When you think about Scotland, three things come to in bagpipes, haggis, and most importantly, kilts. Although it might sound like a stereotype, kilts are the best representation of history and identity. Here is what we know about the history of kilts.

Kilts are one of the most prominent pieces of clothing in the male’s high land dress back in the old days. A real ‘Scotsman’ wears the Kilts with utmost prestige and pride whether its christening, wedding, or a military event, kilts are worn to this day.

What is a kilt?

The Kilt is a knee-length cloth made with a particular material known as Tartan. The fabric used to make the kilts is woolen. The Gaelic and Scottish natives mostly prefer clothing. It first appeared in history back in the 16th century. In the beginning, Kilts were ankle length, but with time the range started differing. Highlanders had to march through the damp lands all day long, which drenches the trousers that’s why the male came up with kilts as it was easy to carry on.

How did the Kilt evolve?

The Kilt, just like other outfits, has evolved a lot with time. Besides the history of Tartan, here are some of the types of kilts that were worn in different centuries:

The Great Kilt:

This ankle-length plaid skirt was worn in the 16th century. The upper half of this Kilt is worn as a cloak that was draped over the shoulder. The warm nature made it an excellent piece of clothing for the highland life. Mostly, the soldiers used to wear it in battles. It also allowed free movement.

The walking Kilt:

The modern Kilts resemble the walking Kilt a lot. It was knee-length, and people started wearing the Kilt in the 17th century. The Kilt received massive popularity in the 18th century. Some people kept wearing great Kilt while the other wore the walking Kilt.

The British army then adopted the small kilt design. With the coming years, the military Kilt was passed into civilian usage and has remained famous ever since.

What do you wear underneath the Scottish Kilts?

It is the question which bugs people who do not belong to the Celtic heritage. Different people have different opinions when it comes to what to wear underneath the Kilt. It is believed that a true Scotsman does not wear anything under the Kilt. The main reason why old Scottish man preferred going commando with Kilt is that the thick nature of the kilt fabric means the pelvic region hot and sweaty thus underwear may not be the best option.

Final Words

History of Kilt shows that this piece of clothing is more than just outfit; it resembles honor and pride of the people who belong to the Celtic heritage. The Scottish man started wearing kilts in the sixteenth century. To this day, it is worn with the same enthusiasm as it was before.