Figure 4.--Two of these four Scottish boys wear kilts in a photograph probably taken in the 1900s. The other two wear knee pants and long trousers. Their clothes appear to be their every day attire and not dress outfits. A radr has foujd mor informtion about the photograph. It was taken in the early-20th century in Poolewe, at the head of Loch Ewe near Gairloch. Here the climate is warmed by the Gulf Stream.. Only two boys wear kilts, while four wear trousers. This doe not seem to be based on an age detinctiom. Everybody is barefoot. Here we can clearly see that the kilt was the everyday poorer Scottish garment: almost a cloth wrapped around the waist--meaning thzt it was the least expensive way of sressing a boy. his seems to be part of the reason for the grmdnt's p[ersistnce in the Highlnds. the origin of the garment. Our reader writes, "Probably at the time, for a Highlands boy, to own trousers, even torn as some of the boys in the photo, meant family staying a step above the others who were still dressing their boys in kilts."

I 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. I am not sure how kilts were purchased for poor children. A kilt is easier to make than a pair of trousers. I 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.

Extent

I 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, bith 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. One clue comes from the movie Chariots of Fire, a film in which the costuming was extremely well researched. One scene set in Scotland shows many boys going to church in kilts during the years before World War I.

Social Class

We are not yet sure about the social class conventions associated with kilts in Scotland.

Working Class

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. Note that the boys in all of these images wear suit jackets--even the boys from poor families. Note also that the boys have rather shaggy unkempt hair, another factor suggesting that they are poor children. 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. There may have well been other factors involved. I just do not have any historical information at this time explaining the changing patterns

Affluent famiilies

We note studio portraits of boys from affluent families in the early 20th century. A good example is Allan Victor Mackenzie about 1910. We are not sure just where these boys actually wore their kilt outfits.

Sewing at Home

I am not sure how kilts were purchased for poor children. A kilt is easier to make than a pair of trousers. I assume many mothers purchased a measure of material and made the kilt herself. This may have been a relatively inexpensive way of dressing children.

Boys' Attitudes

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. Whether they would have preferred the other common alternative for boys, short pants suits, I do not know. Probably English boys would have preferred the shorts. This may well have been different for Scottish boys. 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 pverty and backwardness.

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Created: January 16, 2002
Last updated: 4:53 PM 1/18/2022