Early-To-Mid Victorian Highland Wear

[davidlpope]

Last year we managed to throw together some appropriate-enough clothing from my accumulated historical clothing, but this year we want to do things more correctly. <SNIP>
So, what would a common Highland Scots shopkeeper or merchant wear in the 1840's or 1850's?

I guess the real question is whether you want to do this "correctly"[i.e. dress like a shopkeeper in London (or even a town in the Highlands) dressed at the time Charles Dickens was writing] or whether you want to wear a kilt. From the what I can glean on this subject, the two seem mutually exclusive.

Cordially,

David

[auld argonian]

I guess the real question is whether you want to do this "correctly"[i.e. dress like a shopkeeper in London (or even a town in the Highlands) dressed at the time Charles Dickens was writing] or whether you want to wear a kilt. From the what I can glean on this subject, the two seem mutually exclusive.

Cordially,

David

Yeah, but, as Zardoz pointed out, it's not like they have to adhere to a strict historical accuracy...it's not like they're military re-enactors who have somebody going around with a ruler to make sure that their buttons are exactly the correct diameter or they get sent home. Thus, my earlier devilish remark about trousers probably being the most accurate accoutrement for a Victorian shopkeeper was meant as a sort of, "literally, this is what you should do but, hey, it's fantasy-land anyway, so if you want to wear a kilt, I'm sure that you'll figger out a way to do it and make it look good".

I can easily see a sort of "Scottish Sam Drucker" look.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam_Drucker

(...citation included just in case any of our European members haven't seen "Petticoat Junction" or "Green Acres" on the telly....no, no...don't thank us...the USA takes great pride in the quality of the deep, literate tv shows that we export to the rest of the world.)

Tweedy vest, collared shirt. Maybe some totally mega-muttonchop sideburns. (If I had a good photo of me back in college, I could show you what I mean!) I'd think that the folks would get a kick out of seeing you make change out of a sporran. By all means, have a blast, put together a good kilted outfit and fer sure post photos.

As I said, if there's any way that I can get my sorry @ss down there, I'm dying to get to the Dickens on the Strand event. Maybe I'll get to see the final product in person.

Best

AA

[Woodsheal]

But surely you don't think shop-keepers dressed like the subjects of MacLeay's portraits?

Of course not, but I think the OP is interested in proper attire of the period, in order to put together sort of a 'fantasy' kilted civilian outfit that would fit in with the Dickens fest.

Something like this fellow:

[ThistleDown]

Of course not, but I think the OP is interested in proper attire of the period, in order to put together sort of a 'fantasy' kilted civilian outfit that would fit in with the Dickens fest.

Something like this fellow:

Perhaps we should ask RadioKen to step in here and tell us whether he wants to dress as a Highland shopkeeper of the period, or as something else. It was my understanding that he wanted the former and, if so, I can assure him that there was no shopkeeper in the Highlands wealthy enough to wear what that chap above is wearing.

[Jock Scot]

Perhaps we should ask RadioKen to step in here and tell us whether he wants to dress as a Highland shopkeeper of the period, or as something else. It was my understanding that he wanted the former and, if so, I can assure him that there was no shopkeeper in the Highlands wealthy enough to wear what that chap above is wearing.

Rightly or wrongly, I have always thought the chap in that picture, was Prince Albert.

[Brian K]

Rightly or wrongly, I have always thought the chap in that picture, was Prince Albert.

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.

[Woodsheal]

Perhaps we should ask RadioKen to step in here and tell us whether he wants to dress as a Highland shopkeeper of the period, or as something else. It was my understanding that he wanted the former and, if so, I can assure him that there was no shopkeeper in the Highlands wealthy enough to wear what that chap above is wearing.

If Ken is indeed seeking NON-kilted authenticity (aside: then why bring it up in a kilt forum?!), affordable period dress can be had here:


http://www.blockaderunner.com/Catalog/catpg11b.html

And here:

http://www.gentlemansemporium.com/me...n_clothing.php

[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....