Everyday Highland Dress

Everyday Highland Dress

ID: QZP40_130_P060 DESCRIPTION: Dress for ordinary people in the Highlands in the early 18th century was a fairly simple affair. Men wore a piece of cloth known as a plaid, about 4-6 yards long and 2 yards wide, which was tied round the waist in pleats or folds. The lower part was to reach to the middle of the knee joint and the upper part was then fastened over the left shoulder with a large brooch or pin. A vest could also be worn under the plaid. As there were no pockets in the plaid, men wore a simple purse or sporran tied in front at the waist. It was also common for men to carry other essential items with them such as a dirk, a knife and fork, and a pair of steel pistols. Shoes were uncommon and men either tied a piece of leather round their feet or went barefoot. Women also wore a plaid with a long sleeved vest underneath. A woman's plaid reached from her neck down to her feet and was tied across her breast with a large buckle and round the waist with a leather belt. Until they married, or reached a certain age, women went about with their heads bare. After that a woman wore a headdress, called a curch, which was made of linen and tied under the chin. This illustration was taken from 'Letters from a Gentleman in the North of Scotland to his friend in London'. The letters, which were published anonymously, are by Edmund Burt, who died in 1755 PLACENAME: Inverness OLD COUNTY/PARISH: INVERNESS: Inverness and Bona DATE OF IMAGE: 1760 PERIOD: 1720s SOURCE: Highland Libraries COLLECTION: Fraser Mackintosh Collection (illustrations) Asset ID: 30905 KEYWORDS: