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.

[figheadair]

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.

Really? I don't see what the problem is, nor do others such as Clanranald (already posted by Nathan) or Donanld Cameron of Lochiel

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.

This of course implies that tartan associations are set hard and fast, which they are not. I might choose to wear a MacDonald related kilt and a plaid in what is now called MacIntyre but in reality is an old 18th century sett that pre-dates its adoption by the clan. Is that wrong? Or how about wearing a Munro plaid, again, a tartan that is much older than its current clan connection. There are many more examples, all of which go to show that trying to apply 'rules' to tartan is like running on quicksand - likely to sink at the first step.

[OC Richard]

This is one of my all-time favourite pipe band photos, the Isle Of Skye Pipe Band many years ago, which often appears on post cards.

Note that the kilts and plaids are two different MacDonald tartans. I love it! I don't think any non-Highland band would do such a thing.



Of course kiltwearing is far older than the concept of "clan tartans". Here are the MacDonald children mid 18th century. As you can see each garment is its own unique tartan. The kilt, jacket, and waistcoat of the child on the right are of three different tartans, though all use the same colours and do not clash. Wonderful to see this continue, on Skye, over 200 years later.



Sad in a way that hundreds of years of continuity on Skye has passed away, and the Isle Of Skye Pipe Band has switched to kilts of a recently designed tartan- Isle Of Skye!



Then, as now, the Drum Major is wearing an army kilt, not the kilt of the band. (And I think I spot a Queens Own Highlanders plaid brooch.)

[Jock Scot]

Of course you are right Peter, but to be fair though, you are speaking from somewhat of a rarified atmosphere.

For us mere mortals that work from more shallow knowledge probably based on a "tartanarus" style book, or hand-me-down information based on doubtful foundations, then there are quite understandable conclusions made, if sometimes inaccurate ones, that are drawn. Please keep on keeping us out of those quicksands!

[MacRobert's Reply]

Point well made Peter but post-18th Century conventions still have some currency and, while not solid ground, can save us from social approbation.