Traditional day dress c. 1870

[tulloch]

Ha! Wonderful!

I couldn't help but notice the brown ghillie brogues. Which also happens to be a commonly-seen style of shoe in the MacLeay portraits from the same era. Virtually no one wears these today. At least, not in that particular style.

What is unusual about them? That they are brown?

[Tobus]

What is unusual about them? That they are brown?

Yes, pretty much. If I see ghillie brogues today, they're usually black and polished. The ones in this cartoon, as well as the MacLeay portraits, seem to be brown, unpolished, and generally well-used. Plus, the style seems to be different than you see today. Thinner soles, more squared toes, and generally flatter (not rounded on top).

[MacLowlife]

Vanity Fair actually had at least four different kilted Scotsmen in their famous prints, along with several others in trousers or robes. Interestingly, the Marquess of Lorne is sometimes presented facing left and sometimes facing right. He married one of Queen Victoria's daughters, which may explain the caption

"If everywhere as successful as in love, a great destiny awaits him."

In fact, he was Governor general of Canada for about five years.

The three other prints I have found range nearly forty years (The Marquess's image was printed in 1870) and the colors would seem to reflect the continuing evolution of ink and printing. Two of them were issued in the early 1900s and they present stronger colors, though details of the tartans remain impressionistic. One from the 1890s is rendered almost entirely in shades of tan and brown, with only black and white- no blues or greens or reds.

I believe the colors in the original post represent a decision by the artist, based in part on the available technology and in part on his own artistic interpretation. Just as we are probably not meant to expect his ears to be as big as his brown shoes, we are probably not meant to expect to see the tartan exactly as shown. I asked the question, though, because of its resemblance to ancient or muted colors seen today.

But there is another explanation that might well apply- that the image has simply faded over the past 140 years. After seeing three or four different copies of the print, I am fairly sure that is not the case.

Take a look at the others for some more hints at Highland Dress of old.

http://www.vanityfairprints.com/?cat=2862

[CMcG]

http://www.vanityfairprints.com/?cat=2862

Let's see those in-thread, shall we?

'A Vanity Fair Print of Mr. Peter Jeffrey Mackie April 8th 1908 The Caption Reads ” Restless Peter ”'


'A Vanity Fair Print of Marquess of Tulibardine Dated March 23rd 1905 The Caption Reads ” Scottish Horse ”'


'A Vanity Fair Print of The Marquis Of Breadalbane Sept 13th 1894 The Caption Reads “ The Queen’s Lord Steward ”'


I especially like the last one showing the The Marquis Of Breadalbane wearing spats. Is that a stock tie or some type of cravat he is wearing?

[biblemonkey]

It is as I have told my wife, Highland Dress is so timeless that I could wear it 20 years from now (waistline permitting and the Good Lord tarries) and that offsets the extra cost quite nicely.

[Mr.Charles Anthony]

Readers;
As Mr.Newsome knows, this image is an example of 'fossileization' (sic)in Fashions, very little changes once the "Design" is agreed on. One thinks, of course, of the Amish folks. The curious image dates to just the period when the Highland Fashions settled on Form & Style-IMHO. "Roundabout coats'' and high collars went 'out', and this 'look' emerged. I suspect the odd belt is a spoof.
Thanks for the Image and the Look Back
CSA

[creagdhubh]

I love the fine example of day dress shown, and have seen this cartoon many times. I especially like the check in the jacket and waistcoat, the tan ghillie brogues, and definitely the full-mask sporran!

Cheers,

[Tartan Tess]

Is that some sort of hair braid off his sideburns?

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

Is that some sort of hair braid off his sideburns?

I suspect he's rolled his "Piccadilly Weepers".

[JSFMACLJR]

I suspect he's rolled his "Piccadilly Weepers".

Aye, indeed he has.