Quote Originally Posted by Italianscot View Post
Hello, this Is my First post,

Apart from my interest in everything scottish , i am also interested in late 19th century -early 20th century fashion.

I have very recently bought a nice pair of vintage military trews from.the 1940s and It Is striking how the military trousers at such a late date are basically of the same pattern of victorian and edwardian period, save of course for some minor details.


Thus i have suddenly realized that i have never seen on period photos, a civilian usage of trews for highland dress. I mean, wearing a clan tartan trews as a alternative for kilt,.

So, were tartan trews used only by scottish regiment?

Do we have period photos that shows the use of clan tartan trews in civilian use as a sostitute for the kilt?
This may not be exactly what you’re looking for, but try a Google Images search for “79th New York” plus “Highlanders”, “Infantry”, Volunteers”, or “Civil War”.

They were a militia regiment from New York City, formed in the 1850s, who mustered into federal service from 1861 to 1864/65, and then reverted back into the New York State Militia, aka National Guard from 1865 until being disbanded in 1876.

From 1859 to 1861/62, they worn tartan trousers for most modes of dress, and there are several existent photographs. The key detail (I am told) is that their tartan trousers were essentially no different from contemporaneous civilian trousers.

Here’re a few links to get you started:

https://gloverparkhistory.com/civil-...york-infantry/

https://www.miltonpahistoricalsociet...f-new-homepage