Thanks for the Blackwatch info J. Carbomb

[Jimmy Carbomb]

THIS thread is exactly why I love this place! NOW we're talking about the tartans and KILTS!!!!! I don't need read some guy's post on how to accessorize a Hello Kitty Skirt on Casual Dress Fridays in San Francisco!!!

I'm also ecstatic to see that there are others out there who realize that the tartans DO infact still mean something!!! ENOUGH of this cr_p about just getting guys into skirts!!! Kilts are NOT skirts!!!

Thanks to those who realize that Kilts are Kilts! Thanks to those who realize that tartans are not just a "pretty pattern to go with a sweater"!!! Thanks to those who appreciate the traditions and history!!!

There are plenty of "generic plaids" and "bumble bees" that can be worn by people, to avoid tartan jumping. They are out there, and SHOULD be offered as options by every kiltmaker. Not everyone avoids tartan jumping with solids.

G_d, I love this forum. Thanks Hank!!!

[highlandtide]

Here here, Carbomb! It has made this young lad happy as well!

[Celt]

Aye! I'll drink to that!

(What am I saying...I'll drink to just about anything...)

[bubba]

Celt, what do you mean just about?

[Celt]

Well, a toast to the health of any Brit royalty gives me serious pause, but other than that ....

[shillelaghbruises]

Getting back to the whole tartan thing, there are plenty of other non clan tartans other than Black Watch that can be worn by people who don't have a clan affiliation. The Black Watch tartan isn't just a generic one, it is the tartan of a military regiment, and while I think it looks good, it wouldn't wear it out of principal. As a side note, as cool as is to see lots of people getting into kilts rather than skirts, its nice to have tartan kilts (or at least clan and district tartans) reserved for those of us with a Celtic heritage.

[allenlynott]

I have worn my BW tartan kilt at last years St. Patrick's Day Parade. Not one person noted the tartan, just the kilt itself. I believe that one should wear the tartan to the clan that they are associated with. I am very fortunate, becouse I am associated with many tartans. These include the Americas and the State of Colorado as well as family. One shouldn't have to look hard to find a tartan. When I found out that my family hails from County Mayo inIreland, that was two tartans right there: County Mayo and Cannought District. Not to mention the tartans of my Scottish/Irish wife and her family.

I was told that a person would adopt the tartan of the dominant clan. Her mother's maiden name is Gunn. Her grandmother is a Stewart. They are more dominant clans than Lynott. So, I wear the Gunn tartan. I wear the BW tartan becouse it is more of a "catch all" tartan and not to mention, it looks good.

Cheers,

Allen

[John in Texas]

I agree that if you do a bit of checking, there are numerous tartans available, such as district & even National tartans.
I am Clan MacKintosh, which also happens to be the head of the Clan Chattan Confederation, so I suppose (still looking into it) that I can also wear the Chattan if I chose. (correct me, please , if I am mistaken)

I have seen a Confederate (as in U.S. Civil War) Memorial Tartan, that is registered, and looks awesome, you dont find many grey based tartans out there.The Scottish National & Irish National are also great tartans that can & should be worn by anyone interested in kilts.
I love seeing a good tartan, I know Bear Kilts has at least a couple of "generic" tartans, and I believe Sportkilts.com has several generics as well.


Good luck, and be proud of whatever you wear, as long as it's a KILT and not a plaid skirt, lmao.

[erudite]

Ummmm, I thought the expression for a tartan that anyone can wear is a "universal tartan". Generic sounds so "cheap." I wouldn't think of Black Watch or Royal Stewart as "generic" Unless you mean the "faux tartans" that some are offering. I like Sportkilts, but Conan? and Barney? I guess they could be generica, sans raison.

[David E]

OK, I'm confused

Other threads on this site and on Bravehearts give the impression that the general view regarding tartans is that you should feel free to wear whatever tartan(s) you take a liking to. I was told that people wouldn't mind, and may even be pleased that you liked their clan's tartan enough to want to wear it. However, this thread seems to totally contradict that.

I bought a kilt of the Modern Douglas tartan because I really liked the tartan (having taken advice on Bravehearts). I am not aware of any scottish ancestry and certainly have not proven any "entitlement" to wear that tartan (I assume it is a clan tartan). Have I committed a grave error?

I don't wish to offend anyone and there certainly seems some sentiment here that a clan tartan is "sacred" because of the meaning and heritage associated with it. John in Texas' story regarding the beret is a very good example of an item of clothing having special meaning. If someone has earnt the right to wear a certain item, then somebody else wearing that item who hasn't earnt it would understandably cause offence.

I guess the only thing I would say is that sensitivities could be mistaken for elitism and that may well put a lot of men off wearing kilts that otherwise would, and I think that would be a real shame.

I won't stop wearing my Modern Douglas kilt as I love it (and I don't yet own enough kilts to compensate for losing one), but I would be interested to hear your opinions as I don't want to make the same mistake again if, indeed, it was a mistake.

Cheers
David (feeling a bit of an outsider!)