Traditional Solid Color Kilts and Definitions

[M. A. C. Newsome]

In my mind, as someone who has approached the question from the perspective of a kilt historian, a kilt maker, and a kilt wearer, these are the things that I would look for in a traditional kilt.
1) be made from traditional kilting material; by which I mean either worsted or tweed wool of a suitable weight.
2) be made with pleats in the rear and overlapping aprons in the front, with the waist being split approximately 50/50 between pleats and apron.
3) be made to wear at the natural waist (not low on the hips).
4) be made to fall at or about the knees.

And that's about as strict as I would feel comfortable being with my definition.

I noticed just now that even my loose definition above is too strict, for I forgot to mention the possibility of saxony wool as an acceptable kilting fabric!

Not to highjack this thread, but are there any historical examples you know of concerning kilts of material other than wool? As a 18th century re-enactor, I know the fondness of the upper classes for silk and other materials.

I have heard it stated that silk kilts were once all the rage in the Victorian era for formal events. However, I have not personally seen an example of this. What I have seen are examples of nineteenth century kilts where a stripe of the tartan was woven in silk, and the rest in wool. Usually this was a narrow stripe of white or yellow.

[Bugbear]

The gray area and issue is in someone not being able to tell a PV kilt, or something like that, from the traditional wool kilt when someone else is wearing it.

For example, someone is wearing a tartan PV kilt with sandals and without a sporran. Someone else sees this and is then offended because the first person is disrespecting the traditions of Highland attire, and the national dress of Scotland.

If the person is instead wearing a canvas kilt of some sort with sandals and no sporran, there is no disrespect to Highland attire and the national dress of Scotland. That doesn't mean the second person won't be offended, but the non-traditional canvas kilt is not Highland attire.

[Bugbear]

All I know is that I put a great deal of work over several months into making my casual kilt into a traditional kilt, going by the definitions provided.

I was very thankful to finally be able to sew the lining over my work after being absolutely sure that it fit well...