"Jacobite" garb

[JRB]

Awesome pics, Brian. Do you know how often in period dress the tartans and colors were matched (as yours are) versus being a variety of mismatched tartans and colors? I've often heard of outfits of that era being described as a "tartan mess".

[Woodsheal]

Awesome pics, Brian. Do you know how often in period dress the tartans and colors were matched (as yours are) versus being a variety of mismatched tartans and colors? I've often heard of outfits of that era being described as a "tartan mess".

Mixing of tartans in one outfit was most common, as you can easily see in the Morier painting of Culloden. My son in this pic is wearing 4 different tartans:



(BTW, the lochaber-axe armed ghillie is displaying a common look for a clan's "commoners." Highlanders were not always averse to donning britches, all mythology aside!)

In some period images, like the MacDonald boys earlier in this thread, it might appear at first glance that one tartan is being worn, because of a common background color, but a closer look reveals different setts. (BTW, bright red tartans were a status symbol, the rich color derived from an expensive imported dyestuff called cochineal.)

[JSFMACLJR]

Mixing of tartans in one outfit was most common, as you can easily see in the Morier painting of Culloden. My son in this pic is wearing 4 different tartans:

I'm glad to see your son is wearing what looks to be the MacLean of Duart Red Muted, woven by the house of Edgar. Do you know if there is any historical evidence that this tartan was worn in 1746?

[M. A. C. Newsome]

I'm glad to see your son is wearing what looks to be the MacLean of Duart Red Muted, woven by the house of Edgar. Do you know if there is any historical evidence that this tartan was worn in 1746?

The earliest example of MacLean of Duart on record is in the Cockburn Collection (c. 1810-1815). However, the House of Edgar's muted color range comes rather close to some late eighteenth century/early nineteenth century natural dyed tartans I have seen, so it's great for reenacting pre-analine dye periods.

[JSFMACLJR]

Thank you, Matt. As you probably know, I have a kilt and doublet made out of tartan from the HoE Old and Rare range.