** Welsh kilts Wales boys wear grments clothing types







Welsh Kilts: Types--Kilt Suits



Figure 1.--This CDV portrait shows two unidentfied children, presumably siblings. This one is difficult to assess. The children look to be about 5-8 years old. We think the younger child is a boy because he looks to be wearing a pleated kilt suit. The older child looks to be a girl. She wears a middy blouse and matching skirt. The portrait is undated, but we would guess was taken in the 1870s. The studio was Howell & Adams of Carmarthe. That is a town located on the River Towy inland from the Carmarthen Bay estuary. The children have beach shovels. Carmarthen calls itself the oldest town in Wales

Another type of kilt outfit is the kilt suit, more commonly worn in America than in either Scotland or England. We note a huge number of American boys wearing kilt suits. Many would not consider this a true kilt. We also notice quite a number of English boys wearing kilt suits. The kilt suit was not a chaacteristic Welsh or Scottish garment. It was not inspired by Welsh styles, but primarily English popular fashions. It was just a popular fashion during the second half of the 19th century. We suspect that conventions were very similar in Wales to those in England. The primary difference is that Wales was a relatively poor part of the United Kingdom. This doesn't change the fashions, but does affect the portion of the population which could expensive afford stylish fashions. And kilt suits were worn by upper- and middle class boys. It would have be unusual for working-class boys to wear kilt suits. This of course affects the composition of the photographic record. Other 19th century clothing trends were similar in England and Wales, especially for boys. Some women and girls were still wearing folk styles at the beginning of the 19th century, but that had begun to decline by the mid-19th century. Given our small Welsh archives, however, we can not yet make any valid assessments of Welsh trends and conventions. Thus the images we have found may well be simply a reflection of English fashion trends inspired by Queen Victoria than Celtic-related trend of wearing kilts or other skirted garments in Wales.

Country Trends

Another type of kilt outfit is the kilt suit, more commonly worn in America than in either Scotland or England. We note a huge number of American boys wearing kilt suits. Many would not consider this a true kilt. We also notice quite a number of English boys wearing kilt suits. The kilt suit was not a chaacteristic Welsh or Scottish garment. It was not inspired by Welsh styles, but primarily English popular fashions. It was just a popular fashion during the second half of the 19th century.

Ethnic Complication

Wales borders on Englkand, a much larger, more populace, and richer country. And bedcause both vountries wertr a port of the United Kingdom. Thus there was agreatdeal mof populkation mixing. We go by the vstudio onformation on th CDVs and cabinet cardfs. That of course does not necesarily mean that te families and individuals were Welsh. And this would be especially true of the boys wearing stylish, expensive clothing.

Conventions

We suspect that kilt suit conventions in Wales were very similar to those in England. Other 19th century clothing trends were similar in England and Wales, especially for boys. Some women and girls were still wearing folk styles at the beginning of the 19th century, but that had begun to decline by the mid-19th century. Given our small Welsh archives, however, we can not yet make any valid assessments of Welsh trends and conventions. Thus the images we have found may well be simply a reflection of English fashion trends inspired by Queen Victoria than Celtic-related trend of wearing kilts or other skirted garments in Wales.

Social Class

The primary difference between Wales and England with respect to fashion is that Wales was a relatively poor part of the United Kingdom. This doesn't change the fashions, but does affect the portion of the population which could afford expensive, stylish fashions. Social class is thus an imprtant factor with kilt suits. Kilt suits were worn by upper- and middle class boys. It would have be unusual for working-class boys to wear kilt suits. This of course affects the composition of the photographic record. This was notjustbtrue in Wales, but other countries as well. Given that Wales was a realtively poor part of the United Kingdom, social class would have neen nespecilly important.







HBC






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Created: 12:06 AM 3/1/2019
Last updated: 6:20 PM 4/9/2022