So you want to look manly in traditional Scottish garb? Well, now that you’ve found that perfect kilt or tartan, you should learn how to wear it properly. Here are some tips:

• The pleated section of your kilt belongs in the rear, as it is primarily used to provide a nice bit of cushion for sitting on, and a kilt with pleats in the front is a telltale sign of someone who failed to put it on correctly.

• After laying the pleats in the back, pull the under apron from right to left, passing its strap through the hole, and buckle it. The top apron should be loose now, ready for you to wrap it over your right hip from left to right, buckle and line up the top edges together.

• Kilts are worn just under the rib cage and they are designed to hang to the top or middle of the knees, depending on where you want them. The straps allow for easy side-to-side adjustments, and again, remember that the double apron section should always be in front.

• Kilt accessories include the kilt pin, a weighted ornament fastened to a spot about 3″ from the bottom and 2″ to the left of your kilt’s right corner. The sporran, a traditional pouch intended to carry soldier’s rations, should hang about 6″ from the top of the kilt, right below the jacket edge, attached by chain straps through the rear belt loops. Kilt belts and buckles, not required with coats, fit through the rear belt loop as well.

Until the middle of the 19th century, highland tartans were associated with regions or districts, rather than by any specific clan or family. This was due to the fact that the designs were produced by local weavers, with a limited range of local dyes and for local tastes.

[photo by: Lee Carson]

Male Scottish dress includes a kilt or ‘trews’, sporrans and gillie brogues.

The kilt is a knee-length ‘skirt’ with pleats at the rear. It was first worn in the 16th century, by men and boys in the Scottish Highlands. It is typically made from one piece of fabric that is wrapped around and fastened at the side.

Since the 19th century, it has been associated with the wider culture of Scotland in general, or with Celtic – and more specifically Gaelic – heritage further afield.

Today, the Scottish kilt is most frequently worn on formal occasions or at Highland games and sports events. It has, however, all been adapted for more mainstream fashion, and can be seen on catwalks across the globe, worn by Scottish and non-Scottish fans alike.

The sporran is made of leather or fur, and serves as a wallet and container for any other necessary personal items, as the traditional Scottish kilt does not have pockets.

In medieval times, it would have been attached to the belt. Today, it generally hangs just below the belt buckle on a chain, but can be turned around the waist, to let it hang on the hip in a more casual and convenient position.

Gillie brogues are traditional thick-soled shoes, with no tongues and long laces. The laces are secured by wrapping them around the ankles then tied. The shoes deliberately lack tongues, so the wearer’s feet can dry more quickly in typically damp Scottish weather.

The Gillie brogue is named after the Gillie, the traditional Scottish gamekeeper and outdoorsman.

Traditionally, women and girls didn’t wear kilts, but sometimes wore ankle-length plaid skirts. In the absence of this, or in addition, a tartan sash or shawl may also be worn to indicate clan affiliation.

Female dress also includes gillie shoes that are tied on the same way as their male counterparts’, but they tend to have thin soles for indoor wear and dancing.

Women may also wear ‘dress’ tartans, which have white threads woven into the patterns. The light colour of this fabric was a status symbol. It was used to demonstrate prosperity, because the wearer could wear the tartan without fear of it being soiled.

White tartan was also worn to social events as a sign of peace and harmony – indicating it would not be stained by bloodshed.

By: Ryan Chambers

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Traditional Scottish clothing associated its wearer with a particular region or district. Today it may link them to a particular clan or family, or simply be a representation of their national pride.

They are the more informal accompaniment to the kilt, and were originally designed to be comfortable for dancing or other physical activities. Many kilt wearers prefer them to the more restrictive and formal waist coat and shirt combination that is also worn with a kilt.

One main feature of the ghillie shirt is the leather lacing starting from the middle of the shirt and running up to the throat. This sets it apart from other loose cotton shirts. Although the ghillie shirt is most commonly known as an accompaniment to a kilt, it predates the kilt and has many other modern uses. These shirts are popular among many history fans and historical reenacters, including Renaissance fair performers.

Of course, a ghillie shirt can worn many other times as well. It is particularly suited for a semi formal occasion, such as a first date. It has a certain charm that other long sleeved cotton shirts lack, and can look especially dashing on men with a more rugged style and features. It’s also great under a suit coat, or for even formal occasions such as a wedding, as long as the rest of the outfit is more conservative. The ghillie shirt is a versatile piece of clothing, with a deep history and the style to continue to be popular.

What is it about kilts that most people find intriguing? Kilts are one of the most recognizable pieces of national dress in the world. They may look like skirts, but are worn by soldiers of the Highland regiments, men not known to be sissies. Many women find men in kilts irresistibly sexy, plus there’s that whole “what do they wear under their kilts” question.

Kilts as we know them have only been in existence for a few hundred years. Ancient Scots wore tunics like most men in that time period. A garment of woven wool called a belted plaid was worn over the tunic as a sort of outer garment, coat, and traveling blanket all wrapped up in one. Due to the length, they were pleated, wrapped about the body, and belted. This was the beginning of the kilt.

Kilts are now available in many tartans, representing clans such as Stewart or McDonald. For many years they were only worn on special occasions or by the military, but they are now becoming more and more popular for daily wear. Most men find them quite comfortable. Unlike the tight pants that many men wear, they are not constricting at all. They are comfortable all year round–warm in winter and breezy in summer.

Kilts have a style all their own, so they never go out of fashion. They can be dressed up with all the accessories and a Prince Charlie jacket for evening wear, or dressed down with a sweater or tee shirt for casual wear. They are elegant, practical, and fashionable.

Up Your Kilt

[photo by: robynejay]

Kilted Beer

[photo by: Meggrs]

TartanFlies

[photo by: e.mel87]

Kilted Plain

[photo by Bob the courier]

Lego Highland Dancers

[photo by: Rob Young]

Tartan Flu Mask

[photo by: Smath.]

Kilted Hero

[photo by:disavian]

Tartan Wool

[photo by: Lee Carson]

Tartan Warning

[photo by: cjc4454]

Kilted Champion

[photo by: John Spooner]

Tartan Lincoln

[photo by: Tom Brogan]

Kilted Couples

[photo by: Murky1]

Super(Kilted)Man

[photo by: Todd Huffman]

Kilted Dog

[photo by: k4dordy]

Tartan Girls

[photo by: k4dordy]]

Kilted Monkey

[photo by: Sarah G...]

Kilted Santa…

[photo by: sparr0]

Scottish Tartan Rulezzz

[photo by: Lee Carson]

Tartan Man

[photo by: erix!]

Always Kilted and elegant

[photo by: kamshots]

Huh??

[photo by: momentsgap]

How to wear Tartan

[photo by: James Cridland]

Axl Rose’s Leather Kilt

[photo by: joanna8555]

Tartoon

[photo by: DRB62]

Highlanders’ Race

[photo by: notacrime]

And the last one, but probably most important one – what’s under the kilt?

[photo by: mnem]

[photo by: Adam UXB Smith]

Tweed jackets and clothing was worn originally by folks who lived in the countryside and was well suited for jackets to keep the wearer toasty warm in the bleakest of conditions.

Today, tweed is used in high end designer clothing and is making a great comeback on the runways all over the world. The Scottish tweeds that are on the market today offer the classic styling of tweeds with an updated look that is appropriate for business attire or weekends in the country.

To add to your wardrobe, choose items that are classically styled for long lasting items to build a base for your closet. Classic pieces such as tweed jackets never go out of style and will hold up well under a great deal of wear. When you are building a wardrobe, it is important to make sure that you choose pieces that will last for years without going out of style and only use trendy items as seasoning for your attire. Not only will this build a great looking wardrobe, but it will save you money in the long run.

[photo by: Huzzah Vintage]

Tweed is a great example of an item that remains in style for decades. Scottish tweed is made from some of the finest materials in the world and is a great addition to any wardrobe.

There was a lot said about kilts and their history. But some facts might not be known more commonly. And kilts is that type of cloth that has an interesting history and many secret facts that is worth to know.

Irish says that there were the one that first gave Scots this type of wearing. So do English people – they also see themselves as kilts inventors and give themselves a credit for this outfit. And what is the truth?

There are some evidence that shows Irish men and English men as the kilt first wearers. Even evidences from 11th centuries. Unfortunately, those evidence aren’t written one but also pictures that are showing probably something else than kilts. So what was the first real document about kilt?

First mentions about feilidh-malo or balted plaid (type of woollen cloth) was found in “Life of Red Hugh O’Donnell” by Lughaidha O’Clery from 16th century. More specifically this cloth was a heavy shawl that
was worn from the top to the bottom of the body, bounding it.

This shows that kilt couldn’t be known in its first form in 13th century or even in 14th. This also means that kilt couldn’t be worn by a great hero William Walace. So Irish men couldn’t wear it before 16th century at first place.

Written sources from 17th centuries shows that belted plaid was universal outfit of Scottish highlanders. It was a very long piece of material cause it led from knees, to tail and on arms. It was not sawn, just a piece of long, strong and thick material. But when this plaid became present kilt?

First mentions about sewing kilts (not exactly as they look today) comes from 1792. Now this two hundreds year old piece of cloth belongs to Scottish Tartan Society. It is not exactly the same as we have today but it is sure that the kilt wasn’t invented by English or Scots – today’s kilt comes from Scottish belted plaid.

If you are interested in kilts you might also like Harris Tweed Jacket – all to find at Highlandstore.com

Wanna sew a kilt? Take these few easy steps and you will have your own simple kilt.

First purchase a tartan, a plaid, woven cloth fabric. The best tartan fabrics are found in Scotland, but a reasonable facsimile can also be purchased in any fabric store in the world.

You will need to know the measurements of the hips and the waist of the person who will be donning your Scottish masterpiece. You will also need to know the length from the hip to the knee. These measurements will determine the size of the tartan you will need to purchase.

Cut the tartan in half. One half will be the front or apron. Sew the hems. Take two pieces the length of the kilt and save them to make your waistband and fringe.

The most difficult part of making a kilt is the heavily pleated back, and this is done by first measuring what is called the sett. Measure the sett from the center of one square to the center of the one adjacent to it to determine the sett length. Make the part of the pleat that you do not see that is folded under the same size as the space between the pleats. Iron down the pleats with a hot iron.

Take one of the strips you saved and sew it to the length of the apron. Cut the vertical threads to unravel them to make the fringe and attach to the apron. Sew the fronts and backs together, hem the piece you saved for the waistband and sew the waistband around them. You have now created a simple kilt.

Fashion trends come and go- season in and season out- new colors, styles and fabrics find their way into department stores and boutiques. Before you head to choose your new wardrobe of fall fashions, you need to know what’s hot and what’s not. One popular look for fall is plaid. Before you think that may be too much for you, here are some options to sneak this hot fall had into your wardrobe (without looking like a little school girl).

You don’t have to be part of a clan or play the bagpipes to wear plaid. And, this year’s fall fashions have laid in all colors – not just the traditional red and green. You can get black and white, pink and black, purple and white- think of a color combination and you’ll find it. Patterns are popular in all sizes too. Small or large, you can choose the pattern that looks best on you.

In outerwear, plaid coats are hot right now. Pair a checkered pea coat or blazer with a turtleneck. If that’s too much, drape a tartan scarf around a solid coat or wrap it around your waist for a belt. There’s also the classic pleated mini that looks great with solid opaque tights and some ankle boots, which are in fashion this fall too. Pair a plaid jumper with a solid turtleneck and opaque tights. There are so many options available to you with this trend because it is such a classic look.

Seek out tartans in some of the hot colors for fall fashions and you’ll be killing two fashion birds with one stone. Colors like burnt orange and shitake, yes think the color of the mushroom, are hot this fall and make a great checkered combination. Red and mustard yellow are showing up in department stores, but purple, in various shades, is the “it” color for fall. If the bold colors are not quite ‘You’, go with a classic black and white combination and add red accessories for color.

If you’re afraid to go with a skirt or top in plaid, you can still be a part of the fall fashions trend with checkered accessories. Throw a scarf with check patterns around your neck – you can get silk, cashmere or wool depending on how dressy you want to look. Another option is a fun handbag. Big or small, a plaid handbag adds a nice touch to an outfit. You can even get plaid pumps or heels. Of course, you want to pair your pumps, handbag and scarf with basic solid colors. Too many patterns are too much for the eyes.

Whether you shop at the department stores, discount retailers or on-line, you should be able to find the perfect piece of checkered clothing. It’s a classic that goes great with solids, dressy or casual- just avoid the head to toe look. It’s easy to follow the latest fashion trends and it doesn’t have to break your bank. Pick one look that you love and work a plaid piece into it- shoes, handbag, skirt, etc. Because fall fashions are always changing, you don’t need a closet full of tartans. Go with the basics and jazz it up with a little plaid. You’ll be looking pretty in plaid and in style. And not only in a kilt!

By: Andrew Stratton

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

One popular look for this fall is plaids. Add a piece of plaid in your wardrobe and get fashionable this season.The Uber Shop offers great discount mens apparel childrens clothes, womens fashions and more. Find more details at www.theubershop.com.

One of the main problems I saw was the fact that kilts were being old for £20 or less. Well it doesn’t take a genius to work out that these are not exactly the real deal when a normal kilt can cost anything from £250 upwards. There is a place for all sorts of products in the world but I see a lot more underlying problems with these garments and those like them and I would like to discuss them with you further.

Firstly, I would like to describe an authentic Scottish kilt. As there are many professional kiltmakers in Scotland obviously slight manufacturing differences will exist between them. What I am describing is a “standard” type of traditional Scottish kilt that has been manufactured by tradesmen throughout the centuries. A Scottish kilt is normally made from a minimum of 8 yards of cloth which is usually either a medium weight or a heavy weight cloth. Each pleat is individually stitched so that it remains in position. Each kilt is hand-stitched. This amount of cloth, the cloth weight and the fact that the pleats are stitched in position is where the distinctive “swing of a kilt comes from and distinguishes it from a ladies skirt.

The £20 kilts differ drastically from this. For a start they are made from cloth that you can just about literally spit through. In my opinion (because they never actually say on them) they are made from 5 or 6oz cloth which in itself is rough and badly made. They tale in about 3 yards of cloth and they have very few pleats and the pleats are not very deep. This basically leads them to “swing” like a ladies skirt and the pleats to hang incorrectly.

Secondly, I would like to discuss the fact that all REAL kilts are made to measure. It is nearly physically impossible to get a kilt to fit you off of the peg. People are very different sizes and it takes three measurements to fit you for a kilt. The measurements are waist (around the belly button), hip/seat (around the largest part of the buttock) and length. With these “off the peg” messes there is NO WAY that they will have all of your measurements correct. If the waist is to small people have the tendency to put them down a bit which makes the length wrong and it hangs at the wrong part of your seat. If the waist is too big they will tighten it too much and the front of the kilt will be in the wrong place and the kilt will be “squint”. If the hip of your kilt is wrong your seat will stick out of the back making you look like you have a shelf or it will sag at the back and the back of the kilt will be further down than the front looking very silly. The third measurement is length and I don’t really need to discuss this as if it is too long it looks as if you are to small for your kilt and if it is too short it looks like a badly fitting dress.

A hand made Scottish kilt will fit you perfectly and you will be proud to wear a wonderful garment.

All that is left to be said is that if you think that a kilt worth £20 and a kilt worth £300 are of the same quality well then much of what I have said has gone over your head. There is nothing wrong with a £20 kilt if you want to look silly but that is your choice. They are NOT good enough if you wish to wear your national dress to a formal occasion. At these occasions, amongst all the other properly made kilts, yours will look out of place. You may as well wear a “C U Jimmy” hat with it and be done.

If you need a kilt for your wedding or something similar it would be my advice for you to purchase a REAL one but of course the choice is up to you. Don’t be afraid to ask your retailer where your kilt comes from. If it were me I would ask 1) Is this a stock item or will it be made to measure? 2) Where will the kilt be manufactured? 3) Where was the cloth that the kilt will be made from manufactured? 4) How much cloth will go into the making of the kilt? 5) How many pleats will be in the back of the kilt? 6) What are the specifications of the kilt? (buckles, belts etc) 7) How is the kilt pleated? What sett is being used for the cloth and what is the sett size? These are questions that any reasonable retailer will be able to answer and will do so willingly as they have nothing to hide.

I have had many calls of the years form people who have bought inferior kilts. The kilts have either fallen apart or they need something to go with it like a plaid or something similar. We can very rarely match the tartans as the patterns and colours are wrong. If you buy a proper traditional kilt you will be able to mix and match for years to come and you will also be able to hand your kilt down for future generations to use as it will still be good as the day it was made if properly taken care of.

Good luck with your kilt hunting and please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us if we can help as we would be pleased to do so. We CAN answer all your questions including those that we have mentioned about anything that we sell.

A h-uile là sona dhuibh ’s gun là idir dona dhuibh
(May all your days be happy ones)

By: Sreve Dickson

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Kilts – From Scotland, Made From Scottish Cloth By Scottish kiltmakers. The real thing, no imitations.