Question about men's clothing 19thC

[loo]

The gentleman is wearing pants which appear to have a gingham-like weave, a dark-light colour combination.  (The wife is wearing a dark-colured full length dress with a corset that pushes her up to unrealistic heights!  How did they wear those things?!)  It might be a wedding photo, as there are no children in it
.
Hubby thinks the gingham-style weave dates from US Civil War or thereabouts.  Photo taken in Canada.  Judging by ages etc., it must have been between about 1860 and 1880, but I wondered if anything knew anything about these pants!  Was it a passing fad, or was it associated with some symbolism?  They look strange, to me!

[old rowley]

Hi Loo,

any chance that you can post the photograph restoration board so that we can have a look, that way you might get a better response to your question.

old rowley

[loo]

I'm technologically challenged, so, no, I would find that difficult at this stage.
However, I actualaly found this photo  online, and the pants are quite visible if the photo is lightened up, which even I can do!
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~gaelynn/merrick.htm - I'm looking at the very first photo, of William Merrick and Maria Golden.  (This is not my site.)

[chinakay]

Hi loo...judging by the woman's skirt, sleeves and hairstyle I'd put this photo between 1865 and 1868 or very close to this frame. It's a pity it's not your website because this is a lovely photo and could be vastly improved by our restorers! I did download it but am not sure I should be posting someone else's stuff without permission. Unfortunately I know nothing about the pants in question.

Why don't you write to the owners of this website and invite them over to the Photo Restoration board at Rootschat!

Cheers,
China

[Siamese Girl]

I think the trousers would just be in a houndstooth check pattern - I think it was just the fashion at the time and doesn't have any  other connotation.

Carole

[loo]

Thank you both.
I had no idea it was possible to narrow down the woman's clothes to such a narrow time frame!  I'm so pleased to have found this photo, as it is by far the oldest I have found in my tree.
I neglected to mention that the couple were born in the 1837-1840 range, but I don't know when they married.

I actually have written to the person in question, but have not received a response.  I fear the email addy may be out of date, as they so often are.  It would be a great idea, though, to get her to submit the photos for restoration, as she has several, and she might appreciate it even more than I!