Will a bit of tartan do?

[Detroitpete]

(Moderators, please move this thread if I have posted it in the wrong place.)

Believe it or not, there are some places and times where I cannot or choose not to wear a kilt. I have a myriad of reasons which I'm sure others do as well. That being said, I have found myself lately still wanting to wear a bit of tartan. Sometimes these are professional/work related events, sometimes more casual--but the dynamics involved preclude me from always going kilted.

So what says the rabble? If you aren't wearing a kilt, but would like to show a bit of tartan, what would you choose? Pictures posted in response would be greatly appreciated!

Anyone else need a tartan fix?

[cessna152towser]

A tartan waistcoat and neck tie would would work well with dark coloured trousers.

[piperdbh]

I recently ordered a tartan scarf, which I'll use if we ever get any cold weather. Some jackets and coats are lined with tartan; I plan to have a couple of rocking chairs reupholstered in different tartans. I don't wear neck ties very often, but I have a tartan one for when the itch hits me. You could have a shirt made in your family colors, if a manufacturer hasn't done so already.

[Hothir Ethelnor]

Tartan waistcoats are very nice with trousers (nicer with a matching kilt though...)

A popular and less expensive expression would be a tartan tie. I think they look quite smart.

[lethearen]

A tie would be the easiest and least expensive means, I suppose. I have a tartan tie that gets worn often, a flat cap worn very often, and a scarf. I love the scarf! But of course living in Texas I get a couple months wear out of it at best :P A waistcoat will be purchased before too long.

If you wear suit jackets or sports coats often, I think a tartan pocket square would be a smart and dashing accent.

It's not tartan, but I have a feathered clan crest pin I sometimes wear, as well.

Or you could always get yourself a pair of trews

[BoldHighlander]

I had a Gordon tartan waistcoat/vest that my sister made for my 1860's style wedding, that I also wore later as part of my reenactor kit (2nd Kentucky Cavalry "Morgan's Raiders"):



it also served me well in both formal & informal occassions (along w/ the bonnet), as here with my daughter Shannon Morgan (back in 1999):



and on trips, such as this one to Texas....here standing next to the Alamo's Long Barracks where my cousin Robert B. Moore (of the New Orleans Greys) was billeted:



...and here at the Texas Rangers Museum in Waco, with the cannon that was used by the Frontier Battalion:

[wildrover]

If the material weren't expensive, I'd put tartan on a lot of things. Inside of the hood of one's hoodie is always a good place...it could have a place on snowboarding pants...goggle strap...stuff like that. Pocket square/tie/cufflinks are always excellent options, but I have fewer opportunities to wear that sort of clothing.

It's not so much kilt related, as it is showing the family colors.

[Detroitpete]

Great ideas all! Thanks for the pictures! Please keep them and the suggestions coming.

[NewEnglander]

I have a MacPherson scarf and tie. And I recently purchased a flannel shirt from L.L. Bean in Royal Stewart. I like the pocket square idea! Any thoughts on where to find one in clan tartans?

[lethearen]

I have a MacPherson scarf and tie. And I recently purchased a flannel shirt from L.L. Bean in Royal Stewart. I like the pocket square idea! Any thoughts on where to find one in clan tartans?

Scotweb has a small collection of silk handkerchiefs (72 tartans). Scotclans has a much broader collection of pocket squares, made of wool. Both places are across the pond, but look like around 10-15$ give or take.

Other options would be to procure a small bit and make your own. Possibly by ordering a swatch, or using scraps from a kilt you had made. I've got some PV coming in my tartan for a wee bit of reupholstering, and hope to have enough for a square.