Kilts have been worn in Scotland since the 16th Century, originally a practical garment to keep men warm in the bitter Scottish weather and known as a Feileadh Mor. It was not until the 17th and 18th Centuries that kilts were worn as a symbol of Scottish identity. Today there are two main styles of kilts available: Traditional and Casual. We are going to take you through what makes them differ from one another and when you should wear each one.
There are three main factors that differentiate the two styles of kilts: price, pleats and weight. The Casual Kilt is made using 4 yards of material and is therefore lightweight and comfortable to wear, the perfect option for attending destination weddings at the beach or in warmer climates. It is also the better alternative if you plan to wear your kilt for activities such as hiking, working or attending social events such as rugby matches or Highland Games. If you are competing in Highland Games or likely to be getting dirty, you may wish to select a machine washable kilt, our polyviscose tartan is a great choice for this. The Casual Kilt is also the cost effective option compared to the Traditional Kilt, because much less fabric is used to make it and the pleats take less time to create. However, if you are looking for a truly authentic Scottish kilt we suggest turning your focus to the Traditional Kilt.
The Traditional Kilt is exactly what is says, made with all the original features including three leather straps, and created using 8 yards of heavyweight wool. The extra material allows for deeper and more densely folded pleats, giving a more dramatic swing when the kilt moves. Made using either 13oz or 16oz tartan, the heavier cloth helps to create the desired pleat design, whether you choose to sett or to stripe. (This is a whole other story - learn more on our blog dedicated to the subject.) The Traditional Kilt sits higher on the waist, roughly a couple of inches above the waistline of most trousers, and can also be worn with a kilt belt. The Traditional Kilt is classed as the more formal style of kilt and would be worn to more formal occasions such as weddings, Burns Supper events or Balls.
The Tartan Insert Pleat Kilt is perfect if you love to do a bit of Scottish Ceilidh Dancing as when the kilt swings the pleats open up to reveal a tartan. A contemporary twist on the Traditional Kilt. A plain colour is chosen for the front apron and outer pleats on the back, and a tartan is selected for the pleats. With 6 plain colours and over 500 tartans to choose from the combinations are endless. The perfect finishing touch to the plain apron on this kilt is our Tartan Sporran.
The Heavyweight Tartan Alternate Pleat Kilt is ideal for you if you don't really like to sway from tradition but you do like to add a modern twist to your outfits. This Kilt is made using a heavyweight 16oz tartan just the same as the Traditional Kilt, but the twist is that a plain colour is inserted between each pleat at the back, with the front apron remaining in tartan. An exciting addition to a Kilt's iconic swing!