Until the eighteenth century, the women of the Highlands wore what was known as an arisaid. As can be seen here, the arisaid has many points of resemblance to the belted-plaid, with which it was contemporary. The buckles, of silver or of brass, according to the social position of the wearer, were often of considerable value, and set with precious or semi-precious stones. The plaid, which reached from the neck to the heels, was plaited all round; it was secured over the breast by a buckle, and caught up round the waist with a leather belt, richly ornamented.

The boy is wearing a kilt of Matheson tartan, and combined foot and leg coverings of untanned deer-skin, known as cuarans, which were laced up to below the knee.