R.R. MacIan prints

[Jock Scot]

Jock,

Blanket statements such as this really need to be put into some kind of historical context. Is your claim that the "common Highlander" never wore the kilt as a matter of course meant to apply to the 1840s? Or to the 1760s? Or to the 1640s? Or to history in general?

I would say, from an historical standpoint, there were definitely times in the Highlands when kilt wearing was more or less the norm. So for the purpose of this type of discussion, we need to more clearly define what we mean by "yesteryear."

Well I certainly have first hand evidence from those that lived in the latter half of the Victorian era that the kilt was not the common attire of the Common Highlander and their first hand view was that for most of the rest of the Victorian period, so for at least a generation further back from the mid Victorian era it was, apparently, also the case.So that covers the period back to about say, the early 1800's.

Before that, we have a third of the 1700's lost to the kilt with proscription, so for a significant chunk of that century the kilt was hardly common attire for anyone! Though, as we know, certain rather better off and well connected Highlanders did "adjust" the rules a tad!

Before that(1746)? Well I have not seen one jot of reliable evidence that the kilt was common attire for the common Highland Scot.

I don't doubt for one second that the kilt(in whatever form) was worn in the Highlands of Scotland, by some people before, during and after, the periods you mention, but common attire? For the common man? I am not convinced on either question.