Mixing Tartan Variations?

[FatherWilliam57]

If my wife were to wear a hostess skirt made from Henderson Modern with her sash which is Henderson Ancient, would that be considered odd, perfectly accetable, "just not done," or "go for it"?

[Dale-of-Cedars]

Purely from my reading on this site, I'd say most would say it was perfectly acceptable.
While it is an entirely different circumstance, the Atholl Highlanders wear the kilt in the Modern colours with a plaid in the Ancient of their tartan.
atholl_highlanders_infantry.jpg

[Phil]

It is perfectly acceptable to wear different variants of the same tartan as you propose.

[Jock Scot]

As the others have rightly said, go ahead it is perfectly acceptable.

[creagdhubh]

As the others have rightly said, go ahead it is perfectly acceptable.

Indeed, it is perfectly acceptable. As long as the tartan is the same sett, then it will look fine. I sometimes wear a tartan waistcoat in the Macpherson red 'modern' colour scheme with a kilt in the Macpherson red 'ancient' colour scheme and vice versa. There have been several photos posted on the forum before of gents, who dress more along the traditional lines, in Scotland doing the same thing. The Atholl Highlanders are a prime example as well. The only thing I wouldn't do, is wear, say the Macpherson hunting 'ancient' with the Macpherson red 'modern' colour scheme - they are two completely different setts and from an aesthetic point of view, it just wouldn't look very smart.

Cheers,

[Nathan]

This is interesting to me. I was under the impression that the garments should come from the same cloth so that the colours and set size would be identical. I even thought I read that here. Help me understand the nuance here. My father has a waistcoat in clanranald modern that he had made in 1970. I have a clanranald kilt that was handmade by my brother (xman here) last year that is also modern but the colours are more vibrant and the set is somewhat larger. I would think these would make an odd combination. Am I wrong?

[creagdhubh]

This is interesting to me. I was under the impression that the garments should come from the same cloth so that the colours and set size would be identical. I even thought I read that here. Help me understand the nuance here. My father has a waistcoat in clanranald modern that he had made in 1970. I have a clanranald kilt that was handmade by my brother (xman here) last year that is also modern but the colours are more vibrant and the set is somewhat larger. I would think these would make an odd combination. Am I wrong?

If you can, take a photo or two of the tartans together and post them. Let's have a look and allow the rabble to gather a general consensus!

[JSFMACLJR]

This is interesting to me. I was under the impression that the garments should come from the same cloth so that the colours and set size would be identical. I even thought I read that here. Help me understand the nuance here. My father has a waistcoat in clanranald modern that he had made in 1970. I have a clanranald kilt that was handmade by my brother (xman here) last year that is also modern but the colours are more vibrant and the set is somewhat larger. I would think these would make an odd combination. Am I wrong?

IMHO, you are not wrong at all. Go ahead and wear the waistcoat with the kilt.

[creagdhubh]

IMHO, you are not wrong at all. Go ahead and wear the waistcoat with the kilt.

That's what I was thinking too Sandy, I just wanted to actually see the tartans together as well!

[Nathan]

They are both being altered, but the waistcoat isn't cut on the bias, and the white stripe has yellowed with age and nicotine exposure. When I get them both from the kiltmaker, I'll take a photo, but I have to say in advance, that I'm not a fan of how they look together. It will be interesting to see the consensus. BTW: WBHenry: sorry to hijack your thread. Hope your question was answered...