Figure 1.--This Scottish boy looks to have been photographed with his sister in the 1950s. He wears his kilt with white socks and strap sandals.

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. I 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. S

Schoolwear

Kilts were still seen at schools, but were normally 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. In his case, the village school in the early 1950s had three boys, including him, who were regularly kilted out of a school population of about 60 children. About 30 of whom would be boys so about 10 percent in this case. Another 6 boys wore kilts some of the time, say for Sunday wear or special occassions. Thismay have varied by region. Kilts were probably more common in the Highlands. We note the Pitcalnie School in the northern Highlands during 1957. Aboout half of the boys wear kilts. We also see boys at private schools wearing kilts, such as Scotus Academy in the 1960s. At secondary school there were only about 10 kilties out of a school population of about 400, of whom 200 would be boys so only 5 percent and reducing in the senior forms. At university there were also some kilties but harder to quantify. Some areas of Scotland had higher percentages and some lower. If there were a critical mass of kilted boys other boys were less resistant to the idea of kilt wearing and mothers even more keen tosend their sons out this way. Financial means also played a part since kilts by te 1950s were expensive.

Cost

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. Today the kilt is a realtively costly garment. The cost of the kilt in the 20th Century appears to have necesitated that, for the most part, it be reserved primarily for dress occasions. Many Scottish prep schools in fact had strict rules how the boys should no wear their kilts for rough play or activites like art where they might get dirty. That said, the kilt was worn by Scouts--but again we believe primarily for dress events--not camping. A Scottish reader takes issue with HBC's comments concerning the cost of the kilt. He insists, "You make several references to the cost or value of the kilt, thuis making it too expensive for general use. This is a wrong assumption, as the cost of outfitting a boy in the 1940s, 50s and 60s was found to be considerably less than trousers. A kilt when made was so constructed at the waist that there was at least 3 years if not 4 years growth allowed for. In that period of time a boy would go through several pairs of trousers." This is a fair point, but HBC still believes that schools and mothers would not take kindly to a boy getting his kilt dirty with rough wear. Part of the problem of course is that a kilt can not be easily and inexpensively launderd.

Scouts

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. Scottish Cubs are now rarely seen in kilts. Scouts are one of the activities where kilts are worn. Unlike other asctivities this does not seem to have cahnaged over time and Scottish kilts do still wear kilts. The kilts are not, however worn for activities, but rather as a dress occasion for special events or public appearances. Given the cost of the kilt, it is not appropriate for normal Scouting activities.

Casual Wear

Some Scottish boys before World War II (1939-45) appear to have worn kilts for casual wear. I 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.

Dresswear

While the kilt as casual wear declined after World War II, it continued to be worn as dress wear. Some boys from middle class or affluent families had kilts that they would wear for occasions like church or family gatherings. I do not know how common wearing kilts for such occasions is or how it has varied during the late 20th century. When worn for events like church it is almost always with a tweed jacket. Formal events may require a black jacket.

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[Scottish boys clothing] [Scottish school uniform]
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[Irish kilts] [Irish boys clothing] [Irish step dancing]
[Greek kilts] [Kilt suits]

Created: January 16, 2002
Last updated: 3:13 AM 9/28/2005