1803

[Sir Didymous]

I'm playing around with some of my older historical attire. I've done many periods over my time in reenacting. I came accross a waist coat that is style in the manner of the early 19th century. I bought it for the Ohio Bicentennial. I've thought about trying it with a kilt since it is rather high waisted so the cut shouldn't be an issue, but what types of kilts were worn in that era. I think I read somewhere that the phillabeg had developed sometime around that era, but would it be too late a period to still wear my great kilt? Not trying to build a new kit or anything, just trying to give myself some more options.


Mine is the one in the middle except that the back isn't adjustable and the length is shorter by one button.

[TheOfficialBren]

I'm going to go oit on a limb here and say no great kilt...but a box-pleated phillabeg.

[James Hood]

There were a number of kilted regiments in the British army of 1803, as this was just prior to the Penninsular campaign. You may wish to check out the Black Watch (42nd), 93rd, 43rd and 79th Regiments Of Foot dress for the period for demi-mass-produced uniform kilts. Certainly there are Napoleonic reenactors' kilt patterns, somewhere "in the cloud."

They would have worn a variant of the crimson (ranks) or scarlet (officers) infantryman's "red coat" of the period (pipers and drummers would likely have the jacket in the facing colour). Best of fortune.

[figheadair]

Civilain Highland attrire was in a period of transition at the beginning of the 1800s. You waistcoat pattern would be fine - compare with the one shown in picture No3 here.

Generally the Feileadh Beag (unsewn pleats) or Box-pleated kilt would be more commonly worn than the Feiieadh Mor at that time.

[Sir Didymous]

I'll likely just wear the said waistcoat with my modern made knife pleated kilt until I can get around to making a phillabeg. Like I said, I'm not trying to build a whole new kit. I just want to knock the dust off of a piece of an old kit and let it see the light again. I like this waist coat enough that I may even try to work it into my day wear. It's brown wool so I think it might just work for that. Thanks for all of the replys.

[Woodsheal]

Box-pleated philabegs are pretty easy to make, but if you're not so inclined, this guy has late 18th C. style ones for $100US:

http://www.just2tailors.com/index1.p...labeg/Wee_kilt

[Sir Didymous]

Thanks for the link. I wonder if he cuts the rate when you supply your one tartan? Though clan tartans weren't used until later on I think.

[figheadair]

Thanks for the link. I wonder if he cuts the rate when you supply your one tartan? Though clan tartans weren't used until later on I think.

He does. read the last sentance on the link.

In 1803 the very first inklings Clan tartans of clan tartans were beginning to emerge amongst some of the chiefs involved with the Highland Society of London etc but it didn't really take off until just before the 1822 Levee.

[Sir Didymous]

I read somewhere that the Ferguson tartan is one of the older ones. I wonder if there is a way to find out just how old. I read the tartan authority's information on it but all it says is that it was in existence before their registery.

[Downunder Kilt]

I would say around the 1820. The Maclaren and Ferguson are the same apart from the yellow and white stripes, prior to 1820 the MacLaren was the Regent Tartan being woven by Wilsons for a number of years. Upon the Regent becomming King it was redundant as the Regent tartan but Wilsons apparently contunued to produce it. I would say it was snapped up by the MacLarens in the rush for tartans around that time. I would guess that the same is true for the Fergusons. Or was the Regent tartan a altered copy of a older Ferguson tartan. Good hunting on your quest