"New" Clan MacTavish Dress Tartan

[David Thorpe]

Thanks to the efforts of our Clan Chief, our girls now have a tartan with which to proudly represent Clan MacTavish in Highland Dance competition and exhibition. It is not really new, dating back to at least 1845 and likely considerably further.

http://www.tartanregister.gov.uk/tar...aspx?ref=10731

[Tam Piperson]

I've never been a fan of the white-based dress/airsaid/dance tartans. The red MacTavish tartan is quite striking though, and the blue Thompson tartan is very lovely as a dress tartan, and the brown hunting MacTavish is handsome as well. I can't say the same for this new dancer's tartan however.

[Jock Scot]

I wonder? I wonder, if we have another trans-Atlantic divergence of definition going on here? To me and most in the UK "dress" means formal, so when I hear of a "dress" tartan which to me, at least, means a formal evening dress tartan, for men in a kilt form. For example the MacLeod of Lewis(loud MacLeod) is the "dress"(formal) tartan for MacLeod of Harris and has absolutely nothing to do with female attire as such.

Thoughts anyone?

[MacRobert's Reply]

Interesting question Jock.

Growing up I heard of the "dress tartan" which was for formal wear such as evening dress and posh events such as family weddings, and "hunting tartan" which was for day wear. As a boy I had a red "Dress Robertson" kilt for the former and the green "Hunting Robertson" for the latter ... and still do.

I can't remember much reference to tartans specifically for women or for highland dancing, except that they generally had a white base colour.

[AKScott]

I really don't "know" Jock.

At one time I thought a dress tartan would be for formal occasions. However, the "dress" tartan for clan Scott is one of the white based ones typically reserved for ladies dancing 'dresses', or so I thought once I searched enough threads here.

For now I have chosen to not order a kilt in my clan's dress tartan, I have seen a picture of one in the clan newsletter and for now I will stick with my green and my monochrome and dream about sending a length of red off to BarbT someday.

[Tam Piperson]

I wonder if the black & white "dress" Scott tartan (shown here worn by Mr. Scott on Star Trek) was actually intended to be more of a border/shepherd's check?

[AKScott]

I wonder if the black & white "dress" Scott tartan (shown here worn by Mr. Scott on Star Trek) was actually intended to be more of a border/shepherd's check?

I think I heard somewhere there are only seven registered monochrome setts, counting Northumberland shepard's check as one of the seven.

Scott dress #1 is here: http://www.tartanregister.gov.uk/tar....aspx?ref=3697

Scott dress #2: http://www.tartanregister.gov.uk/tar....aspx?ref=3698

Scott monochrome is rendered on the register as mostly black with a little white:http://www.tartanregister.gov.uk/tar....aspx?ref=3691

though when I do see it I generally see it rendered as mostly white with a little black: http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum3....-please-71062/

and rendered mostly white in Strome: http://www.lochcarron.com/tartanstro...and_white.html

I would be willing to wager, subject to forum rules of course in a friendly way with no money on the line, that we'll find no rhyme or reason to this. I'll wager there are so many exceptions that it is about pointless to try to even come up with a generalization.

From what I have been able to figure out about my own clan setts, the green is more or less the day wear kilt and you might buy a kilt in clan red for formal wear, or you could just get a red one and have the one kilt.

But a delightful new sett for the MacTavish's no mater who ears it. Also, thanks Kyle for your illustrative examples, I am seeing these in a new light.

[David Thorpe]

I wonder? I wonder, if we have another trans-Atlantic divergence of definition going on here? To me and most in the UK "dress" means formal, so when I hear of a "dress" tartan which to me, at least, means a formal evening dress tartan, for men in a kilt form. For example the MacLeod of Lewis(loud MacLeod) is the "dress"(formal) tartan for MacLeod of Harris and has absolutely nothing to do with female attire as such.

Thoughts anyone?

"Dress" has become, at least in some circles, the term used to describe tartans with white fields most often worn by Highland dancers. A perusal of "Dress" clan tartan listings will bear this out. Our small clan has not had an official dress tartan for over 150 years, so MacTavish (and many Thompson) girls have had to choose another clan's tartan for competition. Our Chief has remedied that, with my thanks on the girls' behalf.

[Jock Scot]

Oh I quite accept that many(most possibly) Clans do not have a "dress"(formal) tartan and never have, but it still raises the question of "definition divergence" and the potential muddle we all could be headed towards. Perhaps its best to have a muddle so that we can spend the next umpteen years trying to sort it out!

Sigh and sigh again.

Oh crumbs perish the thought of endless round and round pointless discussion thirty times a year.

Still let us look on the bright side! It will make a pleasent change from the white hose/flat cap/kilt height debate!

[creagdhubh]

Very smart, David. Thanks for sharing.

Us Macphersons are quite fond of our 'dress' tartan, which also happens to be one of our oldest setts.











Cheers,