Why aren't tartan trews as popular as kilts when it comes to highland dress?

[macwilkin]

Last year myself and my best friend wore our trews to a gents Burns Supper in a St. Louis hotel -- all of the other attendees were in kilts, and I was surprised at the reaction from folks walking by our room. In general, most folks were very complimentary about the trews. Perhaps it was due to the fact that we were "different" from the kilties -- nowadays, I find myself grabbing the trews for such events rather than the kilt.

The original trews -- triubhas in the Gaelic -- were tight-fitting trousers that were used by the gentry for riding breeches. It wasn't until after Childers reforms in the 1880s that the Lowland regiments began to adopt tartans, and chose trews as an alternative to the Highlander's kilt, although it should be pointed out that Highland regiments did wear them. The most famous example of the former would be the old 93rd (Argyllshire) Highlanders, who donned tartan trews before the Battle of New Orleans in January 1815.

One of the most famous examples of historical trews are the pair associated with the "Ulster Tartan":

http://www.tartansauthority.com/rese...-ulster-tartan

I love my trews and I daresay that I will order another pair before I order another kilt.

T.