information about tartan COMPLETED

[Jimster]

Agreed .... the studios had lots of props and costumes to choose from

I have one of my lot in a pretty white smock with tatty socks and shoes 

[Viktoria]

 For some strange  reason  when we say someone wore that pleated garment with a big pin at one side we ought to say they wore "the kilt".
---don`t ask me why!  I`m not correcting anyone just remarking on  the strange fact . In the grand scheme of things it matters not one jot or tittle  .I like daft trivia like that.
                                                                         Viktoria.

[danuslave]

I think it comes into the same category as someone "having the Gallic" meaning that they speak Gaelic.

I wonder if it's something to do with the way sentences are constructed in Gaelic?

Linda

[aghadowey]

Technically I think kilts were garments for men only- this doesn't even look like a kilt, more like a tartan skirt.

[Ann Baker]

Kilts for both men and women (tho originally was definitely a male garment)  but this isn't a proper kilt. Has no pleating or buckles

[aghadowey]

I said "kilts were garments for men only- but, of course, now availble for women.

Queen Victoria started a great craze for things Scottish and not surprising an Australian photographer would try to entice his customers with such an outfit for a child's photograph.

[Forfarian]

I think it comes into the same category as someone "having the Gallic" meaning that they speak Gaelic.
I wonder if it's something to do with the way sentences are constructed in Gaelic?

That is exactly what it comes from.

The Gaelic for 'Do you speak Gaelic' (note not Gallic though it does sound like it) is 'Am bheil Gąidhligh agaibh?', which, if literally translated back into English, would be 'Is Gaelic at you?'. This same construction is used to ask, 'Do you have ....?' For example, 'Do you have a house' would be, 'Am bheil tigh agaibh'; literally, 'Is a house at you?'; 'Do you have a television' is 'Am bheil telebhisean agaibh?' and 'Do you have a brother' is 'Am bheil brąthair agaibh?'

[Forfarian]

this isn't a proper kilt.

It doesn't look remotely like a kilt.

[livia]

Thank you all for the additional bits of information. I imagine that great-grandfather, despite establishing himself well in Australia, remained a Scot at heart and wanted his children to know that part of their heritage. If the outfit wasn't from the studio's prop box, great-grandmother probably made it herself.
Happy 2012 to all
Livia