Newbie from Kansas... Jacobite attire questions

**Edward the lesser** · 23rd September 18, 04:23 PM

Hello everyone ! I'm a newbie, trying to figure out how to navigate this web site !!! I do have a question and wondering how to post it ?
My question is this : I believe that the early Scotsman did not base their kilts upon 'fashion'. I am of the understanding all their dress was based on "Clan" guidelines. Pictures of early Jacobite s and reenactors , are dressed in plaids that don't match ... from their kilts, hoes, vests, (waistcoats) and outer jackets... Would someone explain this, conundrum to me and help me to understand ? We are having our semi annual Scottish Highland Games and Celtic Festival at the Great Plains Renaissance Festival here in Wichita, Kansas this coming weekend. I am trying to get together my Scottish dress , to look like a Jacobite.. and wondering why the seemingly 'mis-match ' in this type of dress is apparent , any information would be greatly appreciated ... thanks to all , Edward The Lesser

**Father Bill** · 23rd September 18, 04:31 PM

Welcome to the "Great Rabble"!

We have kilt historians much better qualified than I to answer your question, but glad you're here!

**figheadair** · 23rd September 18, 10:19 PM

Originally Posted by Edward the lesser

Hello everyone ! I'm a newbie, trying to figure out how to navigate this web site !!! I do have a question and wondering how to post it ?
My question is this : I believe that the early Scotsman did not base their kilts upon 'fashion'. I am of the understanding all their dress was based on "Clan" guidelines. Pictures of early Jacobite s and reenactors , are dressed in plaids that don't match ... from their kilts, hoes, vests, (waistcoats) and outer jackets... Would someone explain this, conundrum to me and help me to understand ? We are having our semi annual Scottish Highland Games and Celtic Festival at the Great Plains Renaissance Festival here in Wichita, Kansas this coming weekend. I am trying to get together my Scottish dress , to look like a Jacobite.. and wondering why the seemingly 'mis-match ' in this type of dress is apparent , any information would be greatly appreciated ... thanks to all , Edward The Lesser

Edward, welcome to the forum.

Let me turn the question around. Please understand, I am not having a go at you, simply seeking to offer some constructive criticism. Why do you believe that the early Scotsman did not base their kilts upon 'fashion'. I am of the understanding all their dress was based on "Clan" guidelines and why do you think that there were some sort of 'guidelines'?

Your observation that pictures of early Jacobites (actually these are mostly late Jacobite portraits) show a mix of tartans in effect answers the question, there was no uniformity. Clan levies were not regular army regiments and therefore it should be no surprise that they were not all dressed the same. The gentry, who formed the front rank, would invariably have been dress in better clothes, with more red in their tartan, than the poor Highlanders in the rear.

Finally whilst all Highlanders were Scots, not all Scots were Highlanders. Nor were all Jacobites either Scots or Highlanders. Similarly, there were Highlanders, Scots and others fighting on the Hanoverian side.

**Steve Ashton** · 24th September 18, 12:54 AM

Perhaps this article can help.

https://www.historyextra.com/period/...lloden-busted/

**Kiltedjohn** · 24th September 18, 02:56 AM

Welcome from a Scotsman living in middle England. I'm not knowledgeable enough to answer your query - glad to see that others are responding. Hope the event you are preparing for goes well, and look forward to seeing pics.

**Liam** · 24th September 18, 05:33 AM

Welcome from Western Canada!

**Allan Thomson** · 2nd October 18, 02:12 PM

I'd dispute the notion that Highland Wear at least as far as the top half was concerned didn't follow the fashion of the time. Ok factors of it were anachronistic at times, but there is a loose indication that designs of Jackets and waistcoats changed over time.

An example of this would be the fashions for slashed doublets in the 17th C which then disappear by the 18th to be replaced by Tartan cut down Frock Coats and Waistcoats.

If we consider the Highland regiments as being the main guardians of Highland Wear then as regards the cut of their coats they generally mirror their 'Saxon dressed' colleagues except for shorter cut skirts on their kilt (allowing for the use of single breasted coats in comparison with the Double breasted style in use by Line regiments in the 45 period.

So I'm curious why do you think Highland Wear does not mirror conventional fashion with some adaptations as least as far as the top half is concerned?....