The ancient Celts and Picts had worn sheepskins, or coarse woven blankets of striped material which were thrown over the shoulder and held by a wooden pin. Under this cloak men wore a long-sleeved tunic or shirt reaching to above the knee; truis or breeches might also be worn. Women wore a similar tunic without sleeves. In certain districts, the pattern of the stripes or colours in the cloak became habitual, so that a man's home could be told from the look of his cloth. In time the distinctive patterns became known as tartan, from the old Gaelic Tuar, colour and Tan, district.

Men did not wear shoes or stockings, except in winter; stockings, if they were worn at all, were made of the same woven material as the plaid; the sporran or pouch was a plain bag of goatskin. Winter shoes were untreated animal skins wrapped around the foot and held in place with thongs, and shoes cut to the shape of the foot did not appear until the 17th century. Men wore their hair long - to the shoulder - with the round bonnet which had been their traditional headgear since Roman times.

The original ‘kilt’was a piece of tartan cloth, two yards broad and four long, which was drawn round the waist in nicely adjusted folds, and tightly buckled with a belt. The lower part came down to the knees in much the same manner as the modern kilt, while the upper part was drawn up and adjusted to the left shoulder so that the right arm might be perfectly free. This upper part was the plaid, which was used as a covering for the shoulders and body in wet weather; and when the use of both arms was required it was fastened across the brEast with a brooch . A brooch was also used to fasten the plaid on the left shoulder. Sporrans

To attire himself in the belted plaid required on the part of the Highlander no small amount of dexterity. The usual way was to lay it on the floor and, after carefully arranging the folds, to lie down upon it and then buckle it on.

The utility of such a dress in the Highlands is obvious, for the plaid rendered the man indifferent to storms, and prepared to pass a night in the open air in the most inclement weather, while the loose undergarment enabled him to wade rivers or ascend mountains with equal ease. It was thus peculiarly adapted to the warrior, the hunter and the shepherd.

The Highland garb was banned in 1747 (following the Battle of Culloden) when it was ruled that any person who should wear the plaid, filibeg, trews, or shoulder-belts, tartans or parti-coloured stuffs, should be imprisoned six months for the first offence, and on second conviction be transported for seven years.