Traditional (Regulation) Doublet

[OC Richard]

That's fantastic!

Yes it's a very traditional doublet, and unlike the modern "regulation" doublets which as you say look almost like a Prince Charlie with the tashes tacked on.

Of course doublets existed in a wide variety of cuts and lapel styles.

I did find one very similar to yours, with the leading edges of the tashes in line with the front opening of the jacket, and perhaps a similar number and arrangement of buttons:



Another doublet with the in-line front edges, but with deeper lapels and fewer buttons



Here with double-breasted waistcoat



Sometimes they're cut to hang open in a wide inverted V.
Hard to imagine it would be possible to button the lower buttons.



A piped one



Sometimes doublets are cut so that they can be buttoned



This doublet has the tashes set back slightly, giving a slight notch; it has your four buttons

[McMurdo]

I'll add a photo of me in my vintage dated 1911 doublet from a past Burns Night. I thought it might be a welcome addition to the discussion.

[Highland Logan]

I'll add a photo of me in my vintage dated 1911 doublet from a past Burns Night. I thought it might be a welcome addition to the discussion.

I classic for sure. Velvet?

Frank

[McMurdo]

I classic for sure. Velvet?

Frank

Yes velvet.

[OC Richard]

What's interesting in the Victorian photos is how a doublet exactly like McMurdo's can be seen worn buttoned without any accessories at all, or with every conceivable accessory (dirk and dirk belt, sword and sword belt, full plaid and plaid brooch, powder-horn on its chain, and two all-steel Highland pistols) or level of accessorizing in between.

I can find very few photos showing doublets buttoned with no accessories. One I already posted above



This one is a very curious jacket, sort of a missing link between doublets and Argyll jackets



Velvet doublet with only a plaid



Doublet with long plaid and apparently hidden suspension for the dirk



A nice velvet doublet, plaid and sword belt, hidden suspension for the dirk



With dirk belt added



Just as hard to find as photos of men wearing no accessories are photos of men with all accessories!

This gent is close, with powder-horn. He's only missing the pistols.



And finally the whole shootin' match (literally)



And this, the most elaborately dressed gent I have, in velvet doublet, lace, and every accessory.



I know people dressed like the above are "the image of the Victorian Scot" but in my experience photos showing such elaborate dress are rare. For every photo showing the whole suite of accessories (including pistols and powder-horn) there are hundreds of photos showing a doublet with a plaid only, or plaid and dirk, the dirk often suspended through hidden means.

This is far closer to the mark showing "typical Victorian Highland Dress", a tweed jacket and no accessories beyond the sporran (and typically a watch-chain)