kilts

Kilts are a knee-length, pleated skirt-like garment that forms a core part of traditional Scottish Highland dress. The modern kilt is made from a single length of woolen fabric woven in a tartan pattern, typically about five yards long. The fabric is wrapped around the waist and fastened with a belt; the back contains knife pleats while the front remains flat, creating a distinctive silhouette.

Tartan patterns are central to kilts. Each pattern, or sett, can indicate clan, district, or institutional affiliation, though in contemporary use many patterns are chosen for personal preference. Variants include modern, ancient, or weathered weaves, with some patterns used for ceremonial or formal occasions and others for everyday wear. The kilt is usually worn with a matching belt, sporran (a hanging pouch), hose (knee-length socks), flashes, and ghillie brogues, and is commonly paired with a jacket or waistcoat for formal events.

History and evolution: the modern kilt evolved from the earlier belted plaid, or great kilt, which was a full-length garment. The 18th century saw the Dress Act of 1746 restricting Highland dress, followed by repeal in 1782, which aided a revival of tartan and kilt usage. In the 19th century, royal interest and literary romanticism helped popularize kilts beyond their region of origin, and they became a symbol of Highland identity. Kilts are now worn in formal settings, at Highland games, in military uniforms, and in contemporary civilian fashion.

See also: Highland dress, sporran, tartan, ghillie brogue.