What do you call these kilts?

[IndianaGentry]

I've received a few different answers, so now I'm throwing the question out to the masses here at XMarks... What do you call these kilts?



The popular answer has been "belted plaid," although the argument is usually that it lacks a shoulder sash. The second most popular answer has been "phillabeg," but the argument has been that it lacks any sort of pleats. It can probably be argued either way, but I have yet to find a difinitive description and name for this.

Note that the 2 guys in the center wear their higher at the front of the leg, with a bit of a "tail" in the back. The guy on the right wraps his pretty evenly. I think this is what causes the debate described above.

If you have some kind of "proof" regarding the appropriate name for this garment, please share it.

The bottom line is, I want one of these... so I'm also looking for someone who sells them. I'll appreciate any leads on this, too.

(The picture is the band Albannach, playing at the base of the Scott Monument in Edinburgh during the 2007 Fringe.)

[gilmore]

The two in the center look to be belted plaid or phillamore or great kilt, (which are all the same thing) but without the ends being secured above the waist. There really isn't a shoulder strap with with them, other than in "Braveheart" and "Rob Roy" and a couple of other movies that got it all wrong. Rather, the ends are more often fastened together or secured to the shirt of jacket or both. Here, it appears that the two in the center just let them trail behind them.

I don't know about the guy on the right. Since the belt is on the outside of the fold rather than inside it, I am not sure what he is doing.

While there are some place that sell them, you could probably put one together yourself at a fraction of that cost. You just buy a 4 to 5 yard length of tartan, hem or fringe the ends where it has been cut (NOT the selveged sides) and fold the pleats in the back and put it on. If you use the search feature you can find several threads that describe how to do this. Some have links to sites that explain this in detail. Some sites even have videos showing you how. Then, after you have put it on, you just let the longer end hang down or tuck it in in the back, rather than pulling it up over your shoulder.

[BoldHighlander]

There really isn't a shoulder strap with with them, other than in "Braveheart" and "Rob Roy" and a couple of other movies that got it all wrong.

Is this what you mean by a "shoulder strap"?



If so, that is actually two different garments he's wearing: it's a plaid seperated into a philabeg with the other portion joined together by the brooch and thrown over his shoulder.

Otherwise I'm not sure what you mean by "shoulder strap", as far as Rob Roy is concerned
(I won't go near Braveheart )

[davecolorado72]

I don't know about the garment but I saw that group perform in the Rocky Mountains and they were quite good. Their energy level was crazy.

[IndianaGentry]

So... belted plaid seems to be the popular answer here. I figured as much, but thought it was worth asking. Thanks for the input!

I don't know about the garment but I saw that group perform in the Rocky Mountains and they were quite good. Their energy level was crazy.

Indeed... I was at the top of the Scott Monument when they started playing, and I kept looking around from my bird's eye view, trying to figure out where the music was coming from. I couldn't see them performing because they were at the foot of the very monument! I picked up their CD (Eye of the Storm) after watching this performance, which is a simply fantastic CD. One word of advice- don't listen to it when you are driving, or you'll find that the drums tend to make you drive faster than you realize.

[MacWage]

. . . One word of advice- don't listen to it when you are driving, or you'll find that the drums tend to make you drive faster than you realize.

BUT . . . It's my FAVORITE driving music . . .
It pretty much STAYS in my CD player.

[Jerry]

I don't know about the garment but I saw that group perform in the Rocky Mountains and they were quite good. Their energy level was crazy.

I agree with the garments being great kilts, and with the band's energy level being crazy. Watching them perform in 90F+ heat and high humidity, I was betting that Jamsie was going to pass out from heat exhaustion.. I bet he lost at least 5 pounds in his performances.

[McClef]

Mel Gibson could afford to buy it, a snip at £350,000!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wallace_Monument

[gilmore]

Is this what you mean by a "shoulder strap"?...

If so, that is actually two different garments he's wearing: it's a plaid seperated into a philabeg with the other portion joined together by the brooch and thrown over his shoulder.

Otherwise I'm not sure what you mean by "shoulder strap", as far as Rob Roy is concerned
(I won't go near Braveheart )

No, it was definitely something unknown outside of the movies.

I remember coming across an article not long ago on a historical dress site written by a woman knowledgeable about such who tried to put together the kilts as worn in "Braveheart" and I believe "Rob Roy" as well. She had some one wear one and exercise vigorously as if he were fighting a battle. She reported that he couldn't go more than a few minutes without having to stop the battle and readjust his strap/plaid/whatever it was in order to prevent its falling off. So, since there were no time outs at Stirling Bridge, she doubts their accuracy.

[beloitpiper]

So, since there were no time outs at Stirling Bridge, she doubts their accuracy.

What? She doubted the accuracy of Braveheart?!? How DARE she challenge the Gospel of Mel!