The Scottish national costume (Highland dress) is a harmonious combination of various details, which makes it very impressive. Ancient traditions are noticeably emphasized by all these details. In addition to the kilt, the national Scottish costume also includes a sporran, a wide belt with a massive plaque, hoses with flushes, a tweed jacket, a beret, a kiltpin and brugs (shoes with long laces). Depending on the event, other details are added or the old ones are changed. Thus, an evening dress suit necessarily includes a fur sporran, an elegant Prince Charlie jacket with a clan tartan blanket thrown over the shoulder, an elegant shirt with a bow tie, and a knife.
Tartan color
Tartan plays a significant role in the appearance of Scottish clothing - it is a Scottish fabric with an ornament of intersecting horizontal and vertical stripes. This word comes from the Gaelic language and means “the color of the area”: for a long time, the width of the stripes and the color of the fabric really determined which area a particular person belonged to. Each clan's national Scottish clothing was decorated with a tartan of a certain color, and it was very important to observe this tradition.
The role of the belt in a Scottish suit
When brave highlanders wore the Great Kilt, it was the kilt bucklesbelt that made it possible to securely fix the fabric around the waist. In the modern interpretation, the belt is no longer such a functional part, but is simply a decoration. The belt plaques often depict the main symbol of Scotland - the thistle or Celtic script; sometimes clan symbols are used.
Sporran as a sign of social status
The sporran is the most important and irreplaceable part of the costume. Walking around in a kilt without a sporran is like having your fly unzipped. Previously, it always testified to the social status of the owner, often decorated with fur, metal, tassels, embossed ornaments and other spectacular decorations. The sporran is worn strictly in front, covering the most vulnerable spot (in times of war, the back wall was additionally reinforced with metal or wood).
In addition, the sporran, according to the Scots, prevents possible weather incidents: for example, it does not allow a strong wind to lift the front hem of the kilt. The main function of a modern sporran is to serve as a convenient bag.
Traditional shoes with perforations
The Scottish national costume also includes traditional leather Ghillie Brogues shoes (brugs) with long laces, which symbolize the ancient garters that replaced shoes for the Celts. Currently, from the ancient Scottish ones, modern shoes have inherited only the name, perforation and the fact that they are made from dense perforated leather, thanks to which they got their name - “brogues”.
The laces are tied in several ways: to the middle of the shin, a knot is formed in front; to the middle of the shin and a nodule on the outside of the shin; at ankle level, knot in front.
Kiltpin - a pin in the shape of a weapon
Scottish clothing also includes such an element as a kilt pin - this is essentially a pin. Details about his appearance in the suit are unknown, only its functional feature and some aspects of manufacturing are known. It is attached to the bottom of the upper apron to weight the edge so that the apron itself does not open when the wind blows.
National Scottish clothing was originally the clothing of warriors, so the kiltpin is most often made in the form of a sword, on the blade or hilt, which depicts Scottish symbols.
Light metals, silver are used for the kiltpin, and sometimes it is decorated with precious or semi-precious stones - such a kiltpin becomes a real work of jewelry art.
Woolen hoses
To keep your kilt from getting cold in winter (and in Scotland there are quite low temperatures), Scottish clothing includes special warm wool leggings that perfectly withstand bad weather. Khoss are most characterized by fine and very dense knitting, although wool is used in combination with nylon to make modern analogues.
Traditional dagger
National Scottish clothing includes another element that may seem unacceptable in a modern costume - a knife (Sgian Dubh ) . Although, after the British banned the carrying of weapons, daggers became more of a decorative adornment, according to tradition, a true highlander must carry a knife on the handle of which is engraved with a thistle flower and set with topaz behind his right stocking.
It should be noted that if a Highlander wore a knife on the inside of his leg, then according to Scottish tradition this meant a declaration of war. Peaceful people always carry a knife on the outside.
National Scottish clothing is a costume, very beautiful, harmonious, unusual in the selection of details, in which it is important to take into account every little detail, because without a hose or kiltpin the costume will cease to be truly Scottish.
Helpful information
In Scotland, English units of measurement are used, and therefore kilt sizes are indicated in inches and yards. The sizes indicated below, under the description of the model, correspond to the waist circumference, at the level of the trouser belt. The equivalent in centimeters must always be given: 1 inch = 2.5 cm 1 yard = 91.4 cm.
Some facts about the Scottish national costume
In a Scottish costume, as in any other national attire, every detail matters. We have collected for you some interesting facts about the highlander costume:
- The color of tartan still signifies belonging to a clan or service. Initially, such color combinations appeared due to the fact that tartan was dyed with natural, vegetable dyes obtained from plants that grew on the territory of the clan.
- A real kilt takes a lot of fabric: from five to eight meters!
- The kilt is exclusively men's clothing for the Highlanders of Scotland; the women's Scottish folk costume looked completely different.
- A Scottish costume does not only consist of a kilt, it includes several important accessories that are needed to be worn correctly.
- Oddly enough, a kilt is very warm clothing, which is suitable even for the harsh usa winter: a high-quality tartan kilt and woolen hose are quite comfortable even in twenty-degree frost.
- In the modern world, wearing a kilt and corresponding accessories is not only decent, but also fashionable: Scottish folk costume has already been worn by movie and show business stars (both Hollywood and usa), members of the ruling family of Great Britain, models, athletes and musicians.
We think the more you know about Scottish costume, the more inspired you'll be when wearing it to an event. This is a truly deep topic that is worth exploring.
Complete your ensemble with traditional accessories like the intricately designed kiltpin and the distinguished Ghillie Brogues shoes. Whether it's a formal occasion or a casual gathering, our authentic attire ensures you stand out with timeless style.
Discover the perfect finishing touches for your kilt ensemble with our exquisite collection of Kilt Buckles, Sporrans, Brogues, Tartan kilts Sporrans, Kilt Pins, and more. Elevate your look with the timeless elegance of our Prince Charlie jackets. Whether you're attending a formal event or celebrating your Celtic roots, our curated selection guarantees authenticity and quality. Shop now and embrace the spirit of Scotland with Liberty Kilts!
