Tartan sashes, worn by males, worn with suits?

[Highwayman]

Morning everybody. To start, I belong to a Masonic organization known as the Scottish Rite...which is actually French, the Scottish bit is a bit of myth about its founders. But nonetheless, they like the Scottish theme for decoration and events. There's a group of very active members known as the Knights of St. Andrew who take this up a notch, wearing bonnets, tartan sashes, and sometimes kilts if they're bold enough. Each unit of these gentlemen selects a tartan to identify themselves, for example the new Springfield unit uses the Utah Masonic pattern while our group in Chicago wears the USA Bicentennial pattern. They always wear blue blazers with tartan sashes wrapped over one shoulder, I've only seen one try a kilt on one occasion. However, looking into the history of the regalia following a discussion about my possibly joining this group, I price-checked how much one of these sashes would cost and was surprised to find men's sashes weren't listed. Because apparently, men did not wear sashes? I asked the guys and they said theirs came from Sportkilts...Which now I'm told is a site famous for selling sashes in general quite contrary to tradition. However, every unit of these Knights nationwide wears a sash in their tartan, for better or worse it's their uniform.

Now, it gets worse. My favorite dealer just advertised a killer sale on sashes, both in my family's tartan, and in a very awesome patriotic pattern that's more subdued than the Bicentennial. My main pursuit in my organization is to make rounds every year presenting awards to JROTC cadets for their community service and academic achievements, I was a cadet myself and I love being able to put on a good show for a lucky cadet while they're in the spotlight. I'm usually in a dark suit, sometimes with Masonic accessories on very special occasions, but everyone seems disappointed I'm not in a kilt or sash. While I personally think my kilt would go a bit too far and would rob these wonderful teens of their time in the spotlight, I'm looking at this American-themed sash and wondering how it would look draped over my shoulder as I present an award thanking cadets for their patriotism. No, it's not Scottish tradition, but this group admits we're not Scottish. Would this be a feasible breach of protocol, or would this haunt me like my popped collar phase?

[RockyR]

If it's the group's "uniform", then go for it, so long as you're aware that outside of the group, sashes are worn by women and you shouldn't wear it with a kilt. My $.02.

[Taskr]

The Knights of Columbus wear a Council sash. No, it is not tartan. It's in the purple tones/hues. Many commonwealth Infanrty Senior NCO wear a red sash, and some officers wear a cross-belt that is basically an adorned leather or gold wire sash. If a tartan sash is the uniform of the organization I'd think a sash is a sash regardless of its construction; solid, gold wire, tartan or otherwise.

[figheadair]

I'm reminded of this which was previously posted on the forum.

[RockyR]

Figheadair, I hadn't come across that image before. Are you saying tartan sashes for men have historical precedence?

I have often thought about the older photos we're shown on the forum. It has occurred that someone points to a photo and says "see, this person did _____ back in 1890, so it's historically accurate." I think to myself (and have had the discussion with employees, some of whom are re-enactors), "Did the person in the older photo know what they were doing or was that the 100 + year old version of a NOOB who had his photograph taken, immortalizing a bad fashion choice, which confuses us in the present to think something was "historically accurate" which was otherwise a faux pas."

[macwilkin]

Just a point of information, but in some Scottish Constitution (S.C.) lodges, tartan trimmed aprons and even sashes are worn:

http://lodgehanyang.org/wp-content/u...7431778943.jpg

When I was WM of my lodge back in 1999-2000, we adopted Stewart Hunting as official lodge tartan, in honour of the first travelling military lodge in North America, which was made up of members of the old 1st Regiment of Foot, the Royal Scots. I was lucky to get my officers to purchase a tartan tie to be worn with suits and sport coats. :-)

I also have a picture of an organization, the Royal Highlanders, which was organized in Nebraska and had lodges ("castles" throughout the Upper Midwest) that wore "romanticized" Scottish attire. You can see the photo with my article on Iowa's Scottish history:

http://www.scottishtartans.org/iowa.htm

Note that both men and women are wearing sashes. In this case, I think Rocky's advice is sound: if it is being worn as part of the KSA uniform, then it is appropriate. For your suit, May I suggest a tartan or club tie? There a number of masonic-themed ties available for the craft lodge and other appendant bodies. When I was WM, I frequently wore the striped tie of the United Grand Lodge of Queensland, Australia, which had been presented to me by a friend who was a PM of Lodge Scotia No. 263 in Brisbane.

S & F,

T.

[IsaacW]

Figheadair, I hadn't come across that image before.

That is a photo of my great-great-grandfather, John Campbell Delany. It was taken in Poynette, WI sometime in the 1920s (best guess on the date). It does not look like a "real" kilt. I asked more of the family and to my best understanding, John was going to a Curling Bonspiel when this photo was taken. I ASSUME that this was a homemade attempt at a kilt and plaid that he or his wife created for the occasion. From family stories, it sounds as he wore it certainly more than once.

Isaac