Regency era Highland attire

[Hothir Ethelnor]

I am attending a Regency ball sometime soon and I would like to be dressed appropriately to the occasion (in a kilt of course.)

The Regency era was the early 1800's so this would be the time after the proscription was repealed but before Sir Walter Scott's Victorian revival.

I am making a box pleated kilt which will close using buttons on the apron edge vs buckles.

My inspiration was these pictures.





I am looking for advice regarding waistcoat and jacket styles and I'm hoping to have a pair of diced hose done by then. Would the look shown above be workable? (with different hose of course...)

If not, does anyone have any good visual links or perhaps a pattern or two to go with them that could aid me? I am thinking because I don't have extra tartan for a plaid or fake belted plaid look I would lean towards the classic dark jacket and light waistcoat in simple fabrics but tailored nicely with a white cravat.

I am thinking I would go with the straight bottomed waistcoat I am mostly looking for lapel and neck opening guidelines as well as ideas for the cut of the jacket.

I have done a fair bit of tailoring and can make most things.

[Woodsheal]

Finished garments here:

http://www.thequartermastergeneral.c...egory=19_cloth

The waistcoats can be worn as is. The outer coat would be constructed along the same pattern as the frock coat, but only hip length to be Highland style.

Patterns here:

https://www.reconstructinghistory.co...d=121&w=24&r=Y

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

The jacket is way too short, and the belt low enough to look like it belongs on a Hollywood gunslinger, rather than a Regency Dandy! Follow Woodsheal's advice to the letter (he's the man in this department) and you will look smashing.

[JSFMACLJR]

Here's a good starting point (sorry the pic is smal):

[creagdhubh]

Here's a good starting point (sorry the pic is smal):

Superb start (love the tartan doublet-LOL!)! The image is wonderful Sandy--I would definitely use this as motivation. Good luck mate and have fun!

[OC Richard]

What years are meant by "regency"?

Here's Highland costume from 1822. Note the high collar popular at that time:





and Highland costume in 1835. Note the double-breasted jacket with wide lapels:



In that photo of a guy, he's wearing a MOD sporran that wasn't invented until the 1980s, which is completely anachronistic in every possible way to the early 19th century.

In the early 19th century the style of sporran seen in the 1835 costume was common, black hair with a fringe of contrasting white hair overlapping, and tassels with red leather cones. Note that there's no cantle, but simply a stitched red leather rim.

[figheadair]

What years are meant by "regency"?

Here's Highland costume from 1822. Note the high collar popular at that time:

and Highland costume in 1835. Note the double-breasted jacket with wide lapels:

In that photo of a guy, he's wearing a MOD sporran that wasn't invented until the 1980s, which is completely anachronistic in every possible way to the early 19th century.

In the early 19th century the style of sporran seen in the 1835 costume was common, black hair with a fringe of contrasting white hair overlapping, and tassels with red leather cones. Note that there's no cantle, but simply a stitched red leather rim.

Good post. These are of course outfits of the gentry and it is they that were going to balls.

I appreciate that the original poster doesn't wants to go for a plain jacket which is his perogative. However, it is worth pointing out that in every surviving example of the period, and there are several more, the jacket is tartan, either straight cut or on the bias. Love the steel ball buttons too.

[Jack Daw]

What years are meant by "regency"?

Here's Highland costume from 1822. Note the high collar popular at that time:





and Highland costume in 1835. Note the double-breasted jacket with wide lapels:



In that photo of a guy, he's wearing a MOD sporran that wasn't invented until the 1980s, which is completely anachronistic in every possible way to the early 19th century.

In the early 19th century the style of sporran seen in the 1835 costume was common, black hair with a fringe of contrasting white hair overlapping, and tassels with red leather cones. Note that there's no cantle, but simply a stitched red leather rim.

Love those sporrans!

[creagdhubh]

The jacket is way too short, and the belt low enough to look like it belongs on a Hollywood gunslinger, rather than a Regency Dandy! Follow Woodsheal's advice to the letter (he's the man in this department) and you will look smashing.

I agree with you Scott! Jacket is way too short, belt too low, the white hose need to go, and I am not so sure about the hair sporran since it has a Regimental badge on the cantle. Outfit definitely needs tweeking in order to reach the goal of a Highland man in his native dress during the Regency era.

[Hothir Ethelnor]

Thanks for the replies. So, for the coat (since I seem to be on the right track with the waistcoat) I am trying to find a workable length of cut-away and tail so that the kilt is not interfered with.

I found the following image.



This looks a bit informal though not necessarily the stuff of balls.

Do you think it would be better to go with the closed single or double breasted jacket? or to spring off the image of the fellow in a tartan jacket that JSFMACLJR posted and cut it so the jacket falls open in front?