Calling all reenactors!!

[osric the pale]

for "period" glasses frames try Jas. Townsend and sons on th web
~oz

[Sionnachdubh]

DON'T BE FOOLED! what many places call a philabeg is not a philabeg at all. You can find a real philabeg at www.kilt-n-stuff.com. Celtic croft is the only place I have seen that sells true philabegs. Depending upon your position in the regiment you may wear only one kind or another. If you are on officer you would wear the philabeg more often (most regiments probably would issue you with both though) you wore the philabeg to fromal events and you wore the philamore in cold weather, on watch, in the field etc.

[Woodsheal]

If you are on officer you would wear the philabeg more often (most regiments probably would issue you with both though) you wore the philabeg to fromal events and you wore the philamore in cold weather, on watch, in the field etc.

Actually, I believe it was the other way around. The philabeg was initially adopted as a "fatigue" or working garment, whereas the belted plaid was part of the actual uniform, and thus was worn for all "full dress" occasions....

[Finn]

Its unlikely that both types would have been issued (anybody seen primary sources for this?). The army issued only one regimental coat and two of the small clothes. The coats had raw edges and cheap dye. As a result, individual soldiers' coats were brown, orange-y & pink after a season of campaigning. The British Army was very cost-conscious and even charged the troops for their food.
I bought a couple of things before joining my unit and am now the proud owner of a huge knife that is appropriate for the Mexican War.
Yeti, definitely join the unit before buying ANYTHING.

[Woodsheal]

"At first the kilt was used as a fatigue garment, made from worn-out plaids, but as it was so much more convenient and comfortable that by the time of the American War it had supplanted the plaid on all but the most formal occasions."
-from 18th Century Highlanders (Osprey #261); Stuart Reid/Mike Chappell, 1993

The belted plaid was the formal, "dress uniform" garment after the philabeg came into army use ca. 1758, as one of Lord Howe's innovations....