Semple approach to Traditional Highland Dress

[OC Richard]

One thing about Rob Roy that makes me a little bit in disagreement with your comments is the way that Neeson's plaid was during the film.

For example in the Fight Scene he removed the plaid and kept a phillabeg on.

Interesting, I hadn't recalled that.

In Old Irish and Highland Dress the author mentions a number of vague and inconclusive 17th century accounts which may or may not refer to the little kilt. The consensus seems to be around the second quarter of the 18th century, but this is plausibly close to Rob Roy's time.

AFAIK having a kilt with plaid going across the body didn't appear until the early 19th century.

What strikes me is the general look of the kilt/plaid, which doesn't resemble any of the extant 17th and 18th century images in the slightest. The costumer is trying to eat their cake and have it too.

The sporran is good. But there's a Victorian plaid brooch! And the enormous buckle looks preposterous to me.

(This is said to be Liam Neeson's actual costume from the film.)