Anatomy of Highland Dress

I like a good kilt (as some of you may know!). Although there’s more to dressing the part than just a kilt, so here’s a (very) brief primer on some other aspects of highland dress.

For gents, sometimes they wear trews (tartan pants), but most often it’s a kilt, which comes in different styles (I’ll talk a bit more about this another time). In addition, often a full plaid, fly plaid or belted plaid is worn. A full plaid is also a Piper’s plaid.

Pipers plaid-notice how long it hangs at the back-it has almost as much cloth as a kilt!

Credit: pxfuel.com

A fly plaid is a smaller version of the pipers plaid, meant to be worn over one shoulder, and secured often with a large brooch. Men’s highland jackets often have a shoulder strap that helps keep the plaid in place.

Fly plaid example.

Photo credit: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Fly_Plaid_Final.jpg

In addition, one might wear a belt, sporran (man purse!), sgian-dubh (most often a blunted short blade dagger), knee socks known as kilt hose, flshies (or garters, usually in matching tartan), kilt pins and clan badges.

Women tend to wear kilted skirts rather than the more traditional kilt, but I think a hostess length kilt is a lovely thing (I guess I have to feel that way:). However, women do often wear a tartan sash, or a larger plaid, again, often secured with some kind of clan -related motif.

So, hopefully you understand a bit more about the complete outfit. Have a special event coming up or want to give a special gift? A kilt is a beautiful thing, and will last a lifetime!