Hunting Stewart Kilt in Reproduction Colours from D.C. Dalgliesh

[Godot]

Follow the rule on tattoos that I used to tell my students. Once you decide you want it, and are fully committed with money in hand to buy it, wait 6 months. If you still want it after 6 months go for it. I'd also make sure you know when you'll wear it. That's an expensive kilt to leave hanging in the closet. But it is a great tartan, I must agree.

[DyerStraits]

Follow the rule on tattoos that I used to tell my students. Once you decide you want it, and are fully committed with money in hand to buy it, wait 6 months. If you still want it after 6 months go for it. I'd also make sure you know when you'll wear it. That's an expensive kilt to leave hanging in the closet. But it is a great tartan, I must agree.

Now there's some guidance for you, from an educator, no less. I agree, that really is a fine weathered tartan. If I had a kilt made from it, I'd absolutely wear it to pieces.

[Carlo]

If you should decide to go for it, I will send you my measurements.

[TheOfficialBren]

Gezz, Kyle! Pick a difficult topic, why don't you, man!
:-)

My primary claim to Highland lineage is through my farher's mother (Shaw).

My father's paternal line (Colbert [we pronounce the "t"]--we are not French and the French name is derrived from the Scottish one, not vice-versa) is earliest found in Galloway and the name is derrived from the name "Cuthbert." The name is also found in Ireland and England, it should be noted, but the earliest instances, even spelled the way that we spell it, are certainly found in Modern Scotland (it was the Kingdom of Northumbria then). There was no "Scot" land at the time but many peoples.

As you know I wear the Robertson Hunting tartan mainly. My maternal grandmother was a Robertson. I love the sett. It's gorgeous.

If I were to go back I'd maybe just the Shaw tartan and be done with it. I bought it during a time that I was researching my maternal geneology and was going through some deep, personal growth and the women in my life were strong anchors for me. The women in our family are all tough, independent, fiercely loyal, hearty women with whom one does not meddle unless at one's peril. They are have the blood of the Gael, the Cherokee, and the Normans coursing through their veins.

I was caught up in the romanticism of this then-unexplored lineage. Now that the emotion has calmed, I certainly don't have buyers' remourse, as it were, but feom time-to-time I do think about 'switching.' I am a bit cinflicted here but I think, in the end, I'm probably seriously over-thinking and should be grateful to be able to afford any kilt(s) at all.

I have a nice Holyrood that I've not worn since my Robertson arrived last year...

Do what thou wilt, friend of mine. You'll get no judgement from me.

(Apologies for the length, but it seemed necessary to help, my friend.)

[The Wizard of BC]

It is sort of strange because I have little or no Scottish connection, but I do have an appreciation for Tartan. I appreciate the colors and the designs. I appreciate the subtle interactions of color in the parts where two colors mix.

I sometime just look through my swatch books without looking at the names of a Tartans. Just to appreciate the patterns themselves.

But some cannot ever see what I see. They see the name. And some see only the name. They do not care what the Tartan looks like or what color it is. They only know that it carries the name.

And I feel that is truly unfortunate. There are some really beautiful Tartans out there. They should be appreciated for the art that they are.

And there are some Tartans which are not so nice. Sometimes the nice ones carry Clan names and sometimes not so nice Tartans carry Clan names too.

To me, who does not claim a Clan Tartan, I have wondered, if the name were not attached to a Tartan design, would some people actually wear it? Are they wearing it just because of the name? Even if they don't like the Tartan for its artistic value?

Because I don't wear Tartan for its name I can appreciate it for its beauty alone. I feel just a bit sorry for those who cannot feel the same emotion over a beautiful piece of Tartan.

From my perspective I feel that it is a bit strange that some would feel that they are in some way traitorous for appreciating beauty for it own sake. I wonder if we sometimes put so much emphasis on the name that we forget about the beauty.

We I were to take the advice offered above about waiting six months I would still choose beauty over name.

But I will avoid wearing a kilt in a Clan Tartan out of respect. But a universal Tartan? Well, Isle of Skye is universal and beautiful to me. I have no problem wearing a kilt in the Isle of Skye Tartan even though I am not from Skye and have never even been there.

If someone were to find a Tartan that they really like for its beauty, and that Tartan also carries a name that they can feel some emotional attraction to, I call that win-win.
If someone were to find a Tartan that they really like for its beauty, and that Tartan is also recognized as a totally universal Tartan, available to anyone, from anywhere, of any name, I would call that a win-win too.

Tartan is recognized the world over as a symbol of Scotland. 99% of the world do not know the names. If I am wearing a universal Tartan the world still sees it as Scottish. Again, win-win.

My personal 2 cents is to wear what you feel attracted to. For the name if that is all you can see. For the beauty if that is what you feel. Recognize and respect the Clan names but don't ignore the beauty and the Scottish essence of the Tartan itself.

[Manxstralian]

Well mate, besides being stunned, I'll add my two cents.

Giving it six months is good advice, but as someone with a few "superfluous" tattoos, maybe give it two years.... Just think, that kilt will be almost the price of a one way ticket to Scotland, and I know you visit every year or so. It is a beautiful tartan though, so if price is no object....

Ultimately, it's a universal sett, so no one could object, and I know you'll wear it with style, so (unfortunately) I think you'll have to decide this one on your own. I just can't see how often you'd wear it with all of your other fantastic kilts, to be quite frank (how often are you not representing your clan when in Highland attire?).

Cheers,

Cameron

[DyerStraits]

Gezz, Kyle! Pick a difficult topic, why don't you, man!
:-)

My primary claim to Highland lineage is through my farher's mother (Shaw).

My father's paternal line (Colbert [we pronounce the "t"]--we are not French and the French name is derrived from the Scottish one, not vice-versa) is earliest found in Galloway and the name is derrived from the name "Cuthbert." The name is also found in Ireland and England, it should be noted, but the earliest instances, even spelled the way that we spell it, are certainly found in Modern Scotland (it was the Kingdom of Northumbria then). There was no "Scot" land at the time but many peoples.

As you know I wear the Robertson Hunting tartan mainly. My maternal grandmother was a Robertson. I love the sett. It's gorgeous.

If I were to go back I'd maybe just the Shaw tartan and be done with it. I bought it during a time that I was researching my maternal geneology and was going through some deep, personal growth and the women in my life were strong anchors for me. The women in our family are all tough, independent, fiercely loyal, hearty women with whom one does not meddle unless at one's peril. They are have the blood of the Gael, the Cherokee, and the Normans coursing through their veins.

I was caught up in the romanticism of this then-unexplored lineage. Now that the emotion has calmed, I certainly don't have buyers' remourse, as it were, but feom time-to-time I do think about 'switching.' I am a bit cinflicted here but I think, in the end, I'm probably seriously over-thinking and should be grateful to be able to afford any kilt(s) at all.

I have a nice Holyrood that I've not worn since my Robertson arrived last year...

Do what thou wilt, friend of mine. You'll get no judgement from me.

(Apologies for the length, but it seemed necessary to help, my friend.)

Cuthbert was the middle name of William Faulkner (or Falkner, as it was originally spelled), Nobel Laureate and literary eldest son of Joyce, whose grave I will one day visit and sprinkle with top shelf Bourbon, and whose works I will lovingly revisit in my retirement years (you need that kind of free time to do it right). Looking for a really good summer novel? Try "Light In August" or "As I Lay Dying".

My patrilineal great-great grandmother was either Shawnee or Choctaw. My great-grandmother once spoke of her ritualistic noise-making and chanting at the approach of thunderstorms and how she would burn sage while praying as if it were incense. My Aunt Sarah was undoubtedly her clone--high cheekbones, silky hair, Asian eyelids and dark, piercing eyes, and unmistakably (and, for a predominantly African-American family, oddly) Native American speech inflection. She was an absolute Mama Bear--big, strong, resourceful, smart, fearless, generous and nuturing, with a lightening bolt sense of humor. Oh, and could she put away some beer. I was always too afraid to show her how much I loved and admired her because she also basically scared the crap out of me (this may at least partially explain the origins of ancestor worship). So, yeah, the Celtic-Native American intersection (as fellow X Marker Hawk and I have discussed) is unique and special, but ultimately, of course, aren't they all--especially with the mothers/wives/sisters/daughters/etc.?

"They don't make women like that anymore?" Or DO They?

[Geoff Withnell]

"They don't make women like that anymore?" Or DO They?

You obviously have not met my wife and daughters. They most certainly DO!

[KentuckyCeltophile]

If you like the tartan, but are not sure you want a kilt, would it be possible to have it made into a tam or scarf? I'm sure the Stewarts here would not object. And, rather a plug for a Stewart tartan make it a pro-Scotch tartan.
KC

[Mikilt]

You? I don't see it. You are so fortunate to have a clan tartan to call your own. I love the Hunting Stewart, but for you I suspect that it just wouldn't feel right.