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| Robe à la Française, 1760's |
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| Robe a la Francaise, ca 1765 |
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| Robe à la Française, 1770-1790 |
Not exactly plaid, but the pattern makes for a checkered look at a distance.
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| Robe à l'Anglaise, 1784-87 |
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| Silk caraco jacket, 1770's |
I love this fashion plate and I live in hope that someone will make it one day.
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| Journal des Dames et des Modes, 1797 |
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| François-Hubert Drouais, 1757 |
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| Princess Frederika Sophia Wilhelmina of Orange, nee Prussia by Johann Georg Ziesenis, 1768-1769 |
Her apron is clearly plaid, but is her caraco jacket? I think it looks spotted, but some say plaid.
+Plucking+the+Turkey.jpg) |
| Plucking the Turkey by Henry Walton, 1776 |
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| Young Moravian Girl. Johann Valentin Haidt |
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| Oyster vendor after Mercier. Mezzotint |
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| Portrait of a woman, unknown artist |
Tartan were around in the 18th century, and evidently not only used for kilts. An article on 17th and 18th century Scottish costume can be found here.
+Portrait+of+a+Jacobite+Lady_+myartprints_com+Edinburgh,+The+Drambuie+Collection.jpg) |
| Portrait of a Jacobite Lady by Cosmo Alexander, 1745-1750's |
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| Flora McDonal by Allan Ramsey, |
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| Sir Robert Dalrymple of Castleton, ca 1720 |
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| John Campbell by William Mosman, 1749 |
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| Dr. Sir Stuart Threipland, of Fingask |
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| James and Alexander McDonald by William Blake |
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| Prince Charles James Stuart by William Mosman, 1750 |
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| Woollen, twill-weave hard tartan man's coat, Scottish, 1740–50 Click on link for a larger picture. |
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| Waistcoat, 1775-80 |
8 comments:
Once upon a time, many years ago, I was part of an online forum for 18th century re-enactors and someone brought up that very myth. I pointed out the first image you've used, the KCI one, and was promptly told that it was a check not a plaid.
Your post has made me feel very vindicated. Thanks!
Comtesse Olympe: Yes, I think you should! In swedish we use just one word "rutigt" for both kind, but my understanding is that a check fabric has even squares in alternating colours, but a plaid has uneneven horizontal and vertical stripes that intersect each other and forms the pattern.
So you were right all along! :D
I've been corrected on the plaid issue as well. One man's "check" is another man's "cross-bar". Just the other day, I mentioned my personal quest for a South Carolinian tartan gown reference on Kitty Calash's blog. Thank you for the great gallery of examples!
There used to be a number of pink and sage plaid silk taffetas available, early 90s in particular - they would be perfect! But I cannot help feel that the resulting dress would remind people of a costume from a 1992 costume drama!
Sometimes old things look older when they are not modern looking ;-)
The Choll: Yes, I guess people define it differently. I just have to keep track on one word for it in Swedish. :)
MrsC: Yes, that is true. I would still love to have a tartan riding habit. I do have Scots in my family tree... ;)
I just finished a blog entry on picking fabrics, specifically cottons, for the 19th century, and how I educated my eye. Now I can add your information to my store of knowledge. And I love plaids! What woman doesn't? It will be on my radar next time I'm back in the 18th c.
Val
I love plaids! Such a great post! I'm adding a link to it on my website - more people need to know about early uses of plaid.
Time Traveling in Costume: It is a bit tricky to pick right, isn't it? And yes, I love plaid too!
Deb Salisbury: Thank you! And how sweet of you to link to me!
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