Belted plaid

Typically, a portion of the belted plaid hangs down to about the knees (for men) or ankles (for women) with the rest of the material being wrapped up around the upper body in a variety of ways and pinned or otherwise secured to keep it in place.

The belted plaid consisted of a piece of tartan fabric approximately 4 to 5 yards (3.5 to 4.5 metres) in length and about 50 to 60 inches (130 to 150 centimetres) wide.

In the latter part of the 16th century, some in the Highlands of Scotland began putting a belt around their waist on the outside of the plaid, after first pleating or gathering the fabric.

The latter has become known as tartan, though originally the word referred to the type of cloth used, not the pattern of colours, as it almost exclusively signifies today.

During the years preceding the Battle of Culloden, to the extent that Highlanders wore any kind of kilt-like garment, it was the belted plaid and not the modern tailored kilt.

*The Grant Piper* by Richard Waitt , 1714. The pattern of the piper's belted plaid differs from any modern Grant tartan .

Irish archer wearing kilt and plaid, early 17th century Sweden ^{[

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