How common is the wear of a Plaid that is a different tartan than the Klt?

[HootinHoller]

Today's curiosity, I recon. I know a Plaid isn't all that common these days, but when you've seen one did it math the Kilt?

Both today and in history.

I'm mulling over getting a new kilt and *might* add a plaid to the order. But I also plan for the future to get a kilt in a different tartan for formal events and am wondering if I should learn how to do the knot work. Hmmm, Maybe I should, lol.

[JohntheBiker]

The quick answer is not very common at all. While I have a plaid that matches my family tartan, the only time I wore it was at my wedding. I would never wear it with another tartan. That having been said, there are military pipe bands with plaids that don't match their kilts. However, we are talking uniforms and they get to make their own rules.

[vmac3205]

Do not mix plaids. I don't event mix tartans within the same clan, like MacKenzie modern and MacKenzie hunting. Just don't do it. It looks bad. If the military does it, it is for a specific reason.

[usonian]

Not mixing setts is one thing that just about everyone here seems to completely agree on. The question has come up regarding the Atholl Highlanders' plaids not matching their kilts (Same tartan, but noticeably different colors) but in their case it's because most of their plaids are made of tartan woven by Wilson's of Bannockburn in the mid-1800s!

[unixken]

I would think it depends on what type of plaid. A Fly Plaid (which is meant to simulate the excess fabric of a great kilt draped over the shoulder, and would thus be expected to be of the same tartan as the kilt itself)... or a Shepherd's Plaid/Laird's Plaid, which is generally folder over the shoulder and intended to be "at the ready" for more utilitarian uses such as to offer a lady to use as a wrap when it's cold, to place on the ground as a picnic blanket, and so on. These are free of the requirement to "appear" as extensions of the fabric of the kilt, and thus are often seen in a non-matching pattern. That is not to say that one would generally pick another clan tartan, etc. But perhaps a given clan's hunting tartan to go with the same clan's principle tartan, or a more generic simple check pattern, etc., such as the one shown here: http://www.scotweb.co.uk/products/shepherds-plaid-men/ What kind of plaid are you asking about?

[Bruce Scott]

Deleted- repeated information already posted.

[MacRobert's Reply]

Two different tartans may be worn together quite properly as long as they are tartans of the same clan (hunting, dress, ancient, modern, weathered etc.) but never tartans of different clans.

[Jock Scot]

Two different tartans may be worn together quite properly as long as they are tartans of the same clan (hunting, dress, ancient, modern, weathered etc.) but never tartans of different clans.

Exactly so.

[HootinHoller]

Two different tartans may be worn together quite properly as long as they are tartans of the same clan (hunting, dress, ancient, modern, weathered etc.) but never tartans of different clans.

So then it wouldn't be acceptable to wear say a Clan tartan fly plaid with a regional or organization tartan.

[unixken]

In a nut shell... A fly plaid, when used, always matches the kilt.

A Shepherd's/Laird's plaid, when used, can be a different tartan, but never mix tartans of different CLANS.