Solid Color Kilt in "Mrs. Brown"

**Riverkilt** · 26th July 06, 10:21 PM

Watching the kilt laden movie Mrs. Brown about John Brown's relationship with Queen Victoria.

One scene, John is taking Prime Minister Disreli out hunting. The scene is a bunch of kilted guys with horses climbing up hills with the Prime Minister. I could swear there was a scene of just a few frames where they showed a man in a solid gray wool kilt.

At first I thought I was wrong, it was the Prime Minister's coat, but no, it was pleated like a tartan kilt.

Anyone know more than I about this...interesting it would be included in the movie...where would wardrobe get one?

I know solid color kilts are available now in tweed, didn't realize they were back then....if accurate...

Always learning.

Ron

**way2fractious** · 26th July 06, 11:57 PM

Originally Posted by Riverkilt

they showed a man in a solid gray wool kilt.

At first I thought I was wrong, it was the Prime Minister's coat, but no, it was pleated like a tartan kilt.

Anyone know more than I about this...interesting it would be included in the movie...where would wardrobe get one?

I know solid color kilts are available now in tweed, didn't realize they were back then....if accurate...

Ron, take a look at Matt's answer here in regards to another, similar question...
http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/s...31&postcount=6

**M. A. C. Newsome** · 27th July 06, 04:46 AM

Ron,

Solid kilts go way back. The oldest portrait I've seen of anyone in a solid kilt is 1634 (I think I'm remembering that date correctly -- still on my first cup of coffess this morning!).

But they were rather popular in the Victorian era. John Brown himself was famous for wearing a solid black kilt, vest, and jacket. In fact, I recently saw a vendor on line marketing a solid black kilt suit as a "John Brown" suit.

You can see a portrait of him here:
http://www.tartansauthority-shop.com...Household.html

(Looks grey).

I have recently written an article for the Scottish Banner about solid color kilts. I haven't added it to my archives as of yet, but it will (soon) be listed here:
http://albanach.org/banner.htm

I'm just posting the link for future readers!
Aye,
Matt

**Cawdorian** · 27th July 06, 05:11 AM

It is my understanding that Queen Victoria commissioned the modern red, blue and black "Brown" tartan specfically for John Brown.

**MacWage** · 27th July 06, 05:35 AM

To add to Mr. Newsome (don't get to say that often), Bob Martin spends a good bit of his kilt book on victorian era tweed kilts. In the back cover is a picture of a group in full tweed kilt suits.

Inded, Mr. Tweedy of Chicken Run might own a tweed kilt (wouldn't that be his "clan tartan"-> Clan Tweed) :rolleyes: !

**Cawdorian** · 27th July 06, 05:38 AM

Couldn't Mr. Tweedy wear the Tweesdale tartan?

**MacWage** · 27th July 06, 06:16 AM

Originally Posted by Cawdorian

Couldn't Mr. Tweedy wear the Tweesdale tartan?

I guess Mr. Tweedy could where whatever tartan Mrs. Tweedy lets him!! :rolleyes:

(Just don't tell James that

)

By the way, the chickens are organizing an escape!!!!!!!!!

BACK TO TOPIC!!!! (though I got us off it

)

**Planopiper** · 27th July 06, 07:43 AM

Notice that Mr. Brown also wears a horsehair sporran. I believe I've seen at least one other portrait with him wearing a white horsehair sporran. We don't do that much now, but the precedent for wearing one with non-military dress is there.

He also wore a glengarry, which is unusual when it's not part of a uniform. He may have been in the military and kept it from the old days. Not many people can pull it off with non-uniform dress, though.

**Ruanaidh** · 27th July 06, 08:37 AM

The caption also stated that John Brown was wearning a "plain 'mourning' tartan". I searched the index but couldn't find it. Anyone know which tartan it was?