Figure 1.-- This CDV portrait shows an unidentified boy wearing a kilt suit with a bold pattern. He looks to be about 5 years old. He has a four-piece plaid suit with a matching vest and knee pants. The knee pants were rather unusual. As if the plaid was not enough, mother has added boldy striped stockings. This suggests the 1870s to us. It looks like he is holding a small whip. Notice that there is something on the table to his right. We thought it might be a hat, but we are not sure. The photographers were the Slee Bros. in Po'keepsie, now spelled Poughkeepsie, New York. The negative number was 29937.

We note a range of fabric patterns used for kilt suits in America. We note both patterns and flat or solid colored fabrics bein used. We also note many patterns. Plaid patterns were very common becuse of the association with Scottish kilts. Plaid material were often used for kilt suits. This is a little difficult to determine from the photographic records because they were often nmuted plaids. We note some bright plaids, but the muted plaids were much more common. We note very few patterns other than plaid. While there was not a large diversity in the type of patterns, there certainly were many different plaid patterns, including bold, medium, and muted. Some of the bold patterns are striking. And some mothers even added striped stockings. Some of the plaid patterns were so muted that they appear to be dark solid patterns in the portraits. These dark muted ptterns would only show in a closeup of the suit. Some kilt suits were done in flat or solid-colored material. Unfortunately the black and white photgrapht of the day also provide little information as to the colors. We note, however, a wide range of shades from black (often velvet) to white and all shades in between. Some of the flat fabrics were done as very plain kilt suits/. Others has a variety of detailing such as stripes to decorate the kilt suit. This was especially the case for kilt suits done with sailor styling. The flat fabric was also commonly used in Fauntleroy kilt suits.

Pattern Fabric

We also note many patterns. Plaid patterns were very common becuse of the association with Scottish kilts. Plaid material were often used for kilt suits. This include not only the jacket and kilt/skirt, but also the vest (waistcoat). And in some cases the knee pants that might be worn with the kilt suit (figure 1). One might say a full does of plaid that even our Scottish readers might envy. This is a little difficult to determine from the photographic records because the kilt suits were oten dome in muted plaids. We note some bright plaids, but the muted plaids were much more common. We note very few patterns other than plaid. While there was not a large diversity in the type of patterns, there certainly were many different plaid patterns, including bold, medium, and muted. Some of the bold patterns are striking. And some mothers even added striped stockings. Some of the plaid patterns were so muted that they appear to be dark solid patterns in the portraits. These dark muted ptterns would only show in a closeup of the suit.

Flat Fabric

Some kilt suits were done in flat or solid-colored material. We notice quite a number of these suits. Unfortunately the black and white photgrapht of the day also provide little information as to the colors. We note, however, a wide range of shades from black (often velvet) to white and all shades in between. Some of the flat fabrics were done as very plain kilt suits/. Others has a variety of detailing such as stripes to decorate the kilt suit. This was especially the case for kilt suits done with sailor styling. The flat fabric, usually velvet, was also commonly used in Fauntleroy kilt suits. We note a few Fauntleroy kilts with flat fabric jackets and plaid kilts.

Created: 7:11 PM 12/22/2008
Last updated: 7:16 AM 5/18/2017