The love of colour and pattern is the very essence of the old Highland aesthetic.
Back in the 18th century, tartan jackets were the norm with Highland Dress.
For whatever reason by the mid-19th century selfcoloured/plain/solid jackets, usually in black or grey, had taken hold. Eventually the Highlanders' old love of pattern came roaring back and check tweed jackets became more and more popular in the early years of the 20th century.
It's not often that one come across vintage photos showing check tweed jackets, but here's a lovely one
and two more nicely-dressed gents
And here's one in a Henderson catalogue c1930
Pipe Major Archie MacPhedran (b1885) sporting a windowpane tweed jacket. The old Highland love of pattern could hardly be more evident.
and current piper Malcolm McRae with a lovely cota-breac
I had one back around 1980. It was bought by a friend's father around 1948 in Scotland. It was very heavy Harris tweed.
Moladh cota-breac
(in praise of patterned jackets)
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