historical kilt wearing question...

**PiobBear** · 14th December 06, 06:12 AM

do kilts keep one warm enough in winter...?

Yes (within reason); a heavy weight kilt and a set of proper hose (I've a set of MoD Black Watch diced hose; 3 times as thick as some of my other kilt hose), with a waistcoat, jacket, and heavy wool Inverness coat would be quite enough for a London winter.

Someone asked me that the other day (a frequent question this time of year); I pointed out all the wool I was wrapped up in, and that they were the ones shivering in cotton blue jeans and a sweat shirt.

**MacWage** · 14th December 06, 06:25 AM

A thread on Wales Tartan Centres
http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/s...ad.php?t=21769

**davedove** · 14th December 06, 06:36 AM

Originally Posted by tashaar

but do kilts keep one warm enough in winter

I have found that the kilt is quite warm in the winter, especially a heavier weight kilt with good hose. The only thing I have noticed was when I was standing still and a breeze was blowing. Then, my knees would get a bit chilly, but that stopped as soon as I started moving.

**bubba** · 14th December 06, 08:25 AM

Whenever I'm asked if I'm cold I usually just point out I'm wearing enough wool to knit a sheep so how could I possibly be cold. The fact is that unless the temps are below 20F with a strong wind I'm just not cold. You just wear a hat, keep the upper body, hands and feet warm and you'll be comfortable.

**cavscout** · 14th December 06, 08:29 AM

You may glean some good visual knowledge from the paintings on the STA's web site here

http://www.tartansauthority.com/Web/...ts/First15.asp

There are a lot of different styles shown.

**starbkjrus** · 14th December 06, 11:22 AM

Originally Posted by tashaar

Welsh have tartans? Neato. Not sure if there'd be a family tartan - the name is Lewis.
--tashaar

The Lewis tartan shown on the Wales Tartan Center's ( http://welshtartans.bpweb.net/ ) website looks quite nice.

from Northern Virginia.

**Livingston** · 14th December 06, 11:32 AM

Originally Posted by tashaar

Welsh have tartans? Neato. Not sure if there'd be a family tartan - the name is Lewis.

I'll drop him an email at least! Thanks!
--tashaar

Welcome to XMarks, cousin.

That is, assuming your husband is related to Meriweather Lewis who is my 1st cousin 7 times removed.

Originally Posted by tashaar

Couple more questions.

The wedding I mention takes place in late December in London. I know kilt-wearers tough it out, but he hasn't worn a kilt regularly since he was a teenager (he's 48 at the time of this marriage - his second). He might just be so gung ho he does it anyway, but do kilts keep one warm enough in winter, or is there something he'd wear underneath?

Also - the Welsh have tartans? I wonder if my hubby has a family one. The surname is Lewis...
--tashaar

I've worn my 8 yard, 13 oz kilt outside in a 20-25 degree F snowstorm at 6500 ft altitude with wool kilt hose and a typical leather jacket. Never noticed the cold.

**tashaar** · 14th December 06, 11:42 AM

Thanks for the welcome. As for being related to Meriweather Lewis, I'm not entirely sure. I'm not entirely sure he is sure either. But it would be cool to find out!

Quick question - when you say "hose" you mean essentially the stockings that go to the knee, right? Just making certain I've got the right terminology.

And thanks for all the terrific links, guys. This is really helping me a good deal. Especially the old images!

BTW, the story I'm writing is a Sherlock Holmes tale. The Scot in question is his friend--Dr. John H. Watson, MD, late of the British Army Medical Department, 5th (Northumberland Fusiliers) Regiment of Foot & 66th (Berkshire) Regiment.

;)

The going convention is that he was born in Edinburgh, raised in Australia and then England, received his first degree at University of Edinburgh, received his MD at University of London. He may be a British gentleman, but he's also Scots through and through--with a darned pretty family tartan, if I may say so.

About darn time someone put that man in a kilt. It's gonna be me. I hope.
--tashaar

**Livingston** · 14th December 06, 11:45 AM

That would be correct. In our modern world, basically any knee high plain heavy socks could be used.

**ozone** · 14th December 06, 09:51 PM

Welsh Tartans are available! I have the current only Maddux (Madoc) tartan cilt in existance. The cloth came from the welsh tartan center (http://www.welsh-tartan.com/) and I had the cilt made by the celtic craft center in Edinburgh. I did this because I was not aware that the welsh tartan center made cilts at the time. Anyway, just ordered a sash for my wife and it arrived in about 2 weeks and looks great with an embroidered welsh dragon in the bottom corner. I can highly recommend the welsh tartan center for their excellent cloth! Check it out when you get a chance