Box Pleat Question

**Freelancer** · 28th August 08, 04:23 PM

Would Box Pleats be considered "casual dress" or are they considered appropriate for any style from black tie to casual? Also, were they originally a military style?

**sirdaniel1975** · 28th August 08, 04:53 PM

Originally Posted by Freelancer

Would Box Pleats be considered "casual dress" or are they considered appropriate for any style from black tie to casual? Also, were they originally a military style?

The first tailored kilts were box pleated kilts. Yes, they are wonderful for formal wear. In the 19th century, the military did use them and they were pleated to stripe. The kilt evolved during that century several times, going from 4 yards and by around 1900 most consisting of 8 yards..

Go to: http://albanach.org for further explanation.

**Nick the DSM** · 28th August 08, 05:07 PM

I beleive they would be for both casual and formal.

**ChattanCat** · 28th August 08, 05:29 PM

I would wear a box anywhere that I would wear an 8yd knife pleat.

**Tartan Hiker** · 28th August 08, 08:28 PM

Originally Posted by ChattanCat

I would wear a box anywhere that I would wear an 8yd knife pleat.

Same here.

**turpin** · 28th August 08, 08:34 PM

You should check out the "show us your dressy pictures" thread. Lots of boxes there I believe.

**Howard Clark** · 29th August 08, 06:53 PM

I wear my box pleat kilts anywhere, and with anything. They are lighter, and somewhat cooler. But they don't "swish" as nicely as a knife pleated 8 yard kilt does.

It is more the rest of the outfit that defines formal or not, I think.

**Chukta** · 30th August 08, 09:44 AM

The Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders, before their amalgamation into the Royal Regiment of Scoitland, wore the same tartan as the Black Watch, but box-pleated. Currently, the issued kilt for the Royal Regiment of Scotland is box-pleated.

**Bugbear** · 30th August 08, 07:14 PM

As far as I have read, the traditional box pleated kilt is fine for formal wear. I would worry more about the jacket/waistcoat and the sporran, as well as, whether your shoes are not scuffed up. That's mor than enough to worry about

**M. A. C. Newsome** · 1st September 08, 04:52 AM

A box pleated kilt is a kilt. Like any good kilt, it can be worn for formal and casual occasions. The original tailored kilt of the late eighteenth century was four yards, and box pleated. This was true of both military and civilian kilts. The only difference initially was that military kilts were pleated to stripe and civilian kilts to no pattern at all. Sometime in the early nineteenth century civilian kilts adopted pleating to the stripe, as well.