Clan tartan ties, unforgivable sin?

[MacKenzie]

To me, looking at this photo, I think the thing that stands out the most for me, is the White Hose. The White Hose just does not fit at all...

Could just be the picture, but the hose do not look white to me at all - not stark "rental hose" white anyway. They look gray or natural. And I think they "fit" just fine.

[Moses]

If you look closely, you'll see the gentleman in question (at right in the photo) has feathers in his bonnet. That is the late Douglas Gordon, 12th Marquis of Huntly, former Chief of Clan Gordon. He isn't just some random chap in his Gordon clan gear. I leave it to the readers to determine whether he has the street cred to pull off wearing a tartan tie with a kilt.

Thanks Tobus - I did not notice, never looked above his shoulders.

So one could reference such the esteemed gentleman as the 12th Marquis of Huntly and Sir Sean Connery.

[Tobus]

So one could reference such the esteemed gentleman as the 12th Marquis of Huntly and Sir Sean Connery.

One could reference Sir Sean Connery, but to be honest, I wouldn't necessarily hold him as the pinnacle of sartorial elegance when it comes to the kilt. He is a native Scot, yes, but he is not a native Highlander. He was not steeped in kilt-wearing culture or Highland clan matters as he grew up. He puts on the kilt occasionally as a matter of national pride, as many Lowlanders do, without the benefit of knowing the traditions. It shows in the way he wears it. He usually looks like he walked right out of a hire shop.

Now, I respect Sean Connery for many reasons and do not wish to speak ill of the man. He's a treasure. But just because he is a celebrity and a wonderful actor doesn't make him any sort of authority on kilt-wearing. He simply doesn't come from that background. I'm not saying he always gets it wrong. I'm just saying he doesn't always get it right.

As for the Chief of Clan Gordon, he is (or was, I should say) more steeped in the traditions. And he was, quite literally as the Chief, an authority on certain matters of dress pertaining to his clan. Does it mean he should be taken as a golden example of how to wear a kilt and its accessories? Maybe, maybe not. Just because he wears a tartan tie with his kilt doesn't necessarily make it part of the tradition. My only point was that it certainly isn't the sort of thing where people will refuse to be seen with you in public if you do it. But judging by all the other evidence, the wearing of tartan ties with kilts does not seem to be the norm. Rare examples like this are just that: rare.

[Father Bill]

We're getting into one of those situations where a few examples are held up as proof that something is the norm.

To the contrary, they're often just examples that support the preference of the one who is touting them rather than examples of norms, usual style, best practices, or excellence. Just because Toad of Toad Hall does something, doesn't mean that all the other animals should do the same.

[Liam]

This is how I dressed for an antique photo studio picture 3 years ago to celebrate our 40th wedding anniversary.

[MacKenzie]

Sharp, Liam.

[plaid preacher]

Very nice, Laim. What is the tartan?

[Liam]

Very nice, Laim. What is the tartan?

It is the Rennie family tartan, designed by Xmarker Peter MacDonald. Our family had a special weave of enough to make 11 Kilts 9 years ago.

[lschwartz]

...I have read that a clan tartan tie is a no no, because it probably won't match your kilt even if it is supposed to, and I have checked my tie, and discovered, yes the dyes are different, but will anyone really notice?

If the colors matching is the issue then find a tie that matches the colors in the kilts tartan. If you are having the kilt made, ask them to make you a necktie and a bowtie from the same fabric.

Another answer is to just tell the naysayers that one is older than the other and it is just faded/weathered.

And, there is always taking the long walk off of a short pier.

Larry

[Laurentius]

One could reference Sir Sean Connery, but to be honest, I wouldn't necessarily hold him as the pinnacle of sartorial elegance when it comes to the kilt. He is a native Scot, yes, but he is not a native Highlander. He was not steeped in kilt-wearing culture or Highland clan matters as he grew up. He puts on the kilt occasionally as a matter of national pride, as many Lowlanders do, without the benefit of knowing the traditions. It shows in the way he wears it. He usually looks like he walked right out of a hire shop.

Now, I respect Sean Connery for many reasons and do not wish to speak ill of the man. He's a treasure. But just because he is a celebrity and a wonderful actor doesn't make him any sort of authority on kilt-wearing. He simply doesn't come from that background. I'm not saying he always gets it wrong. I'm just saying he doesn't always get it right.

As for the Chief of Clan Gordon, he is (or was, I should say) more steeped in the traditions. And he was, quite literally as the Chief, an authority on certain matters of dress pertaining to his clan. Does it mean he should be taken as a golden example of how to wear a kilt and its accessories? Maybe, maybe not. Just because he wears a tartan tie with his kilt doesn't necessarily make it part of the tradition. My only point was that it certainly isn't the sort of thing where people will refuse to be seen with you in public if you do it. But judging by all the other evidence, the wearing of tartan ties with kilts does not seem to be the norm. Rare examples like this are just that: rare.

I am not a native highlander either the history of the Elliot clan being in dispute, they were of course lowlanders in the times of record but like everyone else in Victorian times swept up with the tartan vogue. However I believe they were originally from the Highlands but that was before the time of the kilt so never mind all of that and it was all certainly before the time of the neck tie.