There’s something about a man in a kilt that fires the
imagination of women all over the world. Is it the ability to see strong, sexy
legs? The curiosity about what he’s wearing underneath? There’s a lot of
speculation about why, but my personal belief is that wearing a kilt signifies
a man with the courage and cockiness to risk being called “girly” by his peers.
That kind of confidence can’t help but be sexy.
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| Fantasy look with kilts & doublets, plus Irish Heritage tartan shawl |
The wearing of the kilt as we know it has undergone a lot of
changes through history. First of all, it was originally a Highland-only
garment, considered primitive, even barbarous by Lowland Scots. However,
Connor, in one of my steampunk books, Cards and Caravans is
certainly a Lowlander. Yet he does wear a kilt. That’s because Queen Victoria,
who adored all things Scottish, popularized the garment so much that during her
reign, even many English nobles got in on the act. This is when the idea of
specific clan-only tartans was truly solidified. Our Scottish Knights of the
Round Table certainly wouldn’t have let those pesky Englishmen steal a march on
such a symbol of Scotland. So in the world of the Gaslight Chronicles, the
MacKay men are proudly kilted.
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| Modern kilts worn as formal wear with Prince Charlie waistcoats and jackets, bow ties or |
Along with their popularity, kilts themselves have changed
over the years. Originally, the garment was little more than a blanket—a long
piece of wool, pleated and held around the waist with a leather belt and at the
shoulder with a heavy pin. It could be worn up as a cloak or left to hang from
the waist in warm weather. Underneath, the leine,
a waist-length shirt was often made of heavy canvas and even quilted for
additional protection from elements or enemies. Today, we call this a
great-kilt, and you can often see them at Renaissance fairs. The great kilts shown is an inexpensive American fabric-store plaid, not any particular tartan.
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| Great kilts--more or less. |
The modern kilt was first seen about 1725, and consists of
just the bottom part of the great kilt, but with the pleats sewn into the
waistband, which usually fastens with straps and buckles. The flat front pieces
overlap, so there are two layers in front, and the pleats in back. Sometimes a
scarf-like fly plaid is worn from the shoulder to hearken back to the look of
the great kilt. The loden-green argyle jacket shown here is from the late
Victorian era, but any tweed coat can be worn by day, and a black Prince
Charlie coat turns the modern kilt into evening wear. The purple plaid shown
here is Pride of Scotland, a festival plaid that may be worn by everyone. The
green is Irish Heritage.
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| Victorian styles--Nightwatch Tartan with green antique argyle waistcoat and jacket, Irish Heritage kilt with fly plaid and tan waistcoat. |
Finally, the newest evolution in the kilt is the utility
kilt, or commando kilt. These are made of heavy cotton fabrics or even leather
and often have pockets. Worn by everyone from punk rockers to construction
workers, these continue to gain in popularity. Typically worn with combat or
work boots, or even sneakers, and modern casual shirts. The one here is being used as part of a steampunk costume.
Incidentally, the idea that one shouldn’t wear anything
under a kilt has been denied by the Scottish
Tartan Authority. Tartans Authority director Brian Wilton said kilt wearers
should have the "common sense" to realise they should wear underwear
beneath their country's national dress. While some modern kilt wearers like the
idea of swinging free in the breeze, others, including the “models” in each of
these pictures, comment that sitting on rough benches and hay bales at
festivals is something you don’t want to do while “regimental.”
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| Fantasy skirt and kilt made by SHOPTROLL. Photo by Russ Turner Photography |
Thank you for the history of the sexy kilt.
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