Show us your Vintage Kilt Photos

[M. A. C. Newsome]

I love looking at the little details in these photos, so thanks for posting them Terry!

For example, look at this one:

This first thing you may notice is that the gentleman on the left is wearing Argyle hose for day wear, which is something not atypical of photos from this era, and something I still advocate (so long as it is what some here call "smart" or "dressy" daywear, and not "casual").

But the other thing that jumped right out at me was the sett size of his kilt. It's huge! I would guess it is at least 14" or 15". Tartan mills do not generally weave tartans at this scale any more, but there is still some demand for them. I just took an order recently from a client who requested his clan tartan be woven with a 12" sett (it is normally woven with a 7" sett by most mills today).

Now look at this photo:

The kilt hose in this photo appear to have a very small check pattern on them, similar to the hose my wife weaves called "small shepherd's check" as seen on my feet here.

Finally, take a look at this one:

This is just an example of many photos I have seen from this era showing solid hose with a patterned top. These are very similar to many of the hose made by House of Cheviot. Some, I think, may perceive this to be a more contemporary style, but in fact it does go back quite a ways, as these photos demonstrate.

I love the little details!

[Ancienne Alliance]

I love looking at the little details in these photos, so thanks for posting them Terry!

For example, look at this one:

This first thing you may notice is that the gentleman on the left is wearing Argyle hose for day wear, which is something not atypical of photos from this era, and something I still advocate (so long as it is what some here call "smart" or "dressy" daywear, and not "casual").

I advocate it too, as well as many Scottish friends of mine...




Best,

Robert

[Standard]

Here is the first really good photo that I've seen showing how the kilt over-apron was worn.

[OC Richard]

Some Gordon officers in 1914



a Black Watch "lefty" piper, Gregory Barr, in 1969



PM John McNichol, 1957



some regimental boxing... note how high the waists of the kilts are



and a boy in 1860

[CMcG]

...

some regimental boxing... note how high the waists of the kilts are

The waist on those kilts could almost function like a boxer's abdominal/kidney protector:

[OC Richard]

Luther Muir in 1896



The Caledonian Club of San Francisco Games 1922 (the games had been held annually for over 50 years at that point in time)



The Oban gathering, date unknown

[rsvpiper]

Wow if he wore that sporran any lower it would be on the ground

[JSFMACLJR]

The Oban gathering, date unknown

A rose among the thorns! This photo was taken towards the latter part of the 1930s, going by the appearance of Young Duart ( Sir Charles Maclean of Duart and Morvern, later Lord Maclean ). He succeeded to the chiefship in Nov of 1936. I cannot tell if those are two silver feathers on his crest badge ( which would indicate it is pre Nov 1936 ) or some method to secure a plant badge. Two feathers wouldn't be really correct for the heir in any case. The photo of my father at the Argyllshire Gathering was taken a year or two before this one. I think this photo also shows Young Campbell of Dunstaffnage (3rd from right), who is a bit younger in the pic with my father.