Advice about Tartan Ribbon

[ABG0819]

I was wondering how to incorporate tartan ribbon into my kilted outfit since my kilt is solid black. (Graham of Montrose Tartan) Check out the picture and let me know what you think.





Thanks for the help

Graham

[Whidbey78]

Looks pretty slick as is.

Maybe flashes? They may look out of place with a solid kilt though.

[davidlpope]

Can you help us a bit by explaining why you want to add tartan ribbon? I'm not sure that I've ever seen it incorporated into highland attire, except maybe as a kilt bow/ rosette/ Gaelic knot. Those aren't normally worn by civilians, though...

If you're wanting to show your loyalty to a particular clan, the proper method is a clansman's badge (usually on the bonnet) and a sprig of the plant-badge behind the rosette on the bonnet.

Perhaps a tartan waistcoat (on the bias) if you're really wedded to the notion of a solid black kilt and want to incorporate tartan?

David

[McMurdo]

I'm a little puzzled at your describing what appears to be a solid black kilt as the Graham of Montrose tartan. I thought I'd point you to Lochcarron's site and what they call Graham of Montrose, even the modern variant is not solid black. Please explain to me how this can be? As for the tartan ribbon, I'd give it a pass. If you really want tartan wear a kilt in a tartan instead of solid black or a waistcoat etc, as David has suggested.

http://www.lochcarron.com/tartanstro..._montrose.html

[piperdbh]

You could make rosette out of the ribbon and wear it as a kilt pin. (I've never seen this done, and it might look sort of strange.) You could wear the rosette pinned to your bonnet, with a clan badge buckled over it. That would look pretty snazzy, I believe.

[tulloch]

I think you both look great and wouldn't change a thing about you.

[OC Richard]

You could make tartan ribbon bows such as were worn by the Black Watch and currently worn by The Royal Regiment of Scotland. They're called "rosettes" by the regiment.

Here's a Black Watch kilt with them:



And here's the Drum Major of the Black Watch with his grassgreen bows, and the Pipe Major with his Royal Stewart tartan bows:



and another view of the Pipe Major bows:



Here's Gordon tartan bows I made back in the 1980's and stuck on my Gordon kilt:



Tartan bows on a plain kilt would probably look very nice.

[Chas]

Hi Graham,

Another thought is to fashion a bow/rosette to go behind your clan crest badge on your Balmoral.


I think the Graham of Montrose is a very attractive tartan:



My advice would be to start saving. Contact all the kilt makers here at XMTS and find out exactly how much they will charge you for supply and make.

By the way, I think your outfit looks good.

Regards

Chas

[ABG0819]

Ok, apparently I wasn't clear. My kilt is black, the ribbon is in Graham of Montrose Tartan. We ordered the ribbon for our upcoming wedding to make a rosette and for handfasting. I have several pieces left over and was wanting to use it. I have every intention of getting a Graham tartan kilt in the future, but I want it to be a tank and I'm waiting on the money to do so.

Thanks again

Graham

And yes it is a beautiful tartan

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

I have every intention of getting a Graham tartan kilt in the future, but I want it to be a tank and I'm waiting on the money to do so.

This is probably the second smartest decision you will make in your entire life. You are about to marry the smartest decision you've ever made.