Did Lowland Scots have a different look than the Highland Scots during the Regency Pe

[Steve Ashton]

Historically the Regency period (1811- 1820) was at the end of the Georgian era (1795- 1837).

This is a period in history which gave us some of the longest lasting changes into our modern world.

The Industrial Revolution was in full swing with all the innovation, invention, and development it brought. Steam engines which powered the factories and the locomotives which moved people and goods.
The Scots gave us some of the greatest, and most famous, Engineers. That is why "Scotty" of Star Trek was the ship's Engineer.

The Scottish Enlightenment began in the Regency period and continued well into the early 20th century. It brought us the 4 most respected universities of the time. All 4 (St Andrews, Aberdeen, Glasgow, Edinburgh) in Scotland.
The public lending Library was a Scottish innovation. The Scots were, at the time, the most literate people in the world.

Huge advances were made in Scotland in almost every field - Philosophy, Economics, Literature, Engineering, Architecture, Medicine, Geology, Archaeology, Botany and Zoology, Law, Agriculture, Chemistry and Sociology and Politics.

Lowland Scots would have known about and would have dressed much the same as the English and the rest of the Western world of that period.

Early in the period upper class men would have worn knee length breeches with hose, high heel buckle shoes, (long tailored trousers not being popular among the upper classes until Beau Brummel) long Frock coats with Vests and some ridiculously high, and at times incredibly fancy neck cloths.

For women the Empire waist was popular along with long skirts paired with short Spencer jackets, often with puffy sleeves.



The Highland Revival had its beginnings during the Regency period so the wearing of Tartan was beginning, but perhaps with a different emphasis than we put on it today. It was perhaps seen more as a colorful and different fashion statement than a symbol of National identity during the period as the weavers became industrialized and the market became global.

The Recency era was the same time as the Romance period which was a backlash to the industrialization that was taking place. This was the time of Percy, the Shelly's, Burns and Scott so we need to look at this period, not through the romantic notions that persist and plague us today, but as a period of amazing change and advancement.

The Scots of the period were not the backwater country folk, clinging to the past, as they are so often portrayed. They were forward thinking leaders in a new and exciting time.