Just wondering. 🤔

[Mad Dawg]

I am aware that kilts are not daily wear in Scotland. Was there ever a time when kilts were daily wear in Scotland?

[figheadair]

I am aware that kilts are not daily wear in Scotland. Was there ever a time when kilts were daily wear in Scotland?

If you mean by all men, then no. Until the early 19th century the kilt/plaid was a Highland garment and no Lowlander would have been seen dead in the garb of what many regarded as the clothing of savages.

If you mean the Highlands, then yes, by the majority before the mid-18th century and the Dress Act which profoundly changed people's relationship to the kilt.

[Mad Dawg]

Thank you for the response.

[OC Richard]

Note that Peter referred to The Highlands.

It's important to be aware that the area that comprises Scotland today never was a single unified region concerning culture, language, etc.

The southeast spoke a distinct branch of English, archaic (closer to Old English) in many ways including pronunciation, vocabulary, and grammar, variously called Scots or Lallans.

The southwest was Cumbric (Welsh) speaking until relatively recent times.

The Highlands had a culture and spoke a tongue shared with Ireland, which from separation drifted apart.

I believe that the kilt originated as the Irish "mantle" (Gaelic brat) which evolved into a cloak in Ireland and the Plaid in Scotland.

In any case we don't have ancient polls asking the Highland populace "what is your daily attire?"

Since polling and photography weren't around, the best we can do to gage how common kiltwearing was is look at the few paintings we have showing several Highlanders together.

They show both show kilts and trews being worn.

[OC Richard]

By the way it's informative to compare what the Highlanders at Culloden actually looked like (the painter was given access to Highland prisoners to sketch) to the modern film and television representation.

The actual Highlanders were wearing tartan jackets, waistcoats, kilts, hose, and trews while the Hollywood Highlanders are wearing dull drab grey and brown jackets.

The actual tartans are bright colours, the Hollywood tartans are brown and grey.

The actual bonnets are small and blue, the Hollywood bonnets are enormous floppy grey and brown things.

Oddly only one of the Hollywood Highlanders is wearing a sword belt, while all the real Highlanders are.

Only one of the Hollywood Highlanders has a targe, while all the real Highlanders do.

The real Highlanders are far more weaponised in general.

[Mad Dawg]

Thank you for the insights. I appreciate it.