Acceptable Plaids

[McMurdo]

First off

My tip would be if you like it, then wear it, to my mind anyway there is no such thing as an Acceptable Plaid, or rather an Un-Acceptable Plaid. There are certain tartans one should not wear in certain places, the Balmoral tartan to an audience with the Queen, if one is not Royalty springs to mind. As far as plaids go though they are all acceptable

[Woodsheal]

As was mentioned, in the period when the belted plaid was worn by "civilian" highlanders (roughly 1550-1750), the setts with white backgrounds were considered women's tartans. Other than that, pretty much anything goes, even solids.
Another consideration: tartans with bright, lively colors - especially red - were achieved with expensive imported dyes. These would be "rich guy's" tartans. Commoners would have more "earth-toned" setts derived from local dyestuff....

[JimB]

I think plaids like this are great to learn your kiltmaking skills. And my rule is, if it looks good and you like it, then fine. The kilt police can just go hang.
I have several in my closet that I used McFabricstore plaids to learn on, since while I am certifiably crazy, I am not stupid enough to make my first kilt out of $80 a yard tartan.

I think it's a good looking pattern. Go for it and enjoy. Most people I've run into wouldn't know one tartan/plaid from another anyway.

[Tartan Hiker]

If it's a cotton or cotton blend, why not run it through a tub of light brown RIT dye? That will tone down the white a bit and give it a more "ancient" (possibly a more "masculine") look.

[James MacMillan]

from Sunny Southern California, just outside the back gate of Camp Pendleton!

If I was making a great kilt - and I'm not - I would stick to a more subdued and basic tartan...... just my 1.378 cents.

[~JM~]

I going out to buy some more...without white...thanks folks.

[Dirk Skene]

JM, pick whatever you want that YOU thinks looks good & go for it. There are no real hard rules of what pattern you can wear.

[~JM~]

I found some great plaid for 3 bucks at a used clothing store. It was already cut and wrapped and I'm thinking it was previously used as a great kilt. The plaid is nice and dark but it doesn't hold a pleat.

Any tips on getting good pleats on a great kilt?

I'll try and post a pic of it latter.

[Mael Coluim]

Not to take away from the fun of great kilt mock up practice, here’s two articles by Matt Newsome that may help you as may yearn for something more authentic (whatever that maybe).

The Early History of the Great Kilt

Generations of Highland Dress

and

from the Old Dominion State!

[Nick the DSM]

well, you probably wont get the best pleats since you'll be hand-pleating them.