A tartan among us

[corbmonster]

Why not look into the US Navy tartan? Here is an old thread on it

http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/f...uestion-63508/

Because it isn't an option I can exchange my impulsive purchase for.

[corbmonster]

I think I've made up my mind with Scottish National.

[Mike_Oettle]

Corbmonster, since you have made your selection, this is probably redundant, but since you asked: “Am I safe in assuming heritage of Scotland, and Scottish national are universal?” I thought I would venture a reply.
The simple answer is that if a tartan is specifically for a clan, for a military unit or for some other corporate, you are not really supposed to wear it unless you belong. (Since there are no kilt police, you could go ahead and wear it anyway, but that is not answering your question.)
But a great many tartans, particularly those with the word Scotland in their name, are fashion setts, not owned by any such organisation. (The exception is the one simply called Scotland, which is a family tartan.) This means that Spirit of Scotland, Scotland’s Heritage or even Scottish National are available for anyone to wear. (So far, at any rate, Scottish National has not been adopted by the Scottish Parliament or any other official body.)
While Black Watch is associated with the Royal Regiment of Scotland, and with the Canadian regiment affiliated to it, it is a universal tartan. But even in its military use, it has been worn by other regiments (notably the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders in both Scotland and Canada). The Argylls wear it in muted shades (unlike the harsh modern dark blue and dark green of Black Watch regimental), and the muted version is also officially the tartan of Clan Campbell, as well as the hunting tartan of about half a dozen other clans.
For this reason many folk who are not associated with one of the regiments or clans mentioned prefer to avoid it. But it is nonetheless acknowledged as a universal tartan, as is Royal Stewart, which has traditionally been regarded as the property of the British sovereign. Royal Stewart is also worn by military pipe bands with specific royal associations. But civilian pipe bands with no royal connections also wear it, as do many ordinary folk, whether they have it in kilt form or some other format.
There are several other tartans that are either generally regarded as universal, or have been specified as such by their designers. But I would not recommend all of them to people wanting a universal tartan.
I have just overheard a colleague saying: “You’ve got to know the rules before you can break them.” He was not talking of kilts or tartans, but it’s a principle to go by with regard to tartan, too.
Regards,
Mike

[Steve Ashton]

To any member of this forum.

Please keep in mind that X Marks has its own Tartan. It was designed specifically for X Marks and any member here may wear it with pride.

Designed by our own Matt Newsome, it is registered as the world's first Tartan specifically for an internet group.

This is your family Tartan.

[KSmedic]

To any member of this forum.

Please keep in mind that X Marks has its own Tartan. It was designed specifically for X Marks and any member here may wear it with pride.

Designed by our own Matt Newsome, it is registered as the world's first Tartan specifically for an internet group.

This is your family Tartan.

And in all honesty, I think it's a particularly attractive tartan, to boot. Ultimately, you can wear whatever tartan you damn well please, and you're not likely to get a great deal of flack for it. I think I speak for most folks when I say that if you choose to wear a tartan specific to a clan, military service, or whatever, that you do so honorably. I wear either the Graham tartan, or the Marine Corps tartan. Both have great meaning to me, so I ask that what those tartans represent be respected. You can, of course, wear whatever you want, but please remember that those tartans symbolize a great deal to some of us.

[Sir Didymous]

I think I've made up my mind with Scottish National.

That's a good tartan. I wear it myself as it has a lot going for it. It seems to be universal, though it bears a strong similarity to several out there and I have had it mistaken for both Makenzie: http://www.tartanregister.gov.uk/tar....aspx?ref=2523
and Ferguson: http://www.tartanregister.gov.uk/tar....aspx?ref=1165. Just for comparison here is the Scottish National: http://www.tartanregister.gov.uk/tar....aspx?ref=3730

[mookien]

I think I've made up my mind with Scottish National.

That's an excellent choice. To me it is a traditional-looking tartan designed for anyone to proudly wear. I don't have a kilt in that tartan, but I wish I did. In the past I've come close to buying one.

If you would like to see how it looks with some fine Scottish hose, check out the catalog available by going to the House of Cheviot web page at

http://www.houseofcheviot.com/

and downloading their Highland Collection 2014 catalog. It shows some models wearing the Scottish National tartan.

If/when you get it, don't forget the pics.

[corbmonster]

Thanks everyone for the good info!

[DyerStraits]

I think I've made up my mind with Scottish National.

My first kilt was a Scottish National. Versatile colors, distinctive but not too "loud" but also not too subdued either. Excellent choice--I'm sure you'll be very happy with it.

[dea3369]

True, one of my kilts is Black Watch and about 1/3 to 1/2 of the time the question is "Is that your family tartan?"

And the (tongue-in-cheek) answer to that is, "No, it's actually my daughter's Catholic school uniform!"