What would the Victorians think?

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

If you look closely these gentlemen (all servants on the Balmoral Estate) are identically dressed-- in fact, elsewhere in this thread there is a photo of John Brown and he, too, is dressed exactly like these men. Given the length of their jackets I suspect that they are wearing their "estate tweeds"-- suits made up by a local tailor and supplied to the staff (as part of their wages) by their employer-- but with kilts substituted for trousers. When you compare this photo to the one showing a gaggle of assorted royals and gentry, it is obvious that the "ghillies" attire has as much to do with identifying them, at a glace, as servants as it does with Highland fashion.

Matt's point about "intent" is excellent, especially if coupled to DWII's observations on affectation of dress. In my opinion this bit of "dandyism" is what traditional Highland attire is all about-- or at least what it should be all about. As Phil pointed out, there is far more conformity today than a century ago. It would seem as if style has been ground under the wheels of Blake's "dark satanic mills", dooming most men to servant's livery.