Quote Originally Posted by Chris Webb
I looked back at Matts' article and see what you mean. I think I suffer from the 'American Effect' when it comes to history ... I sometimes find myself forgetting that most of the world has a much longer history than the United States ... Shoot, the history of the State of Texas doesn't go back but about 175 years. I guess my definition of the word 'ancient' is scewed by our own short history and my sense of time regarding the evolution of the Scottish kilt impacted by the rapid evolution of all things Texas, like our standard gitup, as we call it.
As I've heard several times, in the United States a hundred years is a long time, but in England a hundred miles is a long way.

Quote Originally Posted by Chris Webb
The Scottish kilt is somehow special ... I suppose kilts, despite their almost universal existence in ancient civilizations, had given way to trousers by the time the Scottish kilt arrived. But once it arrived it began to spread and has continued until this day. Imagine an hour-glass filled with kilts ... that smallest point where the kilts fall from the past into the present is Scotland. I know this analogy is a stretch, please be kind.
The unbifurcated garments that most men wore were replaced by trousers when horse riding became widespread. Trousers are much better for long hours in the saddle. Now that we no longer need to ride horses to get around, kilts and the like may again be worn.