Semple approach to Traditional Highland Dress

[OC Richard]

Of course as time passes more and more people think that 'Outlander' costumes are the real thing.

It's tragic how many people think that the Outlander costumes are authentic.

About the brown and grey look, there's a thing with Hollywood historical films to make everything dull and drab, be it the Middle Ages or Renaissance or the 18th century, when actual paintings from those periods show bright colours. (They show ancient Rome with entirely white buildings too, but let's not go there.)

As we know the brown & grey weathered tartans didn't appear until 1949. I think a lot of the blame for using those tartans in historical films goes to Rob Roy. Here are the Rob Roy and Outlander costumes compared to actual 18th century Highland clothing.

(Both the Rob Roy and Outlander costumes show the Hollywood costumers confusing the breacan-an-feileadh with long plaids wrapped around the body, worn by men in trews in 18th century portraits.)