RG Lawrie catalogue c1940

[OC Richard]

I finally took photos of the illustrations.

By the way, I wonder about the date 1940. There's only one date visible anywhere: one of the illustrations is signed by the artist and dated 1930. So any time between 1930 and 1953 is possible, as it says Bagpipe Makers by appointment to HM The King.

Photos of Lawrie's various Works:



Here's the illustration of Men's Dress. Note ordinary shoes for "outdoor" dress, Mary Janes for evening.



Hose, hair sporrans, bonnets. Note the hose with tartan tops.



Here's the very interesting Page 9, showing the Evening shoes cut similar to a Mary Jane but with "lacing latchets" as Lawrie calls them. I had previously only seen this style in The Highlanders Of Scotland, being worn by Kenneth MacKenzie. So much for MacLeay's "artistic licence" and him supposedly inventing nonexistant stuff.



The same style in The Highlanders Of Scotland. Hard to tell here, but seeing the book it's clearly the same style, but with buckles at the toes.



Our popular modern black Argyll jacket only shows up in the Boys' Dress section, where it is called "Super Quality Cloth Jacket and Vest" (vest, not waistcoat).



I also recently got a catalogue from another Highland Dress maker:

Clothes From Scotland
4th Edition
William Anderson & Sons Ltd
Edinburgh Scotland

which is post-1953.





Hard to see here, but the three men in Evening dress are wearing three different types of shoe:
"Coatee" (our Prince Charlie) : Mary Jane style
"Kenmore Doublet" : Ghillies with buckles at the toes
"Standard Doublet" (our Regulation Doublet) : loafers/pumps/slip-on shoes with nonfunctional buckles

And here's the shoes page, showing mary janes and ghillies, both with buckles, for eveing wear:



Last but not least the sporrans and sginean, pretty much as today except for sporran 9, a very elaborate cantle I've not seen elsewhere:

[creagdhubh]

Wonderful photos! Is it possible to purchase the buckle brogues in the ghille pattern and laces today? If so from whom? I love that style!

[Macman]

Thanks for posting, Richard. Lots of good things there. I note the fly plaid on the laddie, and the gent wearing the polo shirt, even back then! Some of the pictures in the William Anderson catalogue are in a book I have somewhere; I'll have to dig it out.

[Rollo]

Wonderfull pics ! Amazing catalogs !!!

[Jack Daw]

Those are great references! I'm recognizing that the illustrations displayed from "Highland Dress for Men" were also used for, "So You Want to Wear the Kilt."

[creagdhubh]

The sell shoe buckles that you can attach to ghillie brogues, but I don't know of anyone currently offering ghillie brogues with the buckles pre attached.

Gotcha.

[creagdhubh]

Those are great references! I'm recognizing that the illustrations displayed from "Highland Dress for Men" were also used for, "So You Want to Wear the Kilt."

Quite right.