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Scottish boys now dress rather much like boys in England and the rest of the United Kingdom. The Highland kilt is the garment most associated with Scotland. The Scottish kilt as a child's garment is a relatively recent phenomenon. The modern kilt, in fact, dates from only from the 18th century. Highland boys once dressed quite differently commonly wearing kilts. Lowland boys began to adopted English garments much earlier than Highland boys. Today few Scottish boys wear kilts. Boys from affluent families often have kilts and wear them for church or other special occasions. The Scottish caps associated with the kilt were also worn, but we think various styles of flat caps may have been more common. Another garment widely worn in Scotland, because of the climate, is the sweater. Scottish boys like English boys began wearing short trousers in the early 20th century. They were commonly worn by Scottish boys of all ages through the 1950s. Again because of the changeable climate the amoack was another popuar an utilitarian garment.
There are several types of caps that are destinctive to Scotland. They are commonly refrred to as bonnets. They appeared to have been created as military styles. These Scottish caps were associated with and commonly worn with the kilt, but not exclusively. The modt common were balmorals and glengarys. Boys wearing kilts commonly wear one of those two cap styles. There were also various styles of other caps worn by Scottish boys. One style was the flat cap and may actually have been very common.
Another garment widely worn in Scotland, because of the climate, is the sweater. Scotland is known for its woolen goods. Some of the finest sweaters in the world are made in Scotland.
The Highland kilt is the garment most associated with Scotland. The Scottish kilt as a child's garment is a relatively recent phenomenon. The modern kilt, in fact, dates from only
from the 18th century. It's use as a child's garment was largely due to Queen Victoria in the mid-19th century and her infatuation with Scotland. The young Queen, showing the romantic outlook of her younger years, outfitted her sons in flamboyant kilts. I'm not sure if this was actually the Queen'd idea or someone on her staff or even Prince Albert. Nor am I sure weather it was an inovative idea or just a popular fashion the Queen the style--at least among mothers. And it was the mothers that for generations had the virtual absolute disgression in choosing their sons clothes--usually with no consideration of the boys' opinions. The result was a long-lasting dress style for generations of British and American boys. Several variants of the kilts introduced by the Queen developed. The kilt suit was the most ubiqutous. Other styles in which kilt suits were made include sailor and Fauntleroy suits. While kilt suits have passed from the boys' fashion scene, the Scottish kilt continues to be worn today by schoolboys, Scouts, dancers, pipe bands, and participants at various formal occasions such as weddings where ring bearers, attendants, and even the groom might wear kilt.
Younger Scottish boys at the turn of the century wore tunics as was common in England and America. The style of tunic is somewhat different than was common in America. HBC know less about tunic styles in England. We do not know how common tunics were in Scotland.
We do not yet have details about suits in Scotland. We do have a portrait of an Edinburgh boy wearing a Fauntleroy outfit, but with a cape rather than a jacket.
We seeScottish boys wearing generally small bow ties with Etonb collars. A good example is the Lennox boys.
HBC does not yet have a good assessment of how common kilts as opposed to trousers were worn in the 19th century. Nor do we know how it varied overtime. We believe that trousers such as knickers and kneepants were more common, especually in the Lowland cities and towns, but we have no confirmation of this. By the 20th century, trousrs were mich more common than kilts, although on the many rural villages before World War II many boys did wear the kilt, especially for church and other special occassions. Still pants were much more common for day to day wear and for school. Some of the Scottish boys like English boys began wearing short trousers in the early 20th century. They were commonly worn by Scottish boys of all ages through the 1950s. Scotland being a more traditional area of the U.K., new trends such as loing pants for younger boys and jeans were slower to gtake hold than in England.
Again because of the changeable climate the amoack was another popuar an utilitarian garment.
We note Scottish boys wearing a variety of hisiery, including long stockings and kneescocks. Scotland was a depressed area of Britain and we see a lot of children going barefoot, especially before Wotld War I. We note boys at a Glasgow school wearing long stockings and going barefoot. Ankle socks became increasigly common after World War II when long trousers began to become more common..
Many Scottish boys like English boys beginning in the 1920s wore closed-toe sandals, both for school and for play. We see them being commonly worn at school. both the "T"-strap style and the double-strap style. The popularity began to decline in the 1960s after sneakers began to become increasingly popular. Sandals were worn both with and without socks. The most popular style was the standard "T" bar strap. Scotland with all of its rain creates ideal conditions for the Wellington book oe "wellies" as they are affectionately known in England and Scotland. We note quite a few images of barefoot Scootish children in the early 20th century. These children are working-class children. We notice both street children and children at school who are barefoot. A good example is the Queen Mary Street Public School in 1916. A French reade writes, "Quite strange to see barefoot children. That could shock people here in France. I think it is a cultural question. Even in the poor villages in France, the children in this case were wearing clogs." HBC is unsure how common clogs were in Scotland.
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