ScottisH Dress

The old Highland dress was a piece of tartan two yards wide, and four yards long placed around the wearer’s waist. The upper part was fastened to the wearer’s shoulder with a large pin. Called a belted plaid, it served as a cloak by day and a blanket by night. Today the basic garment is a kilt and is made from four to six yards of wool in the tartan of one’s clan or a general tartan that one likes. The fabric is cut along the center of the fabric with the ends joined making eight yards that are pleated. There is no hem, and the kilt is knee length. Solid color hose with garter flashes is worn along with a horn handled knife worn in the right stocking called a skein dub (ski-andoo). The purse like object worn on a chain or leather strap is called a sporran (spor-ann) and may be constructed of plain leather or fur with metal trim. The day jacket is usually a color to match the tartan with several bone buttons while the evening jacket is black in one of several styles with silver buttons.

Women may wear a tartan skirt of street length during the day with a matching blouse, jacket, sweater or vest. Women do not wear a kilt; but wear a kilted skirt which uses less fabric and fastens on the left while the men’s fasten on the right. Both men and women may wear kilt pins, but women do not wear a sporran. For evening women wear a long-kilted skirt, with a blouse, jacket or sash or an evening gown with a tartan sash over the right shoulder.