Okay...Here's one out of the blue...NON-Scottish Historical Kilts...

[xman]

The Ancient Egyptian empire spanned thousands of years and many economic classes wore the shendyt. It was ultimately worn several different ways and many people see it as a type of kilt. I would be one who does. I would love to get my hands on some actual specs for a real historical shendyt. Surely there are some surviving somewhere.

[TheOfficialBren]

Thank you, everyone, for your insights. It is awesome to see what you guys have to say regarding this topic. One would certainly not refer to a Fustanella (spelling?), a traditional Greek men's unbifurcated garment, as a kilt. However, personally, the main qualifications of what make kilts stand apart from other unbifurcated garments (pleated, wrap around, intended for males to wear) are certainly met in the shendyt or schenti.

True, there is a wide divergence in the construction and materials but this is to be expected from bronze age tailoring to early modern tailoring. Climate and culture must be considered.

Lava lavas do not qualify as kilts, I agree, nor do sarongs, either.

With regard to the Scottish kilt for which we all have an affinity: There can be only one. ;-)

[TheOfficialBren]

I may be mistaken about this, xman, but I believe Terry Jones from Monty Python wore one after having a tailor reconstruct an approximation of Ancient Egyptian garments. I remember other items being fabricated but I may have seen a shendyt, too. It's been a while.

[sailortats]

The shendyt kilt was worn primarily by royalty and some high officials in ancient Egypt. The common folk wore a slightly different kilt. But like it or not they are referred to as kilts by egyptologists. There is a type of "apron," also worn only by royalty, that is commonly referred to as a sporran that is worn over the kilt.

[jhockin]

as an aside, regarding tartanL

"http://www.tartan.galician.org/history.htm"

[xman]

I may be mistaken about this, xman, but I believe Terry Jones from Monty Python wore one after having a tailor reconstruct an approximation of Ancient Egyptian garments. I remember other items being fabricated but I may have seen a shendyt, too. It's been a while.

Thank-you. That was news to me. Seen here after the four minute mark, it's not really the kilted garment, but something other.

[figheadair]

As a general theme, I think you'll find that fitted leggings, trews, trousers etc came about two principal reasons: horse riding and to a lesser degree, when living in an extremely cold environment i.e. the Arctic. Look at the use of trews in the C18th Highlands and you'll see that it's usually associated with the gentry who would have ridden rather than walked.

[TheOfficialBren]

Ah! Thank you, all, for clearing this up for me. I really appreciate it.

:-)