Advice on Tartans

[shamrock715]

I'm new to this forum and am looking for advice. For my wedding in August I wanted to wear a kilt and the Kilkenny jacket and vest. My roots are Irish/German with a little sprinkling of English. I was looking to buy a wool kilt and found the perfect tartan in the Celtic Nations from USA Kilts since I have blood from 3 Celtic nations. Unfortunately they no longer carry the wool for that tartan and only offer it in PV. I've heard good things about PV but it should be noted that I tend to be a traditionalist so I want the traditional wool.

I've found some others in the American Heritage, German Heritage, County Kerry where my great grandfather is from, Irish National and Irish American but was wondering if there are any other tartans that anyone can suggest that would follow my roots. I'm trying to find something with some red in it which 3 of the above do.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks,
Matt

[tokareva]

Warning: I'm not qualified to answer your question but I'll give you my completely worthless opinion. I have the Celtic nations in the PV casual, Its nice enough in the front ,but the back is a sort of a rust brown and bright green when pleated to the stripe. I didn't realize that until it was too late or never would have ordered it. I call it the Christmas kilt and never wear it except near Xmas, so IF you do end up insisting on it I highly recommend you only get the kilt pleated to the sett. Personally I would rather have a 5 yard wool than 8 yard PV but others can discuss that with you.

[RichardtheLarge]

Tokareva,

I seldom understand your critiques of specific tartans, and this is no exception. When wearing highlandwear, men have access to color, and the colors have clan and/or symbolic regional associations. Thus, a kilt in blue and yellow is not an “Easter kilt” just as a kilt in black and rust colors would not be a “Halloween kilt”. I happen to like the effect produced by that tartan’s pleating to stripe, and many of the most famous and most magnificent tartans contain both red and green.

[RichardtheLarge]

Matt,

I would suggest reaching out to Rocky at USA kilts and seeing if that particular tartan might be available from another manufacturer, or by special order. They can and do order fabric from more than one mill, so it’s worth looking into.

If it were my wedding, and I was buying a kilt to wear, I would make every effort to buy a wool kilt of 5-9 yards.

[shamrock715]

I'm definitely buying a wool kilt and I've talked with USA Kilts a couple times in the last 2 weeks with questions. They have been very helpful and they had enough wool of the Celtic Nations for 1 more kilt when I talked to them last week but someone snapped it up in the week. My fault because I should have just put a down payment on it. You snooze you lose I guess. I asked him about it and they are discontinuing it from what he told me so they are not getting anymore of the wool in. Only offering it in the poly. Going with a 5 yard because I'm leaning heavy toward a box pleat rather than a knife pleat because I'm aesthetically drawn more to it. I can find another tartan. That what just happened to hit all the bases.

Thanks for the advice though on working with them. Maybe I can work it them and still get it.

Matt

[RichardtheLarge]

I'm definitely buying a wool kilt and I've talked with USA Kilts a couple times in the last 2 weeks with questions. They have been very helpful and they had enough wool of the Celtic Nations for 1 more kilt when I talked to them last week but someone snapped it up in the week. My fault because I should have just put a down payment on it. You snooze you lose I guess. I asked him about it and they are discontinuing it from what he told me so they are not getting anymore of the wool in. Only offering it in the poly. Going with a 5 yard because I'm leaning heavy toward a box pleat rather than a knife pleat because I'm aesthetically drawn more to it. I can find another tartan. That what just happened to hit all the bases.

Thanks for the advice though on working with them. Maybe I can work it them and still get it.

Matt

Well one can always prevail upon Dalgliesh or someone to do a customized run of a tartan, but I don’t even know how much it would cost. There are tartans associated with specific Irish surnames, if you want to go that route.

[KiltedSergeant]

Matt,

I would suggest reaching out to Rocky at USA kilts and seeing if that particular tartan might be available from another manufacturer, or by special order. They can and do order fabric from more than one mill, so it’s worth looking into.

If it were my wedding, and I was buying a kilt to wear, I would make every effort to buy a wool kilt of 5-9 yards.

I have had several tartans woven by Dalgliesh (click HERE) They will (they used to, and I believe still do) weave small runs just enough for a kilt. It is more expensive than off-the-shelf, but not as expensive as you might think. You should at least look into it. Also, their tartan cloth is first rate!

Good luck, and congratulations!

[tokareva]

Tokareva,

I seldom understand your critiques of specific tartans, and this is no exception. When wearing highlandwear, men have access to color, and the colors have clan and/or symbolic associations. Thus, a kilt in blue and yellow is not an “Easter kilt” just as a kilt in black and rust colors would not be a “Halloween kilt”. I happen to like the effect produced by that tartan’s pleating to stripe, and many of the most famous and most magnificent tartans contain both red and green.

Well as a disclaimer I did give a warning not to listen to my opinion, and I don't always understand my critiques either. In my defense however Rocky says on one of his videos that not all tartans look good pleated to the stripe, and I firmly believe this is one of them,but its just my opinion. If you like it its about 35" I will give you a great price.

[RichardtheLarge]

Well as a disclaimer I did give a warning not to listen to my opinion, and I don't always understand my critiques either.In my defense however Rocky says on one of his videos that not all tartans look good pleated to the stripe, and I firmly believe this is one of them,but its just my opinion.If you like it its about 35" I will give you a great price.

Too small for me! ; D

[FossilHunter]

Plus one on contacting rocky first. USA Kilts has great customer service.

Another Irish kilt pattern to consider is plain saffron. I prefer it to the Irish tartans.

I also second the recommendation of getting a tank kilt. I have a usak pv kilt and it looks really good but I wouldn’t wear it to my own wedding. I’d spring for the real deal.