Buttons on a Doublet

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

Hi Sandford,

I wonder if this is a class / dancing thing. It strikes me that different classes of person would have different levels of dress for 'best'. It would only be the upper classes of society who would have PCs and Doublets in their wardrobes and who would have attended the ultra-formal events.

Now, I know nothing about Scottish Country Dancing, but before, say 1970, I would think that it would have been confined mainly to Scotland. Would it have been possible for PCs and Doublets to have evolved to accommodate a different style of dancing and/or social event? If not dancing, then has there been a change in another formal social activity since 1860?

I don't know if this makes any sense at all and maybe the change was just a normal progression/evolution in the jacket.

Regards

Chas

I hope you (and Sandford) will excuse me for jumping in here, but the simple explanation for all the buttons is that Highland fashion followed the general trend of mens fashion. It has nothing to do with "social class" or "country dancing".

Dress coats, as we know them, really evolved from the formal jackets worn during the Regency period. Until the very early Victorian period a gentleman's dress coat was double breasted and did button. As dress jackets ceased to be buttoned the arrangement of buttons was altered to reflect this fact.

With the introduction of the "modern" evening dress coat, in late Victorian times, the double row of three buttons made a comeback. This was later carried over to Highland attire with the introduction of the now ubiquitous Prince Charlie coatee.

Because the mass produced PC uses the same bodice as the Standard Doublet, it was easier for clothing factories to treat both garments the same-- no one was apt to complain if their doublet had six front buttons, but customers on Sauchiehall street would howl like banshees if their PCs arrived with only four buttons!

I hope this rather general "overview" has answered your question.