Figure 1.--The kilt today is most associated with Scotland. This Scottish boy wears full Highlands regalia. Many Scottish boys wore more casual kilt outfits.

The kilt as we know it today has ancient origins. It is generally associated today with Scotland or the Gaelic peoples of the British Isles and Normandy. The kilts use as a style of boys' clothing is much more recent in origin. The kilt has been worn in different socities anf through different periods of history. It is the Gaelic, especially Scottish kilt that is best known to us, but it is not the only kilt worn in modern times. The kilt was traditional wear in several countries and regions. After it was opularized as boys' wear by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert in the 1840s, the kilt spread to many other countries, especially the United States, but it was also worn by boys in affluent European families--including France and Germany.

Australia

Australian boys do not appear to have widely worn kilts. The kilt was, however, a dressup outfit for younger boys in the 19th century. There was, however, a substantial Irish and Scottish migration to New Zealand and many Kiwis trace their ancestry back to both countries. Thus many schools have pipe bands and there are both Highland gatherings in which kilts are worn. There are also Irish Feises in which kilted dancers perform.

Canada

There is a substantial cottish influence in Canada. The Mritime Provinces, especially Nov Scotia have the most obvious Scottish influence, but even French Montreal has significnt Scottish influence. One report indivates that at least some boys in Nova Scotia wore kilts during the 19th century. This appears to have been the case for sone boys whose fathers were soldiers in St. Johns. HBC does not know, however, how common this was, either for soldiers' families or for the population in general. We note stores at the turn of the 20th century were offering essentially the same styles as Ametican stores, including kilt suits, fancy blouses, and Fauntleroy suits.

England

The kilt is generally associated today with Scotland or the Gaelic peoples of the British Isles and Normandy. The kilts use as a style of boys' clothing is much more recent in origin. In the British Isles, the kilt is mostly associated with Scotland and to a lesser extent Ireland. Boys in England itself, however, also occasuinally wore kilts, especially after Queen Victorian began dressing the princes in Highland kilts during the 1840s. The full extent to which boys wore kilts is somewhat difficult to determine. Available photographs often do not indicate who the boy is or where he is from. Thus it is difficilt to determine if it is an English or Scottish boy involved.

Egypt

The ancient Egyptians wore a kilt-like garment. Of course it was not a wool plaid garment, but rather a white linnen garment.

France

After Queen Victoria popularized the kilt as appropriate boys' wear in the 1840s, fashionable French mothers sometimes dressed their boys in kilts. It was not a widely popular style, but some French boys did wear kilts. French boys wore both Scottish (tartan) styled dresses and complete Highland kilt outfits. This was primarily in the mid-19th century. French boys in the in the late 19th century rarely wore kilts and almost never in the 20th century.

Germany

We have not noted German boys wearing Highland kilts. We have noted boys in the late 19th centuiry wearing skirts looking rather like kilts. We have also noted boys wearing kilt suits, especially sailor kilts. These were worn by younger boys instead of dresses. We are not sure yet how common this was.

Greece

Kilts of various styles have been worn in modern Greece. The styles varied widely in different regions of Greece. The most famous is a white which has become the ceremonial uniform of Greek soldiers. The Greek kilt, however, never was adopted as a style for boys' clothing.

Ireland

The Gaelic people of Ireland, like those of Scotland, wore kilts. There were many similarities, although the Irish never adopted the tartan styles popular in Scotland. The Irish kilt was not popularized as a style for boys' clothing. It is still worn in Ireland, primarily for pipe bands and step dancing, but much less commonly than in Scotland.

New Zealand

New Zealand boys do not appear to have widely worn kilts. The kilt was, however, a dressup outfit for younger boys in the 19th century. There was, however, a substantial Irish and Scottish migration to New Zealand and many Kiwis trace their ancestry back to both countries. Thus many schools have pipe bands and there are both Highland gatherings in which kilts are worn. There are also Irish Feises in which kilted dancers perform.

Normandy

I have no information here yet, but am looking for some.

Scotland

It is the Scottish kilt that is best known worldwide. No where is the kilt still worn so extensivly by pipers, dancers, school children, boy scouts, weddings, at a variety of public occasions, church attendance, Highland gatherings, and on many other occasions. And it was the Scottish kilt that was adopted by Queen Victoria as a style for boys clothing that eventually influenced boys clothing in America. I am not sure, however, just how extenively the kilt was worn by Scottish boys in the 19th and early 20th Centuries. The kilt oday is not commonly worn, except as part od private school uniforms, Scout uniforms, and dress clothes for church or other formal events.

Figure 2.--American boys wore kilts too. This little American boy (New York) wears a Fauntleroy jacket, ruffled collar, and large bow with his kilt. Not that he does not wear a sporran, a popular accessory in Britain that was virtually unknown in America.

Spain

The north-western part of Spain, Galicia, has a tradtion of kilts as well. This is because it was originally settled by the Celts.

The United States

Actual Scottish kilts were not extensively worn in America. Some wealthy American families like the Rossevelts did dress their boys in kilts complete with sporrans. This was most common in the late 19th Century, but Malcolmn Forbes was dressing his boys in kilts even in the 1950s. His son and presidential candidate, Steve Forbes disn't like it one little bit. Kilts are seen in American at Highland gatherings and other ethic events. While few American boys in the 19th Century wore proper Scottish kilts with Highland regalia, many more boys wore the kilt suits that were popular in the late 19th Century. American mothers used the kilt suit as an intermediate step between dresses and outfits with kneepants, such as Fauntleroy suits and sailor suits. These mothers were not yet ready to fully breech their sons, but felt that they were becoming to old to still wear dresses.

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Created: February 25, 1999
Last updated: July 20, 2003