Tartan in the mid to late victorian era

**scottishlassie** · 13th November 11, 04:06 PM

Hello all,

I've just found this site and signed up, looks like lots of people who know what they're talking about. Can anyone help me...I'm interested in and trying to do a bit of research into what was worn in the uk in the mid to late victorian era, especially in Scotland as I am Scottish myself.

I've looked a lot online and found it quite difficult to find what people wore everyday. I've bought a few books...one with very fancy dresses, corsets, bustles etc for ladies that I think must have just been worn by the very rich? My other books are in the highlands and lowlands at that time don't show any men or boys wearing kilts at all? The photos are so dark and in black and white of course, but it seems the women wore white or black bonnets, dress with apron. Most with a shawl..only a couple look tartan, but the photos are so dark in some its quite hard to tell. The men all seem to wear suits. I found some photos on the internet of men and boys wearing kilts and women and girls wearing tartan dresses...but they all seem to have been professionally taken pics. SO, I am wondering now...was it mainly the rich that wore tartan in the mid to late Victorian era, not the working class? Or have I got it all completely wrong? Thanks

**Father Bill** · 13th November 11, 04:34 PM

Can't help much with your research, but I know you'll get what you need here, and welcome to the Great Rabble!

**Grizzly** · 13th November 11, 05:01 PM

hi from the other end of the country in Southampton. There are many people on here that can help you far better than I can. No doubt you wlll soon get many answers which will leave you just as confused as now. If you were to pick any historic age I am sure that you will find many different varieties of clothing, just as there were back in Victorian times, fashions come and go and what may have been in vogue ten years ago now seems dated. However the learned folk on here will no doubt point you in the right direction. good luck with your search.

**Downunder Kilt** · 13th November 11, 06:24 PM

Here is a site with some pics of womens everday wear in the Highland and Islands 1811 - 1899
http://www.scran.ac.uk/packs/exhibit...ch_Beurla.html

And welcome to the Forum

**scottishlassie** · 14th November 11, 05:28 AM

Hi Father Bill and Grizzly! And thanks for the warm welcome!

Downunderkilt THANK YOU!!

Just fantastic!! That article explains so much to me! For the past few months I have been collecting fairly cheap scraps of Victorian fabric and trims but have not yet come across any tartan, so I guess that explains why then. Have not come across any Drugget either, but will look out for it now I know about it. And the shawl was just checked then and not tartan and so I am thinking I was right in assuming the tartan worn in photos I've seen were the rich. So interesting to know the colours as as I have been assuming everything was black. It said by the end of the 19th century women even started wearing shoes..I'm guessing from what I can see in my books they wore flat boots before then. I dont think they really bothered with corsets either, which was a bit scandalous in that time. My books describe the kind of life then but not the clothing and the photos are so dark, so thank you for the information. I really appreciate it, I think I seem to have been looking in all the wrong places with my internet searches

**scottishlassie** · 14th November 11, 05:50 AM

Ah right ok, reading a bit more and getting a better understanding I think. Wish I'd paid more attention at school to all this

...so when Queen Victoria started visiting Scotland and Balmoral she was obsessed with everything Scottish and tartan became popular with the rich aristocracy. At the same time though the Highland clearances were going on. And all this explains why the punks wore tartan, gotcha! Haha!