For years I observed ladies Of A Certain Age at Tartan Balls wearing wool floor ( or ankle) length skirts with frilly blouses and velvet jackets. The organization sponsoring these balls underwent a change in membership and the new younger members were married to women less inclined to dress that way. Some decided to simply wear cocktail dresses and the occasional sash or scarf and some decided to interpret Tartan a little differently. It helped that a few catalogues and designers have made tartan a centerpiece of their collections ( J Crew, Ralph Lauren Rugby, etc), but many clever women simply used tartan fabric for otherwise conventional evening wear. It is a shame that silk tartan costs so much, noticeably more than wool, but a taffeta gown made up in Munro Black and Red, for example, would be a beautiful thing. Depending on your wife's age and shape, she might want something more along the lines of a cocktail dress or even the dreaded long skirt.

Check out this vendor, whose website surely looks good:


http://www.clangatherings.com/

Of course, if you are looking for daywear, the same principles can be applied. Suits, jackets, skirts, trousers, all look good on some ladies and all look good in some tartans. Check out the Lasses Wear thread for plenty of ideas, good and bad- and remember the sage advice of one poster there, who pointed out that it is probably best to let her choose.

Good Luck