Tartan at the Highland Games

**biblemonkey** · 9th August 11, 05:44 AM

Ok, I know that you CAN wear any tartan you like but I typically shy away from anything but my clan tartan at clan affiliated or Highland gatherings just so I'm not misidentified. Problem is my clan tank might be WAY to heavy and warm for observing and wandering the Highland games in Bethlehem, PA in September. My knock around is an ex-hire Muted Sutherland in 13 oz that is much more comfortable for hot weather but...well you see my dilema. I have a Scotland the Brave in 13 oz also but it's in MUCH better condition and I get the feeling I'd worry about it all day. And I'm certainly not going to wear my Graham Sportkilt to the event.

What say the rabble? Would it be in poor taste to wear the Sutherland in this context?

Hugh

**Jock Scot** · 9th August 11, 05:55 AM

Alright I am sitting in my "ivory tower" in the Scottish Highlands and ask you to look at your problem with the benefit of hindsight. So I wonder, given how you feel about your own tartan. Had you spent your cash on another lightweight tartan of YOUR Clan instead of buying other "unsuitable"(not your clan) tartans, would you not have needed to ask the question here, that you have?

OK that does not solve your present problem, but perhaps it is the obvious answer for future years?

**biblemonkey** · 9th August 11, 06:01 AM

Originally Posted by Jock Scot

Alright I am sitting in my "ivory tower" in the Scottish Highlands and ask you to look at your problem with the benefit of hindsight. So I wonder, had you spent your cash on another lightweight tartan of YOUR Clan instead of buying other "unsuitable"(not your clan) tartans, would you not have needed to ask the question here, that you have?

OK that does not solve your present problem, but perhaps it is the obvious answer for future years?

It was my first kilt and as it was ex-hire was all I could afford at the time. I like the kilt fine. I'm just leary of wearing it to the games.

So how about advice on the current situation?

Hugh

**cruiser348** · 9th August 11, 06:07 AM

The best advice I can give on the situation is that when at highland games I have never been asked about clan affiliation when wearing a tartan. Now, that may change if the games you go to have a stronger clan presence than the one's that I have attended. In that situation you could always borrow a quote from my father-in-law when he was asked about his kilt by the piper at my wedding, "As a true Scotsmen, I bought what was on sale."

**HeathBar** · 9th August 11, 06:12 AM

Wear your clan tartan. It won't be as bad as you are thinking. Just choose the rest of your dress accordingly. Look back at all the recent summer wear threads and go from there.

**MacMillans son** · 9th August 11, 06:30 AM

Biblemonkey,

As with most decisions, it seems you have competing values to decide about. As I see it, it is a matter of mentally more comfortable and slightly less physically comfortable, or slightly more physically comfortable and less mentally comfortable. I say slightly because unless the lower weight kilt is also much less yardage I don't believe their performance in the heat is going to be much different.

Given those two options I will always choose mental comfort. I would much rather spend the day walking around with my head held high while being a touch warm, than walking around slightly more comfortable with a sheepish feeling, worrying about having to explain to whomever why I am wearing a kilt that is not of my clan.

And a future projection of Jock's hindsight, perhaps you could start saving for a clan tartan kilt in a lighter material, if that would solve both issues for you, for next year.

I hope that helps.

**Jock Scot** · 9th August 11, 06:32 AM

Originally Posted by biblemonkey

It was my first kilt and as it was ex-hire was all I could afford at the time. I like the kilt fine. I'm just leary of wearing it to the games.

So how about advice on the current situation?

Hugh

Putting me on the spot eh?

Well if it were me visiting your games over there, then if I could not wear my own tartan(due to it being too hot) then I would not wear the kilt. So the choice would be, don't go, or, wear trousers!

**biblemonkey** · 9th August 11, 06:47 AM

Originally Posted by MacMillan's son

Biblemonkey,

As with most decisions, it seems you have competing values to decide about. As I see it, it is a matter of mentally more comfortable and slightly less physically comfortable, or slightly more physically comfortable and less mentally comfortable. I say slightly because unless the lower weight kilt is also much less yardage I don't believe their performance in the heat is going to be much different.

Given those two options I will always choose mental comfort. I would much rather spend the day walking around with my head held high while being a touch warm, than walking around slightly more comfortable with a sheepish feeling, worrying about having to explain to whomever why I am wearing a kilt that is not of my clan.

And a future projection of Jock's hindsight, perhaps you could start saving for a clan tartan kilt in a lighter material, if that would solve both issues for you, for next year.

I hope that helps.

Well, it's not a matter of "mental" comfort. I just wondered if it would be in bad taste. I would NEVER wear another clan at a clan function. It's just that sometimes clan organizations are being represented at the Highland games and I wondered would it be in bad taste to wear another clan in that type of environment or if the ol "wear what you please" rule would allow it?

In the future I do hope to get a lighter Graham in the "weathered" tartan but not yet as I have too many kilts already! According to my wife that is.

**Mael Coluim** · 9th August 11, 06:53 AM

Originally Posted by biblemonkey

<snip>
What say the rabble? Would it be in poor taste to wear the Sutherland in this context?

Hugh

No. If that is the kilt you are comfortable wearing, do it. There are no kilt police in PA. If someone asks about it tell them why you are wearing it today. No one here really cares what you wear.

**cdarwin** · 9th August 11, 07:07 AM

As others have mentioned, I wouldn't worry so much about the heat (or what others think). My favourite phrase in regards to this is something along the lines of, "When it's really hot, you will likely be physically uncomfortable in whatever you wear."

I wore a 16oz, 8 yard knife pleated kilt to the Grandfather Mountains Highland Games in early June. It was indeed very hot and humid, but I was dressed in what most here would consider casual, THD. Was I hot? Yes, along with everyone in attendance. But you better believe I looked damn good and proud in my heavyweight tank.