What to wear under your kilt

[Riverkilt]

Got my underkilts at J'Dez too. Think they're long out of business. The Glieberman tricot ones are most optimistic to say one size fits all...scary...maybe they could at least list a maximum and minimum waist size that they fit.

Prefer cotton over nylon

[OC Richard]

In the 1920s and 1930s "kilt drawers" were sold along with kilts by the Scottish kiltmaking firms.

[neloon]

In the 1920s and 1930s "kilt drawers" were sold along with kilts by the Scottish kiltmaking firms.

Actually since the early 19th century, when they became part of officers' uniform, civilian tailors supplied tartan (under)trews automatically - they were just part of what this site would call TCHD. They were required for Court Dress and the records from Balmoral show that all Queen Victoria's gillies and other servants were supplied with them along with their kilts. Such undertrews began to go out of fashion in the 1960s.
The private soldier's practice of wearing nothing was to save laundry on the march but that ceased to apply during WW1 - my father was there! In Scotland nowadays few men wear the kilt with nothing underneath. Those who do tend to be in one of 3 groups
- they are in the "tartan army" i.e. they support Scotland at international football matches. Similarly for rugby.
- they wear the kilt very rarely so this adds frisson to the adventure!
- they follow some variety of minority sexual inclination

Alan

[John_Carrick]

Or they might be visiting Glasgow or Dundee and wary of being found not to be a true Scot.

I wear my kilts so often and maybe for days on end when on holiday. It would be ghastly and unhygienic not to have some kecks on.

[tpa]

I came across this today

http://www.glieberman.com/c352-kilt-liner-nylon-tricot/

This looks to have been designed by someone with no experience of kilt wearing. From the picture, it looks too tight to allow freedom of movement under the kilt and would ride up the thighs if legs were spread apart. You can buy polyester or nylon slips for a lot less and just cut off the frilly bit if need be. You can also cut side slits if need be to ensure freedom of movement.

[thecompaqguy]

This looks to have been designed by someone with no experience of kilt wearing. From the picture, it looks too tight to allow freedom of movement under the kilt and would ride up the thighs if legs were spread apart. You can buy nylon slips for a lot less and just cut off the frilly bit if need be. You can also cut side slits if need be to ensure freedom of movement.

This is what I've been doing. Marks and Spencer have been selling slips in 19 or 23" length, without lace hem, but with a slit at the back (I assume to match up to a vent in a ladies skirt / ease of movement) for less than £5. Either in black, or white, not that it matters... for those wanting to be closer to regimental, it is a useful way to keep the kilt clean as it's more hygienic. Also I've found it stops jokers who "kilt check" you from lifting your pleats suddenly from the back as a final frontier of modesty

[Farmer Jones]

Actually since the early 19th century, when they became part of officers' uniform, civilian tailors supplied tartan (under)trews automatically -
<snip>

Alan

My tailor called them "drawers" in the 1970s.

[Taskr]

aaaahhhhh...Steve... my eyes. Can't unsee that

[OC Richard]

In Scotland nowadays few men wear the kilt with nothing underneath...

- they are in the "tartan army"

- they wear the kilt very rarely so this adds frisson to the adventure!

- they follow some variety of minority sexual inclination

A wonderful summation!

In the pipe band world these people constitute a tiny minority and are viewed as eccentric and/or a bit creepy.

One fellow's antics have got him dis-invited to play with at least two bands.

[huntgathergrow]

Bawbags underwear seems appropriate for the modern day kilty.