Newbie to the attire

**Dranoweb** · 11th August 13, 07:53 PM

Controversy aside - I wouldn't be comfortable in the wrong tartan, much the same as I would using someone else's surname.
We have settled on black watch, mostly due to the military connections - but later found connections back to the original family.
It also appears that Ross tartan is hard to find despite the commonality of the name, and as we are on a budget (saving it all for visa application fees), we have had to settle for something cheaper.

I have been doing a great deal of trawling through threads. Though I'm more focused on designing a sgian dubh, and kilt pins right now.

**Salvianus** · 12th August 13, 05:56 AM

Welcome from down under (from your perspective and why not!) - Blighty. As Nile said, you're in the right place for advice and guidance and (after having a look at your creations there) I can tell you some admiration for your work - lovely pieces!

I wear the kilt to honour my mother and her family who lived in Scotland and wear Black Watch myself a lot, again to honour my relatives and others who have served. Now I know what I'm doing I am saving up for a good kilt in the tartan of the clan of my surname - a branch of which I'm sure I'm related to, but I'm still pinning down the link, being a genealogy nut and it being quite a ways back.

My advice is to put advice into your own context by trawling the "Show us your Pics" section to illustrate approaches that might suit you for the wedding and other situations. While there are 'gold standard' rules for traditional attire in all situations, my Ozzie mates all lead me to expect flexibility and individuality to be respected if you desire it, especially in adapting to the weather ;-)

**Dranoweb** · 12th August 13, 07:50 AM

well I'm ex-mil myself, although no accomplishments to speak of there.
much of my family on both sides has served or had contact with the military in one way or another.

so black watch seemed appropriate in lieu of family tartan.