What They Don't Say About The Kilt

The kilt, Scottish Highland dress is surrounded by rules and expectations, but who's are they? Scottish history tour guide Bruce Fummey visits a traditional kilt maker and looks at the history and rules of the kilt.

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Scotland History Tours is here for people who want to learn about Scottish history and get ideas for Scottish history tours. I try to make videos which tell you tales from Scotland's past and give you information about key dates in Scottish history and historical places to visit in Scotland. Not all videos are tales from Scotland's history, some of them are about men from Scotland's past or women from Scotland's past. Basically the people who made Scotland. From April 2020 onward I've tried to give ideas for historic days out in Scotland. Essentially these are days out in Scotland for adults who are interested in historical places to visit in Scotland.

As a Scottish history tour guide people ask: Help me plan a Scottish holiday, or help me plan a Scottish vacation if your from the US. So I've tried to give a bit of history, but some places of interest in Scotland as well.

[ScotlandHistoryTours]

Find Marion's the Kilt College at

[elainepencek]

Several years ago, my son (Polish-Greek-German 😂😂) came home and asked me to make him a kilt as he was going to participate in a Highland Games competition. On Saturday. It was Wednesday. I sew a lot, it is a pleated skirt, how hard can it be?? Obviously I knew nothing. So I looked it up to get some hints. Oh my word!!! This is hard! People apprentice for years to learn this skill! My husband said, “Well, you’ve got 2 days.” 😂😩 Late nights, but I did it. No way near professional, but I tried to follow the rules and it came out great. He got a ton of compliments and he is so proud of it. That’s all I care about. Interesting history lesson.

[serenaandme]

My father was an Argyll and Sutherland Highlander. After Dunkirk, a lot of the English regiments were depleted and they decided to take a hundred Argylls and put them in the Royal Artillery. They only agreed to this as long as they kept their kilts and cap badges. They were the regiment that discovered Belsen concentration camp. Dad married an English girl during the war and was married in his uniform with kilt. Fortunately, she was handy with a needle and made kilts for both Dad and myself. In 1962, we migrated to Australia but Dad still wore his kilt to every special occasion. When he died, he was buried in a suit (his choice) so that his kilts could be handed down, first to me and later to his grandson who wore it when he travelled back to Scotland.

[liampaterson]

One of my great-grandfathers was in the Black Watch in WW1 and he asked a sergeant about the kilt's obvious drawbacks in trench warfare. The sergeant's response was 'see when ye raid a trench laddie and ye meet a German? Well y'll both cack yerselves but for you it'll jist fa' oot and then he'll be jumping aboot with his breeks full and then you kin bayonet the bugger.' Not the sort of thing military histories tend to mention...

[randalalansmith]

Basically, the same thing happened to kimono. It was once everyday dress, then banned for a bit, then resurrected as prescribed formal dress for heritage events. Where once you dressed according to your class, you now dress according to occasion.

[ReconstructingHist]

Hi Bruce. I'm a clothing historian and the first article I ever published was titled "The Evolution of the Kilt". I'm not a kilt expert, but I have a great fondness for it. But what I am passionate about is bespoke tailoring and the cottage industry for garment making. Thank you for supporting small makers and encouraging your subscribers to do so also. It's not just good for the small business owners. Bespoke clothing is good for the environment because it reduces waste and clothing lasts longer. And bespoke tailors can rather famously make a hunchback look like a supermodel. So it's good for our self esteem too. Bravo, Bruce. And thank you. Kass McGann of Reconstructing History.

[rosseastman]

I'm from Cornwall, and love visiting Scotland (and Scottish history). While Cornwall has a rich past, somewhat divided from England, Scotland has such a strong feeling of being connected to it's historical and cultural identity. It's fantastic to hear you speak so eloquently and interestingly about this particular subject. Thanks so much!

[kathleenmccrory]

The original kilt was truly a wonder garment. When you wrap yourself in wet wool, the wool produces heat as it dries, at the same time it draws moisture to its own center, keeping you warm and dry. Wool can also keep you cool. Nature's insulator.

[rickmoore]

At 63 I tried on my first " kilt" at a highlands games in Canada . Three and a half years later I have 18 wool kilts including three 4 yd. box pleated kilts . I haven't worn trousers for two years now and probably never will . The first thing I did was educate myself to find out how to wear it as so many people instantly offered advice that I knew didn't have a clue .I have also seen many people on YouTube and various forums that are very " sticky beak " about how someone should wear highland dress . I found my own way that is respectful and looks right and am not apposed to bending the current " rules " . I wish I had started kilting a long time ago but am grateful to Scotland for such a fantastic form of dress that allows an incredible variation in men's fashion that is not possible elsewhere . Thanks for a video that caught me by surprise . I think I owe you another coffee . Cheers Bruce

[Giustina]

This really explains some of the difficulties I had when trying to make my own plaid skirt. After a lot of difficulty finding quality fabric, I ended up hand stitching my own design and hoping I won't offend any Scottish people. I'm happy to hear I probably was on the right track, making a quality garment I'm proud to wear.

[seamasrigh]

Hello Bruce, I have worn the kilt since my mid-twenties, nearly 40 years ago. The basic rule I follow is "It's not a costume. It's in memory and to the honor of my ancestors. If it looks good - do it." Cheers.

[TadeuszCantwell]

Fascinating video. Other YT videos kept talking about anachronistic the kilt was for a certain time period without explaining why. This finally explains how the kilt evolved into it's current form.

[nomansland]

Whatever your country or culture, it’s important to keep traditional dress and customs alive. Love kilt history and such a fan of plaids and tartans.

[iosis]

cheers, Bruce, for making scottish history accessible to more and making it exciting to learn.

[LoveMusic-pdiz]

Your comment about "stack 'em high, sell 'em cheap" is so true and, unfortunately, it is true of most clothing, not just kilts. The demand and respect for bespoke and learning high quality clothing creation at home is shrinking dramatically. There is actually a global glut, mountains of cast-off clothing. Thank you for your educational talk about quality kilts and their history - and for introducing Marion and her classes.

[faithhowe]

Years ago, when my son got into competing in the Highland Games, I made him a kilt in our "family tartan", with no experience or pattern to follow. It would have been much easier with Marion's instruction I'm sure, but it did turn out good. Another interesting video, Thank you.

[lawrencescales]

I found your channel through Tasting History. I’ve been watching it constantly since. Great content and story telling, always insightful! Much love from a fellow tour guide 👍🏼

[allisonshaw]

I wear a tartan sash pinned with a broach as part of my Cherokee regalia as a nod to my father's people, and have worn this to both Native American powwows and Highland/Scots cultural events here in the States. Even met The Shaw at the highland Games in North Carolina and he seemed to appreciate it. All in all, it's been positive and I'm sure someone would correct me were I wearing it wrong.
I like to think that ancestors on both sides feel honored.
As for those Scots in the military, every history I've read spoke of their courage, ferocity, and ability to scare the hell out of the enemy. I remember one comedy skit about the Highland regiments by Billy Connolly where he said that when situation required some bloody balls, you didn't send in a Nigel, you sent in an Angus.

[timesthree]

Many of us hillbillies in the Appalachia, Ozarks, Ouachita mountains still were kilts. Some wear them often, some on special.

[demolama]

One thing I love about USAkilts is that they are more than just a kilt making company and their youtube videos are more than just how to wear a kilt. They talk about history and tradition but also modern practicality and everyday wear. So thanks for this video Bruce. It adds to the discussion of kilts as a practical garment