I doubt there were many farmers, even in the 19th century out tending cattle or sheep or toiling in the fileds wearing a custom tailored tartan tank with PC or doublet, bow tie or Jabot, fly plaid, color matching hose and flashes, and ghillie brogues, let alone wearing all the finer pieces or wearable art (kilt pins, broaches, cuff links, clan badges, etc...), so I do not believe we can appropriately call what we today are buying as "highlandwear" proper, more like "dress modern highlandwear" meant for what most modern highlanders and other scots use it for these days---special events, dinners, weddings, funerals, etc.....

The probably had one or maybe two leine and maybe a great kilt if any at all, sporran and belt, and whatever other minor accoutrements needed for daily life. Probably a fairly spartan life compared to most of ours today.


When you have to kill what you eat it brings a diffferent level of decision making to fore than making a choice between wearing the Black Stewart or the Black watch kilt today.