Kilt Winter Wear 101 -A Refresher on Jackets and Layers that Work with the Kilt

We've done this topic many times, but hey, enquiring minds need to know!
Don't let the weather EVER stop you from wearing the kilt. Layers are the key to comfort and there are many many options for what looks good and feels good with a kilt. Rocky & Erik run down their go-to jackets and other items for kilted outerwear...even Inverness Capes!
Need some options? Check out our sweaters here:
www.usakilts.com/accessories/...
Tartans in this video:
Rocky: Shaw Ancient
Erik: Scruffy Wallace
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[@Molach101]

For what it's worth - one of the last surviving Gaelic speakers from the part of the Highlands I come from wore a kilt every day (he died about 50-60 years ago), but he was most famous locally for wearing an Inverness Cape. I asked a very old lady who used to have tea with him "Why did he wear an Inverness Cape?" and she said "He was just very well dressed". He also wore a bonnet, bow tie and a huge horsehair or goat hair sporran.

[@marcdougan1954]

Thanks to this video I wore my kilt with my peacoat to our Santa Claus Parade tonight and I got lots of compliments (including from a Scot!)

[@adammcinnes5615]

During the Seven Years' War/French and Indian War, it was reported that the Highland regiments in their kilts faired better than the troops wearing pants in the Canadian winter (leadership had proposed changing their uniforms to trousers when the regiments first arrived in Canada, but it was successfully argued to let them keep their kilts). Here's a quote that I found in Frank Adam's "The Clans, Septs, and Regiments of the Scottish Highlands" that highlights this: "Thanks to our. generous Chief, we were allowed to wear the garb of our fathers, and in the course of six winters showed the doctors that they did not understand our constitutions, for in the coldest winters our men were more healthy than those regiments who wore breeches and warm clothing." There are some other interesting accounts in the chapter on Highland garb of the hardiness and constitution of Highlanders in their kilts, including accounts of where the Highland regiments struggled greatly when forced to wear trousers, and that Highland regiments were often cleaner and in better health than troops in pants, etc.

[@LiqdPT]

Hey, those pipers with Inverness capes are from Simon Fraser University! That's where I went to school. One of my fondest memories is the pipe band playing down the stairs into Convocation Hall at my graduation ceremony.

[@adventureswithsteve2981]

I am from Scotland, many people i see around the Partick area of Glasgow ware Arran jumpers or tweed with kilts

[@hislairdship8961]

My go to for the cold is a good Robt. Mackie balmoral, Barbour Bedale jacket with quilted vest and a Fair Isle sweater. Compression shorts under the kilt when it's extra cold and House of Cheviot shooting socks.

[@maxwellfan55]

Inverness capes. A subject worth its own show. Black cotton Inverness Capes are available, thicker than plastic (I dislike the plastic variety), not as heavy as tweed, but waterproof and highly effective in keeping the heaviest of rain off. The rain literally rolls off so your clothes remain dry, and these capes keep their shape. Store them on a hanger. Highly recommended for your kilt wardrobe, and a great look. I'd also invest in a tweed Inverness Cape for those rare super-cold days, or if you live in the Arctic or Canada!

[@kyledalrymple1987]

One trick that i learned a couple years ago that works is to wear womens sweaters and jackets that look identical to mens because they are shorter in length.

[@rowlandbrant674]

I once saw a guy in Italy skiing in a kilt! Fine until you fall and the snow shoots up inside.

[@melbeasley9762]

The Australian waxed stockman's coat is ideal.

[@TheKiltedAdventurer]

I really like the sweaters. I think I'm going to invest in a couple!

[@adaman-tathair-siorai6555]

I'm happy to roll my pullover under so that the sporran remains free, but I do wear a belt with my pullover. Once I'm indoors and it's hotter than outside, I'll take the pullover off. As to a winter coat - not a jacket - I wear an ankle length Russian military great coat which, while being surprisingly heavy, is waterproof and very warm.

[@aridragonbeard745]

I have one of those coats as well....walking around in it in ~30ºF temps, I was sweating

[@johnlogan6212]

A shorter waxed cloth Barbour jacket goes well with a weathered kilt and boots with a sweater.

[@Theplaided1s]

Walker slater in Edinburgh has some very nice Navy/Sherlock Holmes esque/Inverness cape type coats that look good with a kilt.

[@Baseball_Mickey]

I just LOVE you guys!!! Thanks for the inspiration!!

[@gungho1345]

I have a couple of military style sweaters. Olive green and navy blue. If it's really cold I'll wear my carhardt jacket.

[@rattytattyratnett]

Guernsey fisherman or Aran jumpers look good with the kilt.

[@stephenmcelroy7923]

So tucking in sweaters for us Voluptuous Gentlemen.

[@deeblack9393]

Classic Biker jacket would work as well.

[@distaff2935]

The shorter Filson tin jackets (assuming you can afford it!) would look fantastic. Y'all need to either learn to knit, or marry a knitter. Not that hard a skill, and then you can wear custom sweaters! Gansey style would be an excellent choice. I would also love to see a traditional Fair Isle with the tartan - yes, a bit much for pattern, but it would be gorgeous!

[@travel734]

When I served in a highland regiment, we were issued a greatcoat sometimes referred to as the British Warm. It was wool and very comfortable. Unfortunately with the kilt it was slightly odd. As a result we generally wore a regimental doublet and a wool undershirt. As a civilian, I have a lodencloth coat in olive green. It is great, but the length and the kilt are not quite right. I think that your advice about wearing a peacoat is good.

[@anthonystike6034]

Hey the Great Coat that the Scottish Regiments wear works as well.

[@Cyco-Dude]

59-50 i just wear a hoodie usually. below that really depends. i can get away with the hoodie (american giant heavyweight hoodie) down to 40 with a long-sleeve flannel and balaclava underneath, but 45-30 i usually wear my peacoat. 45 with just a t-shirt (insulated peacoat) or long-sleeve shirt with my non-insulated peacoat. below 30 any style goes out the window; the thermal tights and north face jacket come out with whatever layers are required. i typically wear running shoes as jogging becomes necessary to stay warm.

[@jackalnerf6230]

Got a great kilt for my trip up to Pittsburgh to see my sister. I’m Texan and I can handle negatives when it’s dry like the Midwest but wet AND cold?? Aint never experienced nothin like that until I went to PA. Crazy stuff.

[@timothycampbell495]

I use a USAF MA-36 flight jacket for casual wear.

[@AtTheHomestead]

I wonder if you could to a video about carrying a holster, belt knife or multitool? Oh and I usually wear a hoodie or carhartt jacket with my kilt

[@pageone206]

What about a Barbour jacket? I know they're generally a little longer than waist length but I feel like they should get a "pass" along with the pea coat.

[@sethirwin1610]

Dr. Who scarf!!😊

[@w.reidripley1968]

Any Hogwarts scarf!

[@CroatiaSurvival]

I’m extremely thin and I almost always tuck my sweaters. It makes me not so thin lol

[@relicpathfinder2800]

Carhartt still listed as an American "based" Family owned company.

[@timeastwoodbagpiper]

4:45 have you ever been to Inverness? Or the North of Britain? If it's raining hard enough to wear an Inverness Cape I doubt you are going to get warm... Though I would love wool over plastic any day if finances allow.

[@davidguymon1673]

What about a capote? I'd love to get a tartan capote.

[@la_old_salt2241]

The Historical Emporium carries much more affordable Inverness capes for those who are interested.

[@Themoleman66]

If you guys didn't know you are amazing

[@uncipaws7643]

I have short merino underwear I can wear underneath a kilt to prevent a frozen bum, but I'll still get frozen knees ... so my kilt (not a traditional but utility kilt) is kept with my summer wear.

[@ir1badfrog]

What shirt are you wearing? I really like the look of it. Looks slightly like a highland but without the grommets and string.

[@mattymontana5165]

What's about a dufflecoat, is it acceptable to wear one with a kilt? I think it's a classic but it's not short...

[@redscale82]

Ankle long coats?

[@jackalnerf6230]

Anyone know where to get an Ike jacket? Can’t find any except limited sizes on Etsy pages.

[@w.reidripley1968]

Tailor shop. Surplus Ikes have long dried up. Tailor is spendy, but you've got your choice of fabric. Harris tweed maybe? A Levi jacket has the right length.

[@sevrono]

would it be ok to wear thermal under-layer(tights basically) when working in the snow? boots only get so tall and the snow gets pretty deep here

[@w.reidripley1968]

Deep snow, aye. This very thing is to be found in song: 🎶 I was trekking wi' my chromach Up frae Gretna Green tae Skye But my journey has an element of farce For the calendar has stated It's the middle of July But here I am wi' snow up tae me arse. 🎶 "Leo McGuire's Song" to that parody bait tune "Road To The Isles." So, wossat cromach...? Well, a chromach or a crommack Is a sort of stick or crook Much resembling a kind of country cane The top end where you put your hand May be bent into a crook You may catch yourself a sheep all by your lane. That tune is just too easy...

[@user-hy5hg2fv4s]

Canada wear longjohns!

[@straycat1674]

6 keg abs!

[@redscale82]

Oilskins?

[@charlesdriggers199]

Swinging you say......................................Does your wife know about this? Oh you got me laughing.

[@w.reidripley1968]

...The sort of thing that tempts your wife to squeeze your butt. "...a' in perrrfect workin' order."

[@genesmith6512]

Of the wall question. Where i live lots of people carry firearms. Any suggestions for how to carry. Personally i carry in a cross draw position. Thoughts, and please dont say leave one's protection at home.

[@itsapittie]

The issue in a kilt is that the belt/waistline is higher than in your jeans and that makes it difficult to use the same carry techniques you would otherwise use. My solution was to get a casual kilt designed to wear in the "jeans" position and then use the same belt and holster. In a traditional kilt it's still a quandary. My usual technique is to carry a small, flat pistol in my sporran. This does require a larger sporran than most and I resorted to making my own. I also have leather jackets with a built-in internal pistol pocket and I use that as well. It does mean that if you take off the jacket it's slower to access the pistol. A shoulder holster could work if you're going to wear a jacket but I personally don't like them.

[@timothycampbell495]

A good thigh rig. Only hazard with them is, if "the moment" ever arrives, you'll likely blind the perp as well as any bystanders if you have to make a fast draw... Just sayin.

[@w.reidripley1968]

CCW vest. Some have figured out that belt-carry CCW can indeed be improved upon.

[@la_old_salt2241]

A belly band under a sweater or sweat shirt in the cooler months is an option also.

[@la_old_salt2241]

​@@timothycampbell495That works to your advantage.

[@lowellirish]

No frikkin WAY am I gonna wear a kilt in Northern NH in the dead of winter... HELL NO!! -22F with a 45mph wind bringing it to -40F?!!! Hell NO!!!! JUST NO!!!

[@w.reidripley1968]

Better for 30-40 and damp/wet and brushy. Said to dry out faster and give more ease than clingy damp trousers.