Kilt with trousers underneath!

[Mr.Charles Anthony]

For winter wear, you could do what the Scots soldiers did circa 1778: they wore knee lenght woolen leggings-we would call them gatiors or tall spats(think of the white canvass spats worn by pipers in 2011. Some were wrapped-like a WW1 putee, others were cut like a non-elastic stocking and tied or buttoned on to the leg. That is the background,IMHO, of the tall lacing to the circa2011 ghillie shoe-laces.
And yes, the long shirt in flannel or wool, cut to the lenght of the kilt minus 1 inch or so. I just made a cotton one(yes, I try to post an image!)
And for summer, the gaitors can be heavy canvass, for outdoor wear-no need to rip up your hose in the brambles!
Gaitors, leggings or other names-were a standby of soldiers in the era of knee breeches, which is circa 1500 or so to the early 19th centy, then they became the short spats you now see on pipers.
And it is a good thought-winter is due in Maine on Saturday this!

[Meggers]

uhhh...so I confess that I misunderstood the original poster and didn't realize that when he said "trousers", he DIDNT mean underwear...



ignore my off shoot about undies under kilts then. lol. I thought we were having another discussion about that. Turns out I'm just a space cadet who didn't read the entire post before rambling.

[pugcasso]

uhhh...so I confess that I misunderstood the original poster and didn't realize that when he said "trousers", he DIDNT mean underwear...



ignore my off shoot about undies under kilts then. lol. I thought we were having another discussion about that. Turns out I'm just a space cadet who didn't read the entire post before rambling.

If it makes you feel better , we could discuss wearing 'long-johns' (really long thermal underwear down to the ankles) under a kilt

[Meggers]

If it makes you feel better , we could discuss wearing 'long-johns' (really long thermal underwear down to the ankles) under a kilt

eyyy why not! Doesn't seem so bad when you're out to your knees in Wisconsin snow. I'd be wearing long johns under my kilt too! And a big puffy North Face coat over the top Talk about a kilt fashion no no.

there's weather for no undies and then there's weather for super undies

[ThistleDown]

It was my impression that was one event that soon after contributed to the kilt and tartan being considered the "national ethnic garment" of Scotland. I'm not sure where I got that impression, but I did see that time period, eighteen-thirties, being referenced as a point when the kilt had become the "national garment" in a history book on Scotland yesterday. I've been trying to get a better handle on the timelines of events in Scotland and hopefully the history of the kilt.

Perhaps you are thinking of the accession of Victoria to the throne? No matter, Highland dress was going the way of the dodo before King George and Sir Walter came on the scene. Queen Vicky and Prince Albert came later. Georgie Porgie did us all a fine favour and through his local bestman caused the remnants of the chiefs to come down (or up from Lunnon) to Edinburgh in all their finery and costumed to the teeth as Sir Walter reminded them their grandpapas had once been.

Not a one wore trousers under his kilt, although some defended their modesty on that occasion with breeks made of oink-coloured stuff. In fact, before that we don`t have much knowledge of what they wore and suspect that those in the Northeast wore different garb than those in the North, the West, the Southeast and the Central Highlands.

Best wishes in your ongoing research, Ted.

[ThistleDown]

uhhh...so I confess that I misunderstood the original poster and didn't realize that when he said "trousers", he DIDNT mean underwear...

The problem is the English language, Meghan. Difficult to translate English as it is spoken in Melbourne to that spoken in LA to that spoken in Toronto to that spoken in Joburg to that spoken in London, and then define the resulting words as they will be understood in Aberdeen. *sigh*

For a really clear explanation of it all, look for Bill Bryson's "Mother Tongue". Bill is an American journalist who lived for a good while in England and has travelled in Australia (the sun-burned land) and Canada (walking in the woods) in search of the true and perfect English. He will, no doubt find it when, nearing the end of his life, he finally reaches Inverness

[Nick the DSM]

Here is the picture that comes to mind when I read this thread.

Thing is, the original truibhas were basically long hosen, not really trousers but tights. I do think that would be historical.

[Bugbear]

Thanks, ThistleDown. That does make a couple of pieces more easily fit into the timeline, to me.

[ThistleDown]

Thanks, ThistleDown. That does make a couple of pieces more easily fit into the timeline, to me.

You are welcome, Ted. I still wish it were possible for us to spend some days together (but not in the blazing of AZ, you hear?) to blast our way through your cultural queries.

Rex

[CMcG]

I think this is an interesting question and the answer can follow the traditional/modern/historical split of the "The Kilt Styles and Examples of How They Can Be Worn" section of this forum.

For a traditional tartan kilt -- worn in the traditional way -- trousers or tights are not worn. Period. Whether or not one wears underwear is a matter of personal preference.

This is why there was some consternation when the TV show Glee showed one of their characters decked out in a PC with leggings:


For historical kilts (leaving aside for the moment leine, or other long shirts/tunics), there is some precedent for leggings or trousers being worn by Scottish soldiers during the French and Indian War. Someone with more historical knowledge can comment on the details, but here are some pics:




Similarly, some people might wear long johns under their kilt in cold weather.


If one has good, thick, kilt hose and a heavyweight wool kilt, long johns aren't really necessary. I have worn "kilt johns" when walking for longer distances in extremely cold (-25 Celcius) weather. These are basically long johns that are cut down to end just above the knee. If one is going to be outside for longer periods, they could wear the kilt a bit lower and their hose higher in order to cover more of the knee.

Here's me wearing cold weather gear, including kilt johns:



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More to come...