The Highland kilt is of course most associated with Scotland. Most of the boys wearing Highland kilts would have been Scottish boys. Many Scottish boys, however, wore plain kilts with out the complete Highland regalia. The black velvet jacket, for example, would have just been worn by boys from affluent families for dress occassions. We have noted boys from several other countries wearing Highland kilts. We have noted images from America, Canada, England, and France. The Higland kilt was probably worn in other countries as well, but not very commonly and we do not yet have confirmation for other countries. In counties other than Scotland boys might be nore likely to wear the dress Highland kilt outfit than a kilt with more ordinary clothes as the kilt was not normally worn in these other countries. An exception here was the kilt suit for younger boys which was especially popular in America.

Figure 1.-- This American boy wearing a Highland was photographed with a friend in 1937.

America

Actual Highland kilt outfits were not very common, although boys from wealthy families like Franklin Roosevelt might wear them. One might think that it was most common for boys with Scottish ancestors. Here we think that economic affluence was probably more important. Roosevely had, for example, Dutch ancestors. It seems that the British fashions were seen as especially suitable by the upper class. As farcas we can tell, American families were simply copying the conventions of the English upper class. While Highland outfits were not very common, they were worn. We even note one Highland outfit that one mother seems to have brought home from London, only with kneepants rather than a kilt. We begin to see American boys wearing these Highland kilts in the 1880s. I'm not sure if they were worn earlier. We continue to see them in the 20th century, but more in connection with Scottish ethic events.

Australia

We note a few Australian boys dressing usp in Highlnd kilts. Our Australian archive, howecer, is very limited, so we do not know how common it was.

Canada

We seem some boys from wealthy families wearing Highland kilts. Scottish ancestry does seem a factor in Canada. We note several formal portraits of boys wearing Highland kilts.

Figure 2.-- This is 8 years old Justinian William Andria Laczkovic who was photographed in 1883 earung a full Highland kilt. Despite the name, he seems to be an English boy from a wealthy family. He tragically fied in 1884. From his name and the name of his father, Constantine, I would suppose that he was likely of East European / Mediterranean descent. Most likely Greek and Hungarian. This goes to show that the Highland outfit in England had nothing to do with Scottish ancestry.

England

English boys somrtimes wore kilts with full Higlands regalia. The English looked down on the Scotts in the 18th century and even had to put down Bonny Prince Charlie's rebellion (1745). The English reprisals were extrodinarily brutal and in fact drove many Scotts to America, where they and their descendents would play an important role in the American Revolution (1776-83). Gradually the English developed a more benign, romantic view of the Scotts as a result of several popular writers. A young English princess was enchanted by some of these books and poems. That pincess was of course Victoria. As far as I know, the English did not dress their boys in kilts until QuennVictoria and Prince Albert began dressing the princes in kilts. We think that such outfits began to become popular with wealthy families by the 1860s. Almost always these were boys from wealthy families. The kilts were worn as dress outfits for formal events. This became fashionable beginning in the mid-19th Century after Queen Victotia and her decendents began dressing the princes in kilts. Of course there were political reasons for the royal family to do this, but some English mothers chose the kilts costumes for their children because the style appealed to them.

France

Ireland

We are not sure if Irish boys wore Hihjland kilts. We think some boys in Northern Ireland (Ulster) may have worn them.

Scotland

Proper Scottish kilts were a separate skirt-like garmet, usually in a tartan material. Boys and men might wear a full, formal Higland kilt outfit or they might wear a more informal outfit. A formal Highland kilt with all the regalia might consist of a Scotts' cap, prerably a Glengary, black jacket, ruffled jabot or Eton collar, kilt, trews, Argyle kneesocks, and broges or buckles shoes. Eton collars were common through the 1920s, but became increasinly less popular durng the 1930s. There were many variations, such as an eagle feather or dirk. Scottish boys wore both Barmoral and Glengary caps with theor kilts. Some fashion experts insist that the Balmoral should not be worn with the kilt. Scottish boys also wore much more informal outfits with kilts. A boy might wear a kilt with a tweed jacket to school or church. Until the 1920s this was almost always with an Eton collar. Eton collars were still common in the 19230s, but had become less so by the 30s. For casual after school activities he might wear his kilt with a warm sweater or other casual clothes.

Created: 2:56 AM 8/1/2007
Last updated: 2:56 AM 8/1/2007