Kilt shirts

[Robbie]

Oh dear - here we go again with now Andrew perpetuating the MYTH that an Englishman "invented" the modern (little) kilt.

For Andrew's (and other's) information, I have brought over from another heading a previous posting on this very subject; copied below (regretably without the author's consent!) is an extract from an article entitled "The Early History of the Kilt", which in turn is taken from a book called "Early Highland Dress" by Matthew AC Newsome. The whole article can be found on www.scottishtartans.org/kilt.html

"Just a few quick notes on how this large wrap became the kilt of today. I will only touch on this briefly since this takes us well out of the early period. One story commonly repeated is that an Englishman named Thomas Rawlinson opened an iron-smelting factory in the Highlands around the year 1730. His workers all dressed in the belted plaids, which proved too hot and cumbersome for close work in his factory. He solved the problem by cutting the garment in half. The lower part could now be worn separately and the upper part discarded when coming indoors. This is considered proof that an Englishman invented the Scottish national dress.
The problem with this story is that we know of numerous illustrations of Highlanders wearing the only the bottom part of the belted plaid that date long before Rawlinson ever set foot in Scotland. Remember that the belted plaid consisted of two widths of material stitched together. If one neglects to stitch the two together, and only the bottom 4 yards are worn, pleated and belted around the waist, the resulting garment is called the feilidh-beag (little wrap). The word is often spelled in English “phillabeg.” I will not go into detailed evidence of the wearing of the phillabeg here, but I will say that there is some suggestion of its use in the late 17th century, and it was definitely being worn in the early 18th century. It most likely came about as a natural evolution of the belted plaid and Rawlinson probably observed it and quickly deduced its usefulness in his situation and introduced it among his workers."

Can we now kill this Rawlinson myth off for once and all, please!!

[Alaskan]

Blu, I suspect that you are right and that my views will soften over time.

phil h, you are right. I know very little about fabric and I am the first to admit that I wouldn't know the difference between poly/vicose and wool if I wasn't told. But I would know what I was wearing and just wouldn't feel honest telling people that I was wearing a traditional Scottish garment if it wasn't wool.

Andrew, (Editing out an explanation that the Scots were wearing the bottom half of the great kilt on it's own before Rawlinson, due to Robbie's post, which came up while I was writing) However, I do want a great kilt or three, and will probably buy them come winter.

Hamish, I agree that the kilt shouldn't be a period costume. Once I have enough kilts I will be making the switch and wearing kilts full time. At least until winter when it may be too cold.

I will wear my kilt with t-shirts or sweaters or sweatshirts also. I won't stick to clothes that are marketed for being worn with a kilt.

It's just that for me to feel confident in a kilt, it will need to be something that nobody can argue is not a kilt. Maybe after I have worn them a while I will try other ones, but right now I need to be able to say without any shadow of a doubt in my mind that what I am wearing is a traditional Scottish garment. For ME, that means that it has to be made of wool.

I agree that the kilt is evolving, but I am a little old fasioned in that sense. I have seen in the Off Topic area that some of you are behind the times in computer or cell phone technology, and don't feel comfortable with the newer technology. I'm behind the times in kilt technology, and don't feel comfortable with the newer technology. Maybe I'll learn to use it, but at this point I will be happy with the older things.

[phil h]

get over it robbie, I have yet to see the illustration that show earlier kilts.
the whole natonal dress is based on English army dress, the jacket is a mess jacket, what's the difference anyway? people don't just make this stuff up,the story was taken from a letter. either way, lets just agree kilts are great and carry on wering them.

[Graham]

Regardless of the truth on the history of the kilt (I wasn't there)..When I wear a kilt I am asked if I am Scottish. No one asks if I am English (which I am).

The kilt is Scottish thru and thru, if i were a Scot I would be offended at the suggestion that it was invented by a sassenach.

You are right Phil, we can all enjoy wearing a kilt, but I raise my glass to the Scots for it.

[Andrew]

either way, lets just agree kilts are great and carry on wering them.

Well this has been allot of fun!!
I do agree completely, Kilts Are Great and yes lets carry on wearing them!!

Alaskan I hope you aren't to worked up with me. I hope that you do get your Great Kilt or three. I hear they are allot of fun getting into. I plan on sticking with the poly Kilts because for me that's what I like.

Cheers to you all and the evolution of Kilts!!!

[Alaskan]

Alaskan I hope you aren't to worked up with me. I hope that you do get your Great Kilt or three. I hear they are allot of fun getting into.

Oh, no I haven't gotten worked up at all. Like I said, it's just my opinion, and I have no problem with people having other ideas.
I just think that if one is going to be wearing anything out of the ordinary, one needs to have confidence while doing so. I wouldn't have the confidence necessary to wear a kilt made out of anything but wool. Maybe after I have been wearing kilts a while I will be able to try something besides wool.

As for the great kilts being fun to get into... yeah, I wouldn't be too excited about pleating 6 yards of fabric every day, though it probably gets easier and faster with practice. Luckily there are places like http://www.cheapkilts.net/great.html and http://druidskiltsandcelts.com/Kilts/great_kilts.html that will make the pleats permanet, so that you can get dressed more quickly.

[phil h]

also try this link
http://www.lindaclifford.com/GreatKiltWrap.html
and don't worry about other people not knowing it's wool, I have had a few scottish ladies with their hands in my pleats checking out the depth etc.
not one of them mentioned anything about it not being wool. like I said, they won't be able to tell anyway. give it a try, see what happens, I think the main reason people try polly kilts is for evry day wear, and keep the wool ones for special occasion.

[al' Sporrano]

I've just got back from Edinburgh. Whilst browsing in Geoffrey (Tailors) I saw this amazing black leather jacobite shirt. I was sorely tempted, even thought the price made me stagger slightly.

Al

[Alaskan]

Go for it al'. We only live once.

[Blu (Ontario)]

I've just got back from Edinburgh. Whilst browsing in Geoffrey (Tailors) I saw this amazing black leather jacobite shirt. I was sorely tempted, even thought the price made me stagger slightly.

Al

You realize, of course, if you did get one, you'd just have to get one of "R"Kilts leather kilts to go with it 8)