Did You Ever Wonder Why

**Riverkilt** · 1st November 06, 10:51 PM

Kilts aren't worn with the pleats to the front and the flat aprons to the back.

I'm guessing someone who'd never seen a kilt would choose to wear it that way if given no instruction.

The pleatwork would show to the front for photos, with the face. When we look at kilt pictures we really wanna see the pleatwork.

With the aprons to the back we'd have two layers of soft wool to sit on for padding and warmth. We wouldn't have to worry about wrinkling the pleats.

Guess our ancestors gave that all up centuries ago for the swish factor when walking....

Ron

**davedove** · 2nd November 06, 04:43 AM

One thing we always have to remember is that when the pleated kilt was being developed, the Scots didn't sit around as much as we do these days, there was just too much work to do. Therefore wrinkling the pleats because you sit on them was not a major problem, and if they did wrinkle they weren't too concerned. Remember the common Scot wasn't worried about fashion.

Now, the pleats are there to allow freedom of movement (think of women's skirts and how tight they can be without pleats). Why the pleats are only in the back I can't say.

**Woodsheal** · 2nd November 06, 05:05 AM

Actually, the early depictions of kilts (both "great" and "wee") show pleating around the entire circumference, not just in back. So, the flat aprons in front are a later development....

**Tartan Hiker** · 2nd November 06, 06:11 AM

Certainly the carefully pressed knife pleats, and box pleat edges, are a recent development as well. If you didn't establish those sharp edges, you'd never notice if it was wrinkled or not.

**Kilted KT** · 2nd November 06, 07:38 AM

Originally Posted by Riverkilt

With the aprons to the back we'd have two layers of soft wool to sit on for padding and warmth. We wouldn't have to worry about wrinkling the pleats.

Guess our ancestors gave that all up centuries ago for the swish factor when walking....

Ron

with any tank, wouldn't there be many more layers to sit on with the pleats in the back, especially with pleats as deep as five inches?

**switchblade5984** · 2nd November 06, 10:21 AM

i tried puting it on backwards

it just doesnt work for me!

besides with the buckles it just cant be put on properly!

**Blu (Ontario)** · 2nd November 06, 02:07 PM

In the "Bizarro" universe, kilts are suppose to be worn backwards.

No doubt, they think we've got it backwards!

**bunchdescendant** · 2nd November 06, 07:17 PM

Originally Posted by Blu (Ontario)

In the "Bizarro" universe, kilts are suppose to be worn backwards.

No doubt, they think we've got it backwards!

Thanks, Blu....

Now I gotta clean soda pop off the monitor! LOL!!

And I thought I read too many Superman comics as a kid......

Ray

**davezero** · 3rd November 06, 10:46 AM

Originally Posted by Kilted KT

with any tank, wouldn't there be many more layers to sit on with the pleats in the back, especially with pleats as deep as five inches?

He's got a point there. I find that my kilts have plenty of pleating for padding when I sit.

**gilmore** · 3rd November 06, 05:11 PM

Originally Posted by Woodsheal

Actually, the early depictions of kilts (both "great" and "wee") show pleating around the entire circumference, not just in back. So, the flat aprons in front are a later development....

And to make matters worse, on my monitor those look like box pleats in that painting. Some one should have told Sir Alexander MacDonald that he was improperly dressed.