Can anyone wear any tartan?

[Master K9]

Being relatively new to the kilt thing..I was just wondering.....I'm put in mind of the whole, "If you didn't earn it, you can't wear it," thing....

There are several tartans that my name is associated with, on both sides of my family....then there are the sort of generic tartans that some believe anyone can wear. Of course there are the Military Services Tartans and the State and National Tartans, also. My question is; Is it proper for anyone to wear any tartan?

[James MacMillan]

My question is; Is it proper for anyone to wear any tartan?

Answer: Yes!

[Jock Scot]

You can wear nearly(there are a few exceptions,Balmoral for one) any tartan you wish. Some people are more posessive with "their" tartan than others, but if you wear your tartan kilt well and take the trouble to learn a bit of the history that goes with it, then all will be well.

[Alexaye]

You certainly can wear any tartan you like, what ever takes your fancy. But you say you have associated family connections so if you want you can with authority wear those. But whats wrong with wearing one that you like just for looks. Go for it you need to feel good or whats the point.
Alex

[Alexaye]

I'm not sure if the tartan police have visas for the states so i think your safe.

[McMurdo]

Yes you can wear any tartan you like (as Jock says Balmoral excepted), however it is a good idea to know a bit about the tartan, or the clan, just know a bit of history, you will get questions.

Personally I would think the best bet would be to go for a tartan that has personal significance be it a family connection, service connection or other.

[gilmore]

You can wear any tartan you want. Whether your should is a different matter.

To wear the tartan of a clan one has no association with simply because one finds the colors groovy is, to my mind, rather superficial and silly.

[Rob MacDonald]

You can wear any tartan you want. Whether your should is a different matter.

To wear the tartan of a clan one has no association with simply because one finds the colors groovy is, to my mind, rather superficial and silly.

Some tartans are the 'trademarked' 'copyright' of the owner and are no one else's business, and a reputable weaver won't sell a piece of that sett to an unauthorized buyer.

I once had a punter that wanted a kilt in the 'Chief's sett' of the MacKinnons. I told him that I would gladly make him that kilt upon his produced a notarized letter from the owner of that sett as I expected, I never heard from him again.

as to 'groovy' colour selection, that's how all the 'old' setts were designed in the first place.

As I've said elsewhere, there's nothing to prevent you from wearing the RCMP tartan, but if you aren't a current or retired 'horseman' you are going to be spending a lot of time walking backwards while you explain WHY you're wearing it - and some folks I know won't pause to hear an explanation before they get physical......

[Phogfan86]

"To wear the tartan of a clan one has no association with simply because one finds the colors groovy is, to my mind, rather superficial and silly."

"How the Scots Invented the Modern World" and several other books I've read said that clan chiefs used to pick up new kilts often, regardless of the tartan, when they'd travel. Those books also say that most chiefs seemed to take the philosophy, the louder, the better.

So a groovy color or sett was exactly what the chiefs used to look for.

[gilmore]

"To wear the tartan of a clan one has no association with simply because one finds the colors groovy is, to my mind, rather superficial and silly."

"How the Scots Invented the Modern World" and several other books I've read said that clan chiefs used to pick up new kilts often, regardless of the tartan, when they'd travel. Those books also say that most chiefs seemed to take the philosophy, the louder, the better.

So a groovy color or sett was exactly what the chiefs used to look for.

That was chiefs, then. We (many of us) are clan members, theoretically at least followers of the chief, now.