Victoria became England’s queen in 1837 and began visiting the highlands a few years later. In 1848 she and Prince Albert leased Scotland’s Balmoral Castle and decorated with Royal Stewart and other tartans. Two new tartans were developed in her honor, Victoria and Balmoral and, subsequently, plaid became an international fashion trend. Everyday people could follow royal fashions in the newspapers and popular magazines such as Godey’s Lady’s Book. Victoria’s love of plaid even pervaded Ohio style during the 1850s. Wealthier women worked with their dressmakers to turn yards of plaid silk into the full-skirted confections seen here.