Mixing tartans

[Guthrumironhead]

I'm looking for opinions on a tartan waistcoat I'm considering. I recently discovered Clan Donald ancestry and I'm wondering if it would be appropriate to have a waistcoat made in modern MacDonald of the Isles red for wear with my modern Guthrie kilt. I think they would look good together, but I realize this might not be the thing to do. I'll include samples of each for those who don't recall what the tartans look like.IMG_1694.jpgIMG_2332.jpg


Too much? Picture it with a black Argyll jacket and red and black diced hose...

[Macman]

I tend to look at it this way: am I a Guthrie or am I a MacDonald? I understand that some like to wear tartans from their family tree, but I think most of them just wear one clan at a time. I don't even mix my own clan tartans (Mackintosh).

[Manu]

I don't think mixing tartans is a good idea, as it sends a mixed message. I don't know the history behind the two tartans presented by you, but remember some clans had some rather negative things to say about other clans, which would make it weird if the Donalds and Guthries were at each other's throats. I'd just get another kilt in McDonald tartan =)

[Guthrumironhead]

Thanks for the thoughts. I especially like the idea of another kilt. 😁

[figheadair]

The mixing of tartans appears to have been common practice in the 18th century, the naming of tartans is a 19th cnetury thing. I'm a fan of mixing tartans in the right circumstances, evening dress etc.

[Jock Scot]

Mixing tartan of the same Clan is done by those that know what they are doing. The mixing of tartan from different Clans is best avoided these days.