Solid Color or Tartan Tie?

[OC Richard]

Kilted men's typical wearing of patterned (usually striped) neckties I suppose goes back to the old Highlander's love of pattern and colour.

Back as far as we have images of Highland Dress the costume as a whole is characterized by this: cloth has woven pattern (tartan jackets, kilts, and hose) leather is tooled, pierced, and is often given sawtooth edges (look at wingtips and ghillies) metalwork is engraved. Only the shirt and bonnet are selfcoloured/solid in old pictures.

So nowadays this old attitude often shows up with checked/Tattersall shirts and striped neckties.

[McMurdo]

It is funny how tastes change, when I first started wearing the kilt I wore a solid colour tie and bought several different colours and I would buy the wool ties from Lochcarron, these really did serve me well. Here are a couple of examples:



I then found a few patterned ties from House of Edgar




These days I prefer a striped tie, I purchased an Army Benevolent Fund tie that works for me in most any day wear

http://soldierscharityshop.org/colle...ts/charity-tie

[Sharkman]

" A good contrast is usuallly better than a bad match and why match if you're wearing the kilt?"

I like that line McMurdo!! And it makes perfect sense!!

[davidlpope]

I prefer the look of a repp-striped or small patterned tie with highland dress. My second choice would be solid. I prefer not to wear tartan neckties with my kilts and save them for when I'm wearing tweed and flannels.

I own flashes in lots of colors, but have packed them away in favor of wearing red flashes with everything. I don't fancy tartan flashes.

All of the above is merely my opinion. Others are likewise entitled to their opinion and likely disagree with some or all of what I've written.

[Dileasgubas]

highland bde tie2.jpg

I personally like this one. It is modelled after the Highland Brigade tie, in Thistle Green and Purple Heather, with a gold Canadian Flag on the diagonal. It does not belong to any established organization and is readily available. I have a source if you want to ping me for one.

[tpa]

Not a great fan of neckties, but if I have to, it's a solid one every time.

[YOJiMBO20]

I'd go striped or solid.

Tartan tie with tartan kilt just seems like overkill.

[denmcdough]

Usually, I'll wear a striped tie. My favorite is from the UK....Soldier's Benevolent Fund. And I have a few other striped ties similar to the ones OC Richard has mentioned. On occasion, I'll not hesitate to wear a solid color tie. I have no problem with that. Tartan ties, well, I have two, but wear them non-kilted.

As for flashes, I have many colors in my drawer, but prefer red, blue, or green. Oh, and I do wear purple with my Isle of Skye kilt; and claret hose.

[Nathan]

Your choice of tie is your own but regimental and club ties are a very popular choice among native Highlanders who wear the kilt regularly. I think it's a smart look and don't worry about an exact match. Solid are fine as well. Many dislike tartan ties with the kilt some like them. With that back drop, they are a more divisive choice. If you like them and don't care about that, go for it.

IMG_2529.jpgIMG_2479.jpgNathan Michelle and Jim.jpg20140603_210434_zpsb3b013ea.jpg

[OC Richard]

Yes a necktie is a perfect place for a splash of colour and pattern. Doing the "matching" thing throws that opportunity away.

I feel the same about hose. With Highland Dress a man, vertically, is divided into three parts jacket/kilt/hose. That's a wonderful opportunity for a colour triad of some sort. Having two, or heaven forbid all three, the same wastes the potential for colour.