The dress uniform adopted after 1881 consisted of a scarlet single-breasted doublet which, below the waist, was much more complicated than the earlier tunic. The Inverness skirts were made up of two panels on the front hips and two on the back hips, with two smaller panels in the middle of the back between two large gilt buttons. Each of the four large panels had a false pocket flap decorated with three large buttons and long button-hole loops. Officers had gold loops, with the skirts and pocket flaps edged with white piping. The blue facings on the collar and gauntlet-style cuffs were edged with gold lace for officers, who also had gold loops and buttons on the cuff. The men had brass collar badges while the officer had embroidered collar badges.
The trousers were government tartan trews, worn from 1881 to around 1901, after which date Leslie tartan trews were issued. The officer in this print has a gold lace waist-belt for his broadsword, while the men have a white leather belt for their bayonet. The blue Prussian-style spiked helmet was worn from 1878 to 1904. The star-shaped plate on the front was, from 1878, of universal gilt or brass design with a castle badge in the centre—silver for officers and brass for the men. After 1884 the more familiar silver or white metal badge, previously worn on the glengarry, was fixed to the gilt or brass universal star. After 1887 the badge was altered to include ‘Scottish’ in the title. The artist has been careful to show the officer’s front peak as pointed, in contrast to the rounded peaks of the men.
This print was published in the Supplement to the Army & Navy Gazette on 4 Feb 1893, based on artwork by Richard Simkin.
