Truibhs – Friend Or Foe ?

[JSFMACLJR]

Well, that's trew. (pun intended! )

I was just perusing the thread with pictures of Prince Charles, Duke of Rothesay, and kept noticing something in the pictures. I suppose these would be tartan trousers, not traditional trews, but apparently they still do hold some place in society, or people wouldn't be wearing them to meet HRH. I probably wouldn't have noticed them had it not been for this thread.

The gentleman in this photograph wearing the trews is His Grace the Duke of Fife, a cousin of The Queen and therefore of Prince Charles.

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

I think trews are quite striking when worn in the evening with a coatee of some type. To me they are also more comfortable than the kilt at mess type functions where I am sitting the better part of the evening. However, I have never been fond of the look with daywear of any type and would most likely go for my kilt at those functions.

I'd tend to agree. I think trews look very smart for evening wear. Even though I've worn trews to daytime functions, I think they look rather like you are on your way to the 14th tee when worn during the day. In my opinion for evening wear they look best worn with a regulation doublet, and if worn during the day one is probably best advised to have a regular length tweed jacket made in a full Argyll cut; gauntlet cuffs, pocket flaps, horn buttons, the whole works.

[davedove]

I rather like trews, although I don't have any. I am considering obtaining a set in my tartan some day, just as another option.

[MacBubba45]

I wrote an article once in part trying to offer an explanation as to why Colquhoun is the only clan in the RR McIan 1845 series wearing trews (I used to get asked that all the time!)

My conclusion was simply it was by chance because I couldn't really find any evidence for any other reason.

[JSFMACLJR]

I wrote an article once in part trying to offer an explanation as to why Colquhoun is the only clan in the RR McIan 1845 series wearing trews (I used to get asked that all the time!)

My conclusion was simply it was by chance because I couldn't really find any evidence for any other reason.

While this doesn't answer the question of why Luss was the only chief depicted, one can safely surmise that he was wearing the trews for at least two reasons:
1. He was a gentleman.
2. He most likely was mounted.

[MacBubba45]

He most likely was mounted.

In the research I found it said trews were very useful for riding and may have been developed for that. I think the same book said that the Scots introduced "trowsers" to the rest of Europe by the development of trews (I don't know how accurate that is). I don't think the people McIan used in his paintings were necessarily supposed to be Clan chiefs.

[Tobus]

2. He most likely was mounted.

Then why's he got a walking stick in his right hand?

[The Guy in the Kilt at UC]

Then why's he got a walking stick in his right hand?

Simple. It's a very short saffron kilt with very long tartan hose

[JSFMACLJR]

Then why's he got a walking stick in his right hand?

Umm, because he is a gentleman, and because he is walking.

[Tartan Tess]

I was told that trews are higher than trousers. I am assuming they mean modern trews.
I would like to make some period trews, from pictures they look to fit like tights and the tartan is cut on the diagional.
I am new here, have there been past threads about this and where can i find them ? or if anyone has an opinion i am interested. thanks T