What would the Victorians think?

[M. A. C. Newsome]

I can't tell how your kilt is pleated, but if it is pleated to sett, they may marvel at this wonderful new pleating style that reveals the whole tartan in the pleats.

And they also would likely wonder where you got that tartan woven with such light colors.

Oh, you trendsetter, you!

[McMurdo]

Yes indeed the fact that a bonnet is not in evidence would no doubt raise an eyebrow or two, the shirt collar would alarm some, and as Matt has noted, the "Ancient" tartan would shock all. No doubt they might be wondering just what you did to your kilt to achieve that. Another thing is the plain cut of your waistcoat, and placement of the kilt pin, the devil is in the details as they say. Though I think you are closer to Henry of Battenburg here:


Than the Ghillies of Balmoral

[Dall_Piobaire]

Sharp Jock, very nice!

I was gonna point out the lapels on the jacket, and the collar and tie, but the collar and tie in MacMurdos first pic don't look all that different really

[Phil]

Than the Ghillies of Balmoral

Thanks for posting that, McMurdo. It is very interesting and I wish Balmoral gillies were as well dressed nowadays. Sadly, if they want to wear a kilt they have to buy it themselves.

[Jock Scot]

Thanks for posting that, McMurdo. It is very interesting and I wish Balmoral gillies were as well dressed nowadays. Sadly, if they want to wear a kilt they have to buy it themselves.

They won't have to buy their three piece Balmoral Estate tweed stalkers suits though and I would much prefer the suit to a kilt any day for what those chaps do.

[Zardoz]

Here's an attempt at a Victorian era look from our Dickens fest last year. Sorry about the setting...



Other than the more modern vest and lapels, modern tartan (which is pleated to the line) and plastic beer cup, I bet I would pass in the later Victorian era. Interesting how little most these fashions have evolved.

[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.

[Ancienne Alliance]

In my opinion this bit of "dandyism" is what traditional Highland attire is all about-- or at least what it should be all about.

Oui Monsieur !

I like the idea of a rustic dandy .


Best,

Robert

[Phil]

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.

Actually Balmoral tweeds are tailored somewhere in England (don't remember exactly where) but it would have been nice to give the business to someone locally. The same, unfortunately, goes for much other work where contractors are brought in from down south, builders, security consultants etc.. Sadly I'm afraid it is all symptomatic of so much in this country that everything is focussed on where the Head Office is which almost always translates to the London area. It is as if work in Texas had to be supervised from Washington using businesses, materials and workpeople from there. Here I am simply stating facts not grinding any axes but you can begin to imagine how resentment begins and festers.

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

Actually Balmoral tweeds are tailored somewhere in England (don't remember exactly where) but it would have been nice to give the business to someone locally. The same, unfortunately, goes for much other work where contractors are brought in from down south, builders, security consultants etc.. Sadly I'm afraid it is all symptomatic of so much in this country that everything is focussed on where the Head Office is which almost always translates to the London area. It is as if work in Texas had to be supervised from Washington using businesses, materials and workpeople from there. Here I am simply stating facts not grinding any axes but you can begin to imagine how resentment begins and festers.

Tell me about it! As a veteran of the "BBC Scotland vs. London and the Six Home Counties" wars I couldn't agree more. Probably reason #283 that I moved to the USA...

I'm surprised to learn that the estate workers at Balmoral have their tweeds cut in London-- it must be a bear getting everyone down to the City for a fitting. I wonder if this is a recent thing, say since the mid 70s or so when the last decent tailors in the Highlands shuttered their shops for the last time.

Actually, having said this, I seem to recall Mr. Costello (of Costello and Son in Ilford, North London) saying he traveled up to Scotland to fit members of the Royal Household up there, so perhaps he did the Estate tweeds?