buckle on left?

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

The kilt as we know it today owes virtually all of it's design to the military. In the 18th century officers and sergeants wore swords, and other ranks carried bayonets, all of which were worn on the left side. The direction of the wrap of the kilt has to do with the drawing of a sword-- from left to right. If the apron opened on the left, there would be a very real possibility that the sword would become tangled in the kilt, something to be avoided in a life or death situation.

The only instance of a "left handed kilt"-- that I am aware of-- is Richard Waitt's painting of the Laird of Grant's Piper (done in 1714) which clearly shows the apron of the kilt wrapped from right to left. Whether the piper was left handed or not can't really be determined from the painting. Although the pipes are under his right arm, both his sword and pistol are worn on his left side.

[Bugbear]

Thank you for pointing this out about the painting, as well as your other information, MacMillan of Rathdown.

The kilt as we know it today owes virtually all of it's design to the military. In the 18th century officers and sergeants wore swords, and other ranks carried bayonets, all of which were worn on the left side. The direction of the wrap of the kilt has to do with the drawing of a sword-- from left to right. If the apron opened on the left, there would be a very real possibility that the sword would become tangled in the kilt, something to be avoided in a life or death situation.

The only instance of a "left handed kilt"-- that I am aware of-- is Richard Waitt's painting of the Laird of Grant's Piper (done in 1714) which clearly shows the apron of the kilt wrapped from right to left. Whether the piper was left handed or not can't really be determined from the painting. Although the pipes are under his right arm, both his sword and pistol are worn on his left side.

This is all very interesting. I guess this is like the male vs female buttons on shirts vs blouses... I'm not sure I fully understand why there is a difference, other than it just is that it is...

[niblock64]

I have always been told a mans kilt opens on the right. My father wore them, my sons wear them and they are very particular about the right hand opening. Another thing to watch out for if buying online (ie: ebay) is short pleats. The deeper the pleat the better the swing of the kilt. I have mistakenly purchased a kilted skirt for me with small pleats and it just doesn't move at all. I have learned to ask the depth of pleat before I bid!
How do you all feel about a woman wearing a man's kilt? I'm just not satified with the kilted skirts and love the look of a 5 to 8 yard kilt.

[Pleater]

I wear my kilts wrapped left over right, simply because I also wear kimono style garments, which always wrap that way, if the wearer is alive, so it would look a bit odd to have a top wrapped one way and the kilt the other.

I have worn my kilts wrapped the other way when I have managed to stain the apron and not had time to change it or clean it. I can do that as I just put belt loops on but no buckles - my kilts are not as tailored as the modern style. I do put a loop on the left apron, but it can be dispensed with, as long as I wear the belt tight or use some sort of pin or clip to secure it.

At the time when the modern kilt was being developed it was quite common for little boys to wear gowns and be dressed identically to girls - they would be 'breeched' before school age, but it would be interesting to know if the convention of side of fastening was observed with boys kilts - perhaps there are some still around which might tell us.

I have never really understood the reason for conventions of fastenings - but being fairly ambidexterous I have never found much difficulty in buttoning either way.

I now only make myself 7 to 8 yard kilts, and use heavy but fluid fabrics, as I also like the swing.

Both my grandparents of my mother's side were left handed but were forced to use their right hands - my grandfather was held back in the army because he stammered. When wounded in the right arm and 'taught' to use his left hand, the stammer vanished.

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

At the time when the modern kilt was being developed it was quite common for little boys to wear gowns and be dressed identically to girls - they would be 'breeched' before school age, but it would be interesting to know if the convention of side of fastening was observed with boys kilts - perhaps there are some still around which might tell us.

I was given to understand by the gentler, and more elderly, members of my family that boys were kept in dresses because (1) children were kept diapered, longer; (2) it was easier to change a diaper if the child was wearing a skirt; (3) not all ladies were comfortable with boy-children being brought into the ladies powder room to be changed.

So it would seem to be a Victorian social convention as much as an "ease of maintenance" issue.

Boy's kilts fastened the same way round as men's kilts. If I can find the photo of my uncle (circa 1885) I'll post it to the site.

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

This is all very interesting. I guess this is like the male vs female buttons on shirts vs blouses... I'm not sure I fully understand why there is a difference, other than it just is that it is...

It has to do with a lady's maid using a button hook to do up the back of her mistress's frock. Since most women were right handed it was easier for the maid to pull the buttons to the right than the left. The same applied to doing up buttons on the bodice of blouses, waistcoats, etc., on the front of m'lady's costume... it allowed the maid to efficiently button everthing up by pulling the button through the button-hole to her right.

[Sir Robert]

I also understand that (little) boy's kilts go backwards for the same reason.

[Chef]

I also understand that (little) boy's kilts go backwards for the same reason.

I heard that one too, the problem is that there are buckles on both sides so it really doesn't make a difference. No unfortunately, it is about making one item and selling it to both boys and girls. There is a bigger market for off-the-rack little girls skirts than there is for boy's kilts so they are just trying to save money on production.

[Bugbear]

It has to do with a lady's maid using a button hook to do up the back of her mistress's frock. Since most women were right handed it was easier for the maid to pull the buttons to the right than the left. The same applied to doing up buttons on the bodice of blouses, waistcoats, etc., on the front of m'lady's costume... it allowed the maid to efficiently button everthing up by pulling the button through the button-hole to her right.

Thank you MacMillan of Rathdown, I understand now.