** Scottish kilts usage: chronology -- 20th centuty








Scottish Kilt Usage: Chronology--20th Century


Figure 1.--

We believe that kilts continued to be worn in the same way as they had in the late 19th Century. Probably more and more poor children began wearing trousers in the new century, but many boys, especially in rural areas still wore inexpensive kilts, often going barefoot as well. In contrast, more affluent boys might wear kilt outfits, both for dresswear or even to go to school. I remember an A.J. Cronin novel set in Scotland and some boys wore kilts to school. This became uncommon, after World War I. Poor Scottish children were increasingly dressed in trousers, usually short trousers after the turn of the century. Even so, the increasing prevelence of photography leave us with many images of boys wearing kilts. The fact that many of the boys have rather tattered clothes or are barefoot, suggest they were poor children. Middle class or affluent families would not have dressed their children in tattered clothes or let them go barefoot. Major changes in kilt usage appear to have occurred after World War I. Scottish boys still wore kilts after World War I, but almost always for special occasions or as part of a uniform. Poor children no longer wore kilts as kilts became increasingly costly. Most Scottish boys, like English boys, wore short pants after the War. Kilts were still worn as part of various uniforms: Cubs and Scouts, Boys' Brigade, pipe bands, private school uniforms, etc. A Scottish source reports that kilt wear by boys became more popular in the 1920s and even more so in the 1930s. This was primarily connected with the growth of the Scout movement. This tradition continues to be fairly wide spread even in the 1990s. Cubs and even more so Scouts very commonly wore kilts. Scottish contributors report that it was quite common for boys to wear kilts to school in the early part of the 20th century. HBC believes that kilts were still commonly worn after World War I, but less so than before the war, especially to state schools. Kilts were much more common at private schools, many of which made a point of keeping up traditions and the children came from families which could afford elaborate uniforms. Much more information is available on kilt wearing during the post-war period. Both written and first hand accounts provide detailed information. Even after World War II, some Scottish mothers still dressed younger boys in kilts. Older boys might also wear kilts for dressup occasions like church. Kilts were generally not worn as everyday wear, but they were not reserved entirely for the boy's best outfit. These kilts not worn for formal events were not worn with all the Higland regalia, such as caps, fancy blouses, jackets, sporrans, and Argyle kneesocks. Kilts were still seen at schools, but were only worn at a small minority of the boys. Many state and fee paying day schools had kilts as an option and many took them up. One HBC contributor reports that about 20 percent of boys at some primary schools in the 1950s might be kilted. The cost of a kilt may have affected how commonly it was worn. HBC is not sure how the cost of a kilt compared with trousers in the 19th century. It may not have been as high relative to trousers as is the case today. Scottish Scouts have continued to wear kilts, at least for formal events. Kilts were not commonly worn in Scotland during the late-20th century, butvthey were occasionaly seen. . We see them worn at some private boarding schools, but only for dress wear on Subnday and special occassions. Scouts but usually not Cubs might wear kilts. We also see them at Highland gatherings. They also might be worn for special events like weddings. These developments van be followed by per pr by decade.

The Early-20th Century (1900-18)

We believe that kilts continued to be worn in the same way as they had in the late 19th Century. Probably more and more poor children began wearing trousers in the new century, but many boys, especially in rural areas still wore inexpensive kilts, often going barefoot as well. In contrast, more affluent boys might wear kilt outfits, both for dresswear or even to go to school. I remember an A.J. Cronin novel set in Scotland and some boys wore kilts to school. This became uncommon, after World War I. Poor Scottish children were increasingly dressed in trousers, usually short trousers after the turn of the century. Even so, the increasing prevelence of photography leave us with many images of boys wearing kilts. The fact that many of the boys have rather tattered clothes or are barefoot, suggest they were poor children. Middle class or affluent families would not have dressed their children in tattered clothes or let them go barefoot. We are not sure how kilts were purchased for poor children. A kilt is easier to make than a pair of trousers. We assume many mothers purchased a measure of material and made the kilt herself. One interesting factor is why Scottish children, especially the poor children, stopped wearing kilts. It is likely that the cost of kilts in comparison to short trousers changed. One reason boys were dress in kilts was that they could be made cheaply. As the cost of trousers came down, poor familys naturally turned to trousers, usually short pants. I have no information about what Scottish boys though about wearing kilts. Of course such attitudes probably varied over time. Presumably the more affluent boys were inbued by their parents to view the kilt as part of their national heritage. The attitude of the poor boys wearing kilts is another question. I have no historical data to confirm this, but I doubt if they saw the kilts as part of their national heritage. Probably many if not most would have preferred trousers and may have viewed the kilt as a symbol of poverty and backwardness.


Figure 4.--Scottish boys once wore kilts on Sunday for church. Scenes like this were once common in villages throughout Scotland. (We notice that the boys appear to have shoulder straps, perhaps for book bags, so they may be on their way to school. This photograph was probably taken in the 1940s or 50s. Today kilts are much kess common, in part because of the high cost of kilts today. Click on the image for a closeup of the boys' kilts.

Inter-War and War Years (1919-45)

Major changes in kilt usage appear to have occurred after World War I. Scottish boys still wore kilts after World War I, but almost always for special occasions or as part of a uniform. Poor children no longer wore kilts as kilts became increasingly costly. Most Scottish boys, like English boys, wore short pants after the War. Kilts were still worn as part of various uniforms: Cubs and Scouts, Boys' Brigade, pipe bands, private school uniforms, etc. A Scottish source reports that kilt wear by boys became more popular in the 1920s and even more so in the 1930s. This was primarily connected with the growth of the Scout movement. This tradition continues to be fairly wide spread even in the 1990s. Cubs and even more so Scouts very commonly wore kilts. Scottish contributors report that it was quite common for boys to wear kilts to school in the early part of the 20th century. HBC believes that kilts were still commonly worn after World War I, but less so than before the war, especially to state schools. Kilts were much more common at private schools, many of which made a point of keeping up traditions and the children came from families which could afford elaborate uniforms. In some cases boys could wear kilts or trousers. Other schools required kilts, but most just required them for dress wear such as church. An affluent Scottish boy might a kilt which he would wear with a tweed jacket for dress occasions. Boys also might wear a kilt to formal occasions like weddings. Until the 1920s, Highland dancing was largely a male preserve. The prevelance of boys dressing in fancy kilts for competitive dancing began to decline in the 1920s. Increasing numbers of girls began to enter the competitons and slowly brgan to dominate.

Post-War Era (1945-69)

Much more information is available on kilt wearing during the post-war period. Both written and first hand accounts provide detailed information. Even after World War II, some Scottish mothers still dressed younger boys in kilts. Older boys might also wear kilts for dressup occasions like church. Kilts were generally not worn as everyday wear, but they were not reserved entirely for the boy's best outfit. These kilts not worn for formal events were not worn with all the Higland regalia, such as caps, fancy blouses, jackets, sporrans, and Argyle kneesocks. Kilts were still seen at schools, but were only worn at a small minority of the boys. Many state and fee paying day schools had kilts as an option and many took them up. One HBC contributor reports that about 20 percent of boys at some primary schools in the 1950s might be kilted. The cost of a kilt may have affected how commonly it was worn. HBC is not sure how the cost of a kilt compared with trousers in the 19th century. It may not have been as high relative to trousers as is the case today. Scottish Scouts have continued to wear kilts, at least for formal events. Some troops insist upon it, some encourage it, while others didn't bother. Some Scottish boys before World War II (1939-45) appear to have worn kilts for casual wear. We believe they were mostly boys from affluent families. They might wear a kilt with a sweater for hiking, looking for eggs (boys use to collect bird eggs), and other activities. This became, however, much less common affter the war. While the kilt as casual wear declined after World War II, it continued to be worn as dress wear.

Late-20th Century (1970-2000)

Kilts were not commonly worn in Scotland during the late-20th century, butvthey were occasionaly seen. . We see them worn at some private boarding schools, but only for dress wear on Subnday and special occassions. Scouts but usually not Cubs might wear kilts. We also see them at Highland gatherings. They also might be worn for special events like weddings.








HBC






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Created: 10:58 PM 9/10/2021
Last updated: 10:58 PM 9/10/2021