and love of Scotland by Queen Victoria all helped in the "fad" of things Scottish in the 19th century. This is not to debunk Scottish "history" or pride, but just to put the true face on the matter. What people wore in Scotland, whether Highland or Lowland, - just as it is today - imitated or was influenced by the rest of Britain/Europe/Western civilization. Until fairly recently, only the poorest of the poor would only own a piece of material to wrap around themselves. No Highland "Chief" worth his name would have been caught dead in such a low-class garment! -- Not until it became "fashionable" that is, well into the 1700's and mostly in the early 1800's. ''

So are Kilts a recent cultural statement or do they go way back?

[Polwarth]

Depends.

[Kern]

On what?

[jafapete]

... on how far back is "way back"

I'm surprised no one's mentioned Eric Hobsbawm's book "The Invention of Tradition". In it, Hugh Trevor-Roper documents the invention of kilts, tartans and Ossian (gulp).

There is a summary on: Invented Tradition

"...the invention of the modern kilt sometime after about 1727 by a Quaker industrialist named Thomas Rawlinson and its quick adoption in many parts of the Highland and Northern Lowlands by about 1768."

But the book - or least Trevor-Roper's chpater - can be read on google books... googling [Hugh trevor Roper scottish tradition] will bring it up.

So Highland chiefs are generally pictured wearing Trews before the 18thC.

Geddout yer trews and belted plaids if yer want authentic highland threads!

Cheers Peter

[Kern]

What I thought.

[aNonnyMoose]

Originally Posted by Kern

No Highland "Chief" worth his name would have been caught dead in such a low-class garment! -- Not until it became "fashionable" that is, well into the 1700's and mostly in the early 1800's.

Considering how these recessive-chinned, foreign-educated buffoons treated their people, is it any wonder most of us stick to the low-class garment and forsake mincing around in tartan trews.

We tend to leave that to American golfers...