How NOT to wear a kilt

[User]

I totally agree. From a practical perspective, it would make far more sense to put pleats in front.

Unfortunately tradition was done the other way

I assume it's because the tailored kilt descended from the great kilt, and it would be impractical to have pleats in front on a great kilt. Also, as yardage increases pleats in front make less sense. I suspect most people wearing a kilt backward are doing so with a box pleated or low yardage kilt.

[OC Richard]

I assume it's because the tailored kilt descended from the great kilt

Exactly so.

The pleated portion of the breacan-an-feileadh can only be as wide as the width your backside can hold in place when you lay on it.

So sewing a kilt with pleats in back replicates the appearance that people were accustomed to.

When the army switched from the breacan-an-feileadh to the little kilt for Full Dress they also issued a plaid which was belted around the waist and tied to the left shoulder with a ribbon to completely replicate the appearance of the breacan-an-feileadh.

On the other hand there are 18th century portraits of men in early little kilts which are pleated all around, so it's an accident of history, I suppose, that that didn't win out in the end.

Another accident of history, perhaps, is why sporrans didn't continue to be worn attached to the waistbelt as they originally were, but acquired their own dedicated narrow belt.