Early-To-Mid Victorian Highland Wear

[Jock Scot]

I just looked at the portraits in question and that is John Brown's younger brother Archibald Anderson Brown, who was valet to Prince Leopold. In the notes for the portrait of his brother it is said that the Queen wanted the artist to make him look better than he did in life as a way of responding to the acerbic remarks about him that were attributed to others in her family. Perhaps the same treatment was given to the younger Brown, hence the princely appearance.

Ah, thank you. Hardly a shop keeper then, and mention of condoned "artistic adjustments" too. Also that does look a wee bit like the Balmoral tartan. You chaps are a mine of information, I am impressed.

[Brian K]

Ah, thank you. Hardly a shop keeper then, and mention of condoned "artistic adjustments" too. You chaps are a mine of information, I am impressed.

You could comfortably wade through the depth of my highland knowledge and not wet your ankles, Jock, while I would be in danger of submersion in yours .

I simply followed the link in one of the earlier posts to the Tartans Authority website which has a page or two about the portraits.

Regards,

Brian

[Woodsheal]

Does Brown's portrait really strike you as "rich guy's" garb? It looks like a rather plain wool jacket and waistcoat to my eyes....

[Brian K]

Does Brown's portrait really strike you as "rich guy's" garb? It looks like a rather plain wool jacket and waistcoat to my eyes....

I would say, perhaps, it is the "bearing" of the subject, rather than the apparel, that could be construed as aristocratic - appropriate if the reputations of the Brown brothers is deserved. In any event, I think he appears dressed in the understated manner that most of the clan chiefs and other members of the aristocracy pictured here at X Marks in their every day dress. I would assume that most of those sitting for MacLeay brought out their best for the portraits. Many of the outfits certainly would have been impractical or uncomfortable for normal day to day activities.

Regards,

Brian

[Jock Scot]

Does Brown's portrait really strike you as "rich guy's" garb? It looks like a rather plain wool jacket and waistcoat to my eyes....

Actually yes, a rich guy(the Prince) did pay for it, after all. That is much more like the attire of a gentleman out on the moor, or by the river might have worn. There a several paintings of that "age" at Blair Castle of the umpteenth Duke and friends with a monster salmon, gargantuan Stag, etc.. Whilst the dress in these pictures may well be more low key and perhaps more accurate ----I mean, who is going to get near a stag, even a half blind and half deaf one, when one is clanking noisily about with all that shiny metalwork flashing and precious jewels getting in the way?---- it would be a mistake to assume too much from any picture, even the ones at Blair, of that age.

However, a spot of common sense might help with the assumption making no end.This was the beginning of the age of "estate tweeds" where camouflage, warmth,hard wearing needs, and midge protection were far more important.So a certain dowdyness was very much in vogue. How do I know? Many "estate tweeds" hark back to that era and can be reliably dated. I still have no doubts whatsoever that shop keepers in Scotland would not wear tartan for their work in that era..

[creagdhubh]

Actually yes, a rich guy(the Prince) did pay for it, after all. That is much more like the attire of a gentleman out on the moor, or by the river might have worn. There a several paintings of that "age" at Blair Castle of the umpteenth Duke and friends with a monster salmon, gargantuan Stag, etc.. Whilst the dress in these pictures may well be more low key and perhaps more accurate ----I mean, who is going to get near a stag, even a half blind and half deaf one, when one is clanking noisily about with all that shiny metalwork flashing and precious jewels getting in the way?---- it would be a mistake to assume too much from any picture, even the ones at Blair, of that age.

However, a spot of common sense might help with the assumption making no end.This was the beginning of the age of "estate tweeds" where camouflage, warmth,hard wearing needs, and midge protection were far more important.So a certain dowdyness was very much in vogue. How do I know? Many "estate tweeds" hark back to that era and can be reliably dated. I still have no doubts whatsoever that shop keepers in Scotland would not wear tartan for their work in that era..

Well stated Jock...we've all been down this road before with regards to Macleay's portraits et al!

[Nighthawk]

Well, if we're going for Victorian and fantasy, I say go for the whole Steampunk look! Kilted Steampunks... We're unique!

[figheadair]

Whilst the MacLeay portraits are a facinating source of information on the styles of the period there certainly don't represent what the common man wore. All these guys were, in one way or another, employees of the gentry, principally royalty and would have had their 'outfits' supplied by their employer to fit their ideal of traditional Highland dress. The common man simply could not afford such luxury.

The portraits, like those of McIan are more interesting for what they tell us of the style of clothing of each period and how that was influenced by the fashion of the day and/or an earlier era.

[Woodsheal]

Whilst the MacLeay portraits are a facinating source of information on the styles of the period there certainly don't represent what the common man wore. All these guys were, in one way or another, employees of the gentry, principally royalty and would have had their 'outfits' supplied by their employer to fit their ideal of traditional Highland dress. The common man simply could not afford such luxury.

You guys are still not getting it! The MacLeay images were put forth as suggestions for an imaginative kilted Highland look, to be worn in the somewhat fantastical setting of a holiday Dickens festival, NOT as representing the proper, authentic garb of a common shopkeeper.

Sheesh...!

[Zardoz]

Well, if we're going for Victorian and fantasy, I say go for the whole Steampunk look! Kilted Steampunks... We're unique!

You know how a trend gets tired, and you can kind of pinpoint where it went wrong? Well, after seeing $4 welder goggles rattle-canned with bronze Krylon for sale in the Museum Replicas catalog for $45, I'm calling Steampunk dead right here.