Ancient and weathered tartans

[Sir Didymous]

Okay, I know that modern tartans are obviously fair game as it relates to formal attire. I am also reasonably certain that their ancient colored counter parts are as well. But I am not sure if weathered tartans are considered appropriate. My church is having a black tie evening next month just as something fun. I am buying a new kilt for such occasions and am trying to decide on which variation of the tartan to go with. I have a weird type of color blindness that stops me from being able to tell the difference between colors that are too similar. Which this means that on say the Ferguson modern tartan I have trouble seeing the green against the "cobalt" back ground. I much perfur the Ferguson ancient because I can see the difference in colors. But I also like the weathered variant because it's something that I havent seen much. I was wondwering if I should consider it as an option for my formal kilt?

[unixken]

The Ancient tends toward the blues and greens, where the Weathered tones more toward browns and grays. I think they both look wonderful, and would work equally well. I'd see no issue with either one. Between all the Black Watch, Scottish National, and other blue and green tartans typically seen, the brown/gray tones would stand apart from the crowd.

[pascs]

I think if you are buying a kilt specifically for black tie events then I wouldnt buy a weathered tartan. One of my kilts is a beautiful Mackenzie Weathered kilt but due to its weathered colours, to me, it just doesnt look quite right with a formal black jacket, white shirt and black tie. If I wear my normal Mackenzie Modern kilt for black tie then it looks fine.

I can wear the Weathered Mackenzie with a black or brown shirt, tweed tie and charcoal jacket. This would be ok for a formal event but probably not acceptable at a black tie event.

[Downunder Kilt]

I can wear the Weathered Mackenzie with a black or brown shirt, tweed tie and charcoal jacket. This would be ok for a formal event but probably not acceptable at a black tie event.

I don't know if there is a english language breakdown here, but formal is black/white tie. Or if during the day, formal would be morning suit equivalent.

For the OP, I would wear a weathered tartan to a formal event, in fact, I have, it was a MacLaren tartan kilt. The only difference to the Ferguson tartan is that our yellow stripe is your white stripe

[pascs]

I don't know if there is a english language breakdown here, but formal is black/white tie. Or if during the day, formal would be morning suit equivalent.

For the OP, I would wear a weathered tartan to a formal event, in fact, I have, it was a MacLaren tartan kilt. The only difference to the Ferguson tartan is that our yellow stripe is your white stripe

Sorry typo on my part should have written informal

I think it depends on the weathered tartan, my Mackenzie weathered is light browns and greys which I dont feel goes well with black jacket etc. However if the tartan is more blues and greens then that would fit better.

I do have our local Burns night tonight so might try out the weathered tartan and see how it looks

[John_Carrick]

I wear my Weathered Gordon to black tie events and see it as my best kilt. My three other "good" kilts are ancient tartans and I would wear any of them with a PC.
John

[Chas]

Am I missing something, because I am really struggling to understand the question?

If a tartan is the official tartan of a Clan, how can the colourway palette affect its formality?

Surely the quality of the kilt (yardage, material weight, stitching) is more important than the colour?

Regards

Chas

[pascs]

Weathered tartans normally comprise of faded colours such as greys and browns and they are designed to look as if the fabric has faded over many years of use and normally worn as day wear. There is no reason that these weathered tartans can not be worn with black tie but since the aim of the tartan is to look worn, old and faded it would not be what you would normally pick as your best kilt to wear with your best formal black jacket and black tie.

However that is just my opinion and with everything regarding kilts there is no reason that you cant wear your kilt anyway you want

[M. A. C. Newsome]

There is nothing anywhere that says a particular color palette, be it weathered, ancient, modern, muted, etc., is more suited to one level or formality than another. There is absolutely no reason under the sun that you could not wear a weathered tartan to a formal event. The only determining factor is personal preference.

[creagdhubh]

There is nothing anywhere that says a particular color palette, be it weathered, ancient, modern, muted, etc., is more suited to one level or formality than another. There is absolutely no reason under the sun that you could not wear a weathered tartan to a formal event. The only determining factor is personal preference.

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