So what would you say about that image I spotted today when just stepping out of a post office?
The belted plaid had many advantages in the Highland climate and terrain. It allowed freedom of movement, it was warm, the upper half could provide a voluminous cloak against the weather, it dried out quickly and with much less discomfort than trousers and if required it could, by the mere undoing of the belt, provide a very adequate overnight blanketing. The tightly woven wool proved almost completely waterproof, something the lose woven wool of today - is not. When complete freedom of action was required in battle it was easily discarded, and one famous Highland clan battle, that between the Frasers the MacDonalds and Camerons in 1544, is known as Blar-na-Leine, which can be translated as 'Field of the Shirts'. (information in italics via: http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/legends/kilt.htm) So I guess they must have left their dangly bits on a full display to deterriorate a morale of their opponents...
As a kilt has no pockets a Scotsman keeps his mobile phone in a thing called sporran - a leather purse hanging from the waist.
A sgian-dubh, (or small dagger) (pronounced "skian du"- info from Simon) however, is carried in the right hand stocking on all occasions (so beware during an usually legless Scottish wedding when you are amongst the guests and all of a sudden the bride and a photographer are nowhere to be seen during the same time) The kilt is male attire and should never be worn by the ladies, except Highland dancer lassies.
If you ask me if Scotsmen wear any lingerie underneath their skirts ups kilts, they DO NOT - however this information comes courtesy of a secondary source - once Simon's friend, a beautiful lawyer Marina, plucked up some courage and asked this question to a stranger in a shop and he showed her the answer...
P.S. Legless means something that happens to one's head (just like in the illustration) when too much alcohol is consummed. Wearing a kilt is not obligatory.
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