Wear of Clan Tartan by non-Clan Members

[Kilted Cole]

"I suspect that those who today suggest the kilt is actually an English garment may have ulterior motives. Perhaps they enjoy acting like someone “in on the secret” at Scottish gatherings. People like believing that they have privileged knowledge. These ideas could also be attractive to those non-Scots tempted to wear the kilt, but who assume one must have Scottish blood in order to do so. If the kilt is really an English garment, then the question of ethnicity doesn’t matter so much.

To them I say, go ahead – wear the kilt! But don’t feel the need to justify it with false history. We have much to learn from Rawlinson in that regard. He was an Englishman who felt at ease adopting the Highland dress as his own. And if we are to believe John Taylor, another Englishman who visited the Highlands one hundred years before Rawlinson, the tradition of non-Scots adopting the Highland garb is a long one. In his account of his visit to Braemar in 1618, he wrote, “As for their attire, any man of whatsoever degree that comes among them must not disdain to wear it; for if they do then they will disdain to hunt… but if men be kind to them, and be in their habit, then they are conquered with kindness, and sport will be plentiful.”

So non-Scots certainly may wear the kilt. But when you do so, remember that you are wearing the Scottish National Dress! "

A quote from Newsome's site. I personally am of the school that since tartan wasn't originally designed as "by clan", if anything your paying a complement to the clan who's colors your sport'n. IMHO make sure pleats are in the rear, aprons to the front, and don't make a donkey of yourself wearing it and one shouldn't have too much of an issue. Keep in mind, not to be disrepectfull but.....if someone is a member of either the fassion police or the tartan police I usually refuse to assosiate myself with them. When at gathering's or burn's night's it's probably more appropriate to wear a tartan that you have a close affiliation with, but again as stated by many already, there is no concrete law by wich you could have fines levied against you or possible jail time.....well at least not for about 200 and a few extra yrs now.. I personally have 1 kilts who's clan affiliated tartan I have NO connection with at all, the colors look good on me and complement many of my outfitts, and I think the said tartan is georgeous! I have never once been asked my personal affiliation to that clan, just simply "what clan is that?" I tell the questioning person and then the conversation either goes further into why I chose to wear the kilt or the conversation ends. But I'm ranting and few by now are probably still reading at this length. It boils down to how you go about wearing it. Out of respect, or as a costume. If the later....well your probably not a member of this site and are 3 sheet's through pledge week or homecoming.