What's interesting in the Victorian photos is how a doublet exactly like McMurdo's can be seen worn buttoned without any accessories at all, or with every conceivable accessory (dirk and dirk belt, sword and sword belt, full plaid and plaid brooch, powder-horn on its chain, and two all-steel Highland pistols) or level of accessorizing in between.
I can find very few photos showing doublets buttoned with no accessories. One I already posted above
This one is a very curious jacket, sort of a missing link between doublets and Argyll jackets
Velvet doublet with only a plaid
Doublet with long plaid and apparently hidden suspension for the dirk
A nice velvet doublet, plaid and sword belt, hidden suspension for the dirk
With dirk belt added
Just as hard to find as photos of men wearing no accessories are photos of men with all accessories!
This gent is close, with powder-horn. He's only missing the pistols.
And finally the whole shootin' match (literally)
And this, the most elaborately dressed gent I have, in velvet doublet, lace, and every accessory.
I know people dressed like the above are "the image of the Victorian Scot" but in my experience photos showing such elaborate dress are rare. For every photo showing the whole suite of accessories (including pistols and powder-horn) there are hundreds of photos showing a doublet with a plaid only, or plaid and dirk, the dirk often suspended through hidden means.
This is far closer to the mark showing "typical Victorian Highland Dress", a tweed jacket and no accessories beyond the sporran (and typically a watch-chain)
Last edited by OC Richard; 25th May 20 at 07:23 AM.
Proud Mountaineer from the Highlands of West Virginia; son of the Revolution and Civil War; first Europeans on the Guyandotte
Originally Posted by McMurdo
Bookmarks