Kilt Etiquette

[tundramanq]

Welcome to the rabble Mike. I ditto all the above. As a "dipping your toe into the pond" kilt, just about all will do. Then if kilts are for you, then you need to be concerned about fabric that dosen't pill easily, is easy to care for, holds a pleat well, custom tailored etc. I have acrylics from 3 sources and they all pill to some extent - OK if you rarely wear and wash them. But as a continuous kilt wearer in the US, I have found no better than Rockys USAK PV casuals - inexpensive, made to fit you and they don't pill and hold a crease through many machine washes and hang drying cycles. have just placed an order for numbers 9 & 10 USAK Casual tartans. In your warm climate, dry clean wool isn't needed for warmth, but it has great waggle.

I truly have a hard time remembering which tartan I have on when asked - especially in low light. Warrior looks like Spirit of Scotland except for the white stripe and Stewart Black looks a lot like MacPherson Red in the dim pubs. The outtake is a lot of tartans differ only in the fine details that are hard to pick out in a complicated tartan. It is nice and neat to have some knowladge on tap for ones who do ask about the tartan.

[flairball]

Where what you like. A kilt is just a garment, and tartan just a design. Besides, this is a free country. There are no tartan police, and there is even a sticky to let everyone know this. There are no more clans, only clan societies. No one is going to recognize the tartan and ask you if you're their long lost cousin, or expect an explanation. Is it nice to have a kilt to which you have a connection? Yes. Is it nessecary? No.

You should, however, be prepared for lots of questions like; Are you Scottish?, Do you play the bagpipes?, Are you Irish?(?), What are you wearing underneath your kilt?.

[Fedgunner]

For economy, it is hard to beat a Stillwater heavy weight.
Tartans? What I tell most folks is "buy what pleases you". That said, if you choose a tartan not your own it will likely be moved on before too long. ( this is what happened with my SWK Lamont heavy weight).

There are many "universal" tartans. Black watch being the most common, followed by Royal Stewart.
Of my kilts I have two "fashion" tartans. Holyrood and the "banned" MacMillan.
I also have two kilts in tartans I have no claim to. A Campbell ancient (my wife's clan) and a clan Brown (a rather expensive geneology error).
I wear them all without concern.

I would add that if you choose a clan tartan not your own, wear it with respect.

[David Thorpe]

Where [sic] what you like. A kilt is just a garment, and tartan just a design.

To you. Others feel much differently.

There are no more clans, only clan societies.

Not true at all. The clans are far different than they were 300 years ago, to be sure, but the Standing Council of Chiefs should be evidence enough that clans, at least in the hearts and minds of many people are alive and well in their present form.

No one is going to recognize the tartan and ask you if you're their long lost cousin, or expect an explanation.

Again, not true at all. It has evidently not happened to you. That does not qualify a statement implied to be universal.

I fully understand that many people have little or no regard or respect for the clans and their tartans. I accept this as an unfortunate, sad fact over which neither I nor anyone else has any control. That will not, however, stop me from voicing my sentiments on the matter whenever such a cavalier attitude is stated - especially in the context of a reply to a question from someone seeking honest advice.

[tundramanq]

My first USAK Casual was in the X MarkstheScot tartan. Is it considered a fashion or clan tartan - think about it - we are about as close here as many clan affiliations?

[MacRobert's Reply]

I would take David Thorpe's well-informed advice. If you wear a clan tartan, at least in Scotland, you will very likely have members of that clan introducing themselves to you because they recognise 'their' tartan. Being a fellow clan member or having a good story to account for wearing a particular clan tartan is good practice and demonstrates that you respect Scottish culture and sensitivities.

Last year at a kilted wedding one of the guests wearing the hunting tartan immediately recognised my clan tartan and introduced himself. Standing outside a Glasgow hotel on my way to a reception I was approached by two Canadians and someone from the US who recognised 'their' tartan and introduced themselves as fellow clansmen and women. In my experience this is a fairly common phenomenon.

[flairball]

To you. Others feel much differently.



Not true at all. The clans are far different than they were 300 years ago, to be sure, but the Standing Council of Chiefs should be evidence enough that clans, at least in the hearts and minds of many people are alive and well in their present form.



Again, not true at all. It has evidently not happened to you. That does not qualify a statement implied to be universal.

I fully understand that many people have little or no regard or respect for the clans and their tartans. I accept this as an unfortunate, sad fact over which neither I nor anyone else has any control. That will not, however, stop me from voicing my sentiments on the matter whenever such a cavalier attitude is stated - especially in the context of a reply to a question from someone seeking honest advice.

David, thank you for pointing out my where/wear mistake. It's early, and I've been running on low coffee.

As to the rest of your points, meh. Xmarks is a different, and I dare say special place. There is a wealth of knowledge, and trivia spread here. However, a kilt is just a garment, and tartan a design, no matter what passion, nostalgia, or superstition one ascribes to "their" kilt & tartan. The OP may wear whatever tartan he pleases, and needs no more reason than he likes the design.

Like I said, there are no tartan police, but sometimes I think there are people who wish there were.

Voice your "opinion" all you want, but don't dare suggest I shouldn't express mine.

[madmacs]

I can honestly say that I never had anyone discuss the tartan of the kilt I was wearing it Scotland (maybe the British are just a little more reserved)

In the US however... Quite the opposite, including accusing my maclean of being royal stewart...

If you like it wear it... But have the courtesy to know a little about it...

As for stillwater... A stillwater standard came into my hands recently, and I would say I'm impressed with what you get for the price... And it's washable... Does it compare to a £600 wool kilt? I'd say about 75%... Haven't seen the wool, but I'd guess the quality if as good as the acrylic... Long term might differ though... But you only wanted a short term fix didnt you?

[Panache]

Evening all,

Finally buying my first kilt soon, but I'm facing a bit of a dilemma. Is it poor form to sport the tartan of a clan other than one's own? If so, I'll go with Black Watch, because frankly, I can't at the moment afford my clan (£600 being a wee bit difficult).

Also, I'm looking to buy from Stillwater; any feedback on them?

Cheers,

Mike

Mike,

I have been wearing kilts on a weekly basis for eight years and I have collected a number of kilts in that time. Some of them them are universal (Black Watch, Black Stewart, Isle of Skye, etc), some are solid color (black, green), some are my family tartans (Galbraith), some are tartans from my wife's family (Mcleod, and MacNicol), and some are other clan's tartans (Lamont, MacNaughton, and now Anderson)

In that time I have never received any....ANY negative comments about the tartan or color of the kilt I was wearing from ANYONE.

My MacNaughton friends were thrilled when Walkerk and I bought MacNaughton tartans from USA Kilts. I have had proud Mcleods and Lamonts approach me in stores so happy to see their tartan.

If you would like proof that you will not offend anyone my wearing a tartan other than your own clan please look at this thread

http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/f...sh-kilt-77837/

I was generously given an Anderson tartan kilt and please read the reactions of all the proud Andersons!

Pretty positive.

I do recommend that whatever tartan you choose you take the very small amount of time needed to look up the clan or origin of the tartan so you can answer questions when people ask about your handsome colors.

Cheers

Jamie

PS: I have 4 Stillwater heavyweights and think they are grand!

PPS: Rocky over at USA Kilts has the Galbraith tartan and it is a handsome one, well worth considering! (so says a proud Galbraith)

[llyd]

Long and short, wear what you want, after all, the kilt is about freedom....if you don't believe me, go watch Braveheart..lol....

Very few people will get upsett (hehe) those that do are perfectly welcome to urinate elswhere/ preferably up a wet rope.