Scottish clothing
Reference pages on the garments and accessories of Highland dress, each answering one question and linking to the sources behind it.
These pages cover the clothing itself rather than the tartans. For the cloth, see tartan fabric; for a specific pattern, the tartan library.
Start with the kilts page for the overview of types and construction. The women's kilts page deals with how they differ from men's kilts and from tartan skirts. The caps, pins and belts pages each cover one accessory: what it is, how its styles differ and where it sits in Highland dress.
Every page lists its sources and marks the points the sources do not settle. Where sellers and reference works use a word differently, the page says so instead of choosing one.
Scottish clothingTypes of kilts: traditional, modern, utility and casual comparedHow the main kinds of kilt differ in cloth, pleating and fastening, what pleating to the sett or to the stripe means, and what kiltmakers say about fabric weight.Scottish clothingWomen's kilts: how they differ from men's kilts and tartan skirtsWhat a women's kilt or kilted skirt is, how it differs from a men's kilt and a plain tartan skirt in construction and fit, and what custom says about women wearing kilts.Scottish clothingScottish caps: Balmoral, Glengarry, Tam o' Shanter and flat capFive cap styles that get called a Scottish cap, how to tell them apart by shape and material, and where retailers and sources use the names loosely.Scottish clothingKilt pins: what they do, where they go and how styles differA kilt pin is a small weighted ornament on the outer apron. It does not hold the kilt closed, and it goes through one layer only.Scottish clothingKilt belts and buckles: width, sizing and how they are wornKilt belts are wider than trouser belts and are sized to the kilt, not the trousers. Sources differ on exact width, so this page sets out the range and the reasons.