We have limited chronolgical information on Scottish boys' clothes, but have begin to develop some basic information. I'm unsure how extensively the kilt was worn by boys in the early 20th century. In particular I do not known how common it was for parents to dress boys in kilts for everyday wear. I think that it was probably not extremely common as the kilt was a more expensive garment than kneepants or short pants. I think that there were some boys dressed in kilts for school and everyday wear before World War I. Although I'd be very interested; in input from our British visitors here. After the War I believe casual wearing of the kilt became less common. Perhaps most common in small Scottish towns. Also it was probably most common in affluent families, especially those particularly concerned with Scottish heritage. There were even some Engglish parents who adopted the Scottish kikt for their boys. We are not talking about the kilt suits commonly worn by British and American boys during the late 19th century. These would be Highland kilts as we now know them. There were major changes in boys clothes during the post-World War II era. Clothes were still quite traditional in the 1940s and early 50s. This began to change in the mid-50s. We suspect television may have been an important factor. Shirts were plain, but more trendy tops appeared in the 1960s. We see many Scottish boys wearing sweaters in the post-World war II period. Short pants and kneesocks were very common in the 1940s anf 50s. We see more boys wearing long pants in the 1960s. Jeans began to become popular in the 1960s, especially with teenagers. Clothes became more colorful and trendy in the late 20th century. We see colorful shirts, including T-shirts. There were colorful shorts for younger boys. Jeans became very popular. Bell-bottoms were a popular 1970s style. Schoolwear continued to be traditional. Trainers became standard wear, although they were discouraged by many schools. Kilts were still not commonly worn. They were adopted by some instituions or worn for special occassions. We note kilts being worn at some Schools.

Early 20th Century (1900-18)

We believe that Scottish boys in the early 20th century dressed much like English boys. We see many boys wearing knee pnts suits. The basic diffeence seems to have been that Scotland was not as prosperous as England. We seem to see more boys going barefoot in Scotkland. than England, although this is a little difficult to quantify using available photographic images. Of course Scotland is known for the kilt. We are unsure how extensively the kilt was worn by Scottish boys in the early 20th century. In particular I do not known how common it was for parents to dress boys in kilts for everyday wear. I think that it was probably not extremely common as the kilt was a more expensive garment than kneepants or short pants. I think that there were some boys dressed in kilts for school and everyday wear before World War I. Although I'd be very interested; in input from our British visitors here. The film Chariots of Fire provides some insights. The costuming for the film was extremely well researche. In it there is a church scene set in Scotland and many of the boys there are wearing kilts. We note an Edinburgh boy wearing a Fauntleroy outfit about 1910. We believe that the kilt was much more common in the Highlands than the Lowlands.

Figure 1.--Some Scottish boys wore kilts for casual wear and to play in. These children in the late 1920s were photographed in their play clothes. A few English mothers besmitted with the alure of Scotland even chose kilts for their boys.

Inter-War and World War II Years (1919-45)

After the War I believe casual wearing of the kilt became less common. Perhaps most common in small Scottish towns. Also it was probably most common in affluent families, especially those particularly concerned with Scottish heritage. There were even some Engglish parents who adopted the Scottish kikt for their boys. We are not talking about the kilt suits commonly worn by British and American boys during the late 19th century. These would be Highland kilts as we now know them.

Post-War Era (1945-69)

There were major changes in boys clothes during the post-World War II era. Clothes were still quite traditional in the 1940s and early 50s. This began to change in the mid-50s. We suspect television may have been an important factor. Shirts were plain, but more trendy tops appeared in the 1960s. We see many Scottish boys wearing sweaters in the post-World war II period. Short pants and kneesocks were very common in the 1940s anf 50s. We see more boys wearing long pants in the 1960s. Jeans began to become popular in the 1960s, especially with teenagers. Schoolwear continued to be traditional. Boys mostly wore sandals and leather shoes in the 1940s and 50s, but we begin to see trainers by the late 1960s. We do not see boys wearing kilts except for spcial occassions. They were also worn at some private schools and by Scouts.

Late 20th Century (1970-99)

Clothes became more colorful and trendy in the late 20th century. We see colorful shirts, including T-shirts. There were colorful shorts for younger boys. Jeans became very popular. Bell-bottoms were a popular 1970s style. Schoolwear continued to be traditional. Trainers became standard wear, although they were discouraged by many schools. As far as we know, the kilt was still used to some ectent as school uniform. Kilts were worn at private schools, but not very commonly at state schools. I know of no schools where the kilt was required as every day wear, although that does not mean that there were not some. Most commonly it was worn as the dress up uniform for church or special occasions. I am not sure about the 1970s, but by the 80s most prep schools diciuraged the boys from wearing the kilt during the school day so as not to spoil them. As far as I know it was normally an option at seconday schools, but not commonly worn. I do know a great deal about the kilt at state schools. I don't think that they were required. I do not know if boys wore kilts to state schools in a voluntary basis. It is likely that Scottish boys for the most part dressed much like English schoolboys. We do note youth groups wearing kilts. The century closed with the restablishment in 1999 of a Scottish Parliament in Eduinburgh after 292 years of union with England.

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Created: 7:15 PM 5/26/2005
Last updated: 6:42 PM 2/10/2009