Why do men wear skirts in Scotland? 5 interesting facts about the kilt

Each of us at least once in our lives has definitely seen the tartan ornament. It is a checkered print consisting of horizontal and vertical stripes. It is often associated with red, green and blue colors. The whole point is that this is how a kilt looks like – the national skirt of Scotland. For several centuries in a row it has been worn by men. Why do they do it? Before the most important match between Scotland and Hungary at UEFA EURO 2024, let’s go into all the details together with an expert.

Fashion researcher, author of the YouTube channel “Myths and confusions in fashion”.

“The kilt is the piece of clothing that proves that the skirt as a closet item is not gendered. It can safely be worn by both women and men. And Scotland is one of the few countries, along with Greece and Fiji, where the military uniform, including the skirt for soldiers, is accepted at the state level. I tell more about the history and interesting facts about the kilt”.

What we will tell about

How did the kilt originate?

If we talk about the history of the kilt, it largely resembles the development of modern skirts, dresses and cloaks. They all originated from ancient Greek tunics and ancient Roman togas. The first prototypes of the kilt were worn by the Celts, the ancestors of modern Scots. It was in the times of the Roman Empire. Even at that time the Celts wore clothes decorated with cells of different colors. They also had voluminous capes. They replaced cloaks.

By the XVI century plaid capes became part of the national dress of the Scots and especially the Highlanders. They were the warlike and freedom-loving inhabitants of the Scottish Highlands. They opposed the subjugation of England, which had been waging wars of conquest since the 13th century. In 1603, the two countries united as a result of the succession of King James VI.

Signalmen, Glasgow Highlanders, 1890s

Interesting facts about the kilt

1. The Highlanders had a clan as their basic social unit. Each clan or alliance of clans came up with its own distinct plaid pattern as a distinctive mark. It is now known to us under the name “Scottish plaid” or tartan.

2. In the 16th century, a kilt was a long plaid draped over the waist. It was comfortable for long marches. It kept warm, dried quickly and replaced a blanket.

In the XVII-XVIII centuries appeared the prototype of the modern kilt – in fact, a skirt. It was the lower part of a cape, belted and decorated with folds. There is a version that this version of the kilt was invented in 1768.

Then the mountaineers were engaged in smelting iron ore. It was hard labor. Mountaineers found it uncomfortable to work in their capes, so the woolen fabric had to be shortened.

Sergeant Major of the Highlanders Argyle, Sutherland, 19th century

The resulting version was called “small”. It became the ancestor of modern military kilts worn by soldiers of the Scottish Army. The “small” kilt is also worn in everyday life.

3. In Scotland, the traditional “Highlander Games” are regularly held. These are sports competitions where participants wear kilts. In them they throw stones, logs, tug-of-war and dance. The main point of these games is to maintain Scottish traditions, music and traditional sports.

Traditional Highland games

4. The sporran is a belt pouch worn in the front of the kilt. Today it is a decorative element, but in the past it had a practical use. It was used to carry small items: coins, food or personal belongings.

5. The most ardent fan of the kilt was designer Alexander McQueen, who had Scottish roots. By the way, he repeatedly used tartan in his collections. One of them had the provocative title “Raped Scotland”. This was a reference to the capture and enslavement of the country by England.

How do celebrities wear the kilt?

Often the kilt is worn by men who want to epathetize the public. In the European and Russian consciousness since the XIX century tightly sits a stereotype that skirts are a female closet item. And wearing these clothes sometimes causes bewilderment. But many celebrities like to experiment with their style and add a kilt to their images.

One of the most famous fans of the “Scottish skirt” is actor Ewan McGregor. At a younger age, he repeatedly appeared at various events in a kilt, combining it with other elements of the closet. McGregor skillfully emphasized his nationality and demonstrated that the skirt can be a fashionable element of a man’s closet.

Ewan McGregor

Samuel L. Jackson was also not left out. He went out in a kilt to various events. The actor combined the skirt with sweaters, boots, high socks and interesting accessories.

Samuel L. Jackson

From the world of music, the kilt was worn by Snoop Dogg. The rapper harmoniously stylized the skirt with a white shirt, black vest and jacket.

Snoop Dogg

Athletes also choose a kilt. One example is the legendary tennis player Roger Federer. He wore a navy blue kilt with a sports shirt and sneakers to a charity match.

Roger Federer

Of course, more often the kilt can be seen on athletes from Scotland. For example, soccer player and coach Alex Ferguson combined the skirt with a classic shirt, jacket, golfers and boots with ties.

Alex Ferguson

Another example is Alli McCoist. The Scottish forward wore a kilt after playing against Norway in the 1998 World Cup. McCoist paired the blue skirt with a white shirt, a cropped jacket, bow-tied golfers and leather shoes.

Alli McCoist

Designer Alexander McQueen didn’t just wear the kilt, he reimagined it. He transformed the traditional Scottish garment into a modern and avant-garde closet element. At his shows and personal outings, McQueen often chose kilts with unusual patterns and materials. This gave him a special zest. The designer also skillfully combined skirts with other elements of clothing, creating harmonious and stylish images.

Alexander McQueen and Sarah Jessica Parker

The kilt is a vivid and recognizable symbol of Scottish culture with a rich history. It has long served as a traditional garment, symbolizing belonging to certain clans. Today, the kilt continues to play an important role in Scottish culture. It is still popular both in its homeland and abroad. In addition, the kilt gives everyone who wears it a special charm and uniqueness.