Tartan Etiquette

[unixken]

Conversely, if you'd generally prefer to stick with your particular clan's tartan, but would like some variety for different occasions and activities, it is entirely possible to consider building your kilt collection around: (*)

1.) different variants of the same basic tartan ("hunting", "dress/dance")...
2.) different color palettes ("modern", "ancient", "weathered", "reproduction")...
3.) different pleating styles (to sett, stripe, knife, box, kingussie)...
4.) different weights of fabric (regimental through lightweight, as appropriate)...
5.) different yardage (from 4yd box, to a full 8yd tank)...

* Some combinations would NOT make good choices... ie: low-yardage in a lightweight fabric would have no hope of any pleat "swish".

For example, these are all Buchanans...

Modern:
DSCN0296.jpg

Reproduction:
Buchanan Reproduction.jpg

Hunting:
DSCN0335.jpg

[TheOfficialBren]

Ken,
You wear your tartan with style. Very nice photos and sound advice, sir.

Conversely, if you'd generally prefer to stick with your particular clan's tartan, but would like some variety for different occasions and activities, it is entirely possible to consider building your kilt collection around: (*)

1.) different variants of the same basic tartan ("hunting", "dress/dance")...
2.) different color palettes ("modern", "ancient", "weathered", "reproduction")...
3.) different pleating styles (to sett, stripe, knife, box, kingussie)...
4.) different weights of fabric (regimental through lightweight, as appropriate)...
5.) different yardage (from 4yd box, to a full 8yd tank)...

* Some combinations would NOT make good choices... ie: low-yardage in a lightweight fabric would have no hope of any pleat "swish".

For example, these are all Buchanans...

Modern:
DSCN0296.jpg

Reproduction:
Buchanan Reproduction.jpg

Hunting:
DSCN0335.jpg

I will say this:
My clan's tartan is a bit expensive as it is not one of the most common ones. So, until I have the cash to spring for a higher-yardage kilt in that tartan I stick with a generic tartan (Holyrood) I don't have the "collect them all" mentality that some chaps do. I am not knocking it and that's for each person to decide for himself.

Best of luck, Psynister.

[FatherWilliam57]

Jason, I also was initially interested in tartan selection, but only as an intellectual exercise. I had no plans on wearing anything other than the clan tartan. However, if you are debating how many kilts to buy (and of what tartan), I would humbly note that I hope (someday) to have one of each of these (but for very specific reasons):

Clan - Henderson
District - Pennsylvania
Military - Navy Edzell
Clergy - Priest

Of course, there are no real "kilt police," but I choose to stay with those tartans with which I have a legitimate connection. YMMV...

NOTE: As of now, I only have one kilt, the Henderson tartan. If my purse never allows me to purchase any of the other three, I am perfectly satisfied with Jock's worldview: One kilt per customer.

[Guinness>water]

I guess I kind of live in all three opinion worlds. All of my real kilts are in my clans tartan (traditional view) but, I like a few of the non clan tartans and may buy one some day ( the "wear what you want" idea).

However, I may buy a kilt in the Macdonald tartan and wear it to honor that great clan. If I study the clans history, I would be able to tell people who ask, about all the awesome things the Macdonalds have done.

Through my studies, I have learned that per 45, particular tartans were not "assigned" to a particular clan and wearing what ever tartan you like is the most traditional thing you could do.

To each their own.

[O'Searcaigh]

I (supposedly) have ancestral ties to the House of Boyd (maternal grandfather) and Clan McIntyre (paternal grandmother) but my paternal surname is of Irish descent. It doesn't much matter to me because I don't really care for the Boyd or McIntyre tartans anyway. Neither do I care for the Edzell (U.S. Navy) or any of the other "legitimate" connections I supposedly have. What kilts do I have? Scottish National, (I like the green, red white and blue) County Tyrone (Irish origin of my surname and its a great looking maroon tartan) and Black Watch weathered (I like the subdued earthy tones). Given some people's curiosity about tartans, I think it is good idea to know what tartan your kilt is and be ready with an explanation of why you are wearing it -- even if it is because "I like it" or even "this is the one I could afford." This whole thing can get way out of hand. Wear what you like, are comfortable in, and have a good story to tell if anyone asks (some will, most won't). Most of all -- have fun; life's too short to take it all that seriously!

[Mike_Oettle]

Jason, you are most fortunate in being an American, and even more so in being a Texan. The Texas Blue Bonnet tartan is one of the most attractive ones around, and any Texan can wear it.
For me in South Africa, there are no district tartans at all, apart from one called South Africa that does not look anything like our current national flag and has no official standing.
I have designed a whole series of tartans for various parts of South Africa, and registered one called Spirit of 1994 which is (to my mind) a proper rendering of the national flag colours.
Sadly, none of them has yet been woven, nor have the four I designed for my family.
But as for a Psynister tartan, I would say go for it.
If it is sufficiently distinctive (not copying an existing sett) you should have it woven and wear it with pride.
At least nobody would be able to say you are stealing another clan’s tartan.
Regards,
Mike

[Deirachel]

Clergy - Priest

The tartan referred to here is another of the tartans which has a muddy clan/profession history, but usage over time has made a more "universal". The Clergy tartans (blue and green) are also for the surname Clark (the modern convention is different shades of the same colors, but the thread count is the same).

See Matt's excellent article about it.

[English Bloke]

Thanks Jock. You are an understanding fellow.

Me a bit extravagant? You could say that...

The tartan in question incidentally was Dutch Friendship. It's not commonly available but I'm off on a jolly with some friends in Rotterdam soon and felt it appropriate.

My mate Dave was wearing a 16oz Isle of Skye. RSVPiper was also wearing a beautiful tweed IoS which is a particularly unusual Kilt in that it's not often y ... ... Jock? Jock! Wake up!

See what I mean?

[rondo]

I have one of Matt's excellent Kingussie Kilts in my clan tartan [Dunbar] but my favorite kilt is in US Navy Edzell tartan [USA Kilts]. I feel a much stronger connection to my military service than to my clan so I will probably get a full on tank in the Navy tartan. Perhaps in a Harris tweed.
Rondo

[SorenMacTavish]

Great topic. Now I pose a question to the rabble...what does one do when after having traced ancestry/genealogy and has found direct descent from more than 6 clans? Would it be bad form to wear any/all of them individually? Thanks in advance.