Tartan Plaid Shorts

Ordinary shorts cut from woven tartan rather than plain cloth, usually to just above the knee. They cover the ground between a kilt and plain summer shorts, so they suit warm weather Highland events, festivals, holidays and casual wear where a kilt would be too much and plain shorts too little.

At a casual outdoor event, a festival or a games day as a spectator, yes. At anything formal, no, and they will read as a substitute rather than a choice. If you want Highland dress in heat, a cotton utility kilt is the better answer, since it ventilates better than shorts do.

A plain tee or polo in one colour taken from the sett, and trainers or boat shoes. Nothing patterned on top, since one tartan is the limit. Keep the top slightly loose, because a fitted top with patterned shorts pulls the eye straight to the waistline. Plain socks or none.

At the natural waist or just below, with the hem an inch or two above the knee. Send waist and the finished length you want measured from the waist down. Avoid ordering to your jeans size, since Highland cut shorts sit higher at the waist than modern casual shorts do.

As a spectator on a hot day, yes, and plenty do. As a competitor or anywhere the event states Highland dress, no. If your reason for wanting them is heat rather than informality, a cotton utility kilt ventilates better than shorts and still reads as correct at the event.

An inch or two above the knee. Shorter than that and the sett is compressed into too small an area to read properly, which makes the pattern look busy rather than deliberate. Send the finished length you want from the waist down rather than accepting a standard inseam.