How common is the wear of a Plaid that is a different tartan than the Klt?

[Jock Scot]

So then it wouldn't be acceptable to wear say a Clan tartan fly plaid with a regional or organization tartan.

Well alright as you are not mixing Clan tartans, then in the case you are suggesting it could be done.

In my youth, I well remember a hot discussion doing the rounds within the Clan on this very subject.It was more of a local Scottish discussion, brought about by the visiting Clan members from all over the world. Reminds me of this website on occasion! Anyway, let me set the scene.

Clan MacLeod was then at the forefront of encouraging worldwide Clan membership and set up a "parliament' that gathered( and still does on the Isle of Skye) every four years. In those far off days those from abroad wore whatever wee bit of Scottish attire that they had, which led to some very odd combinations of Clan and non clan tartans and general attire. It still does on occasion! Anyway there was more than a fair bit of huffing and puffing from those, not all from Scotland I may add, that were of a more conservative way of thinking about these matters and quite a heated discussion ensued for many years.

You may not know, but Clan MacLeod has many tartans, more than 10 I think, so the combinations of tartans were many and various. So on went the discussion for years and as things do, things got more and more heated as more entrenched positions were taken. So much so that the international goodwill that was intended was wearing very thin. Sound familiar?

A very wise local gathered up a special outfit for the clan gathering and from what I remember, he wore a Clan Macleod of Lewis tartan kilt(Macleod of Harris wear it as their dress[formal] kilt), a MacLeod of Harris tartan jacket(cut on the bias), a Seaforth Highlanders Tartan(cut on the bias) waistcoat, some Stewart tartan for his hose and Lochaber tartan for his flashes. ALL of those tartans he was "entitled" to wear.The end result was a riot of colour-----------------and looked dreadfull! It got the message through to the warring factions though.

The point that was made, is that aesthetics are an important consideration when mixing tartans and more importantly, the point was made loud and clear that just because we can do something does not necessarily mean that we should.

From then on. All understood that mixing Clan tartans from outwith the family was a no-no, but within normal and sensible bounds Clan tartans and non clan tartans can be worn together, on occasion.

[HootinHoller]

Well alright as you are not mixing Clan tartans, then in the case you are suggesting it could be done.

...

The point that was made, is that aesthetics are an important consideration when mixing tartans and more importantly, the point was made loud and clear that just because we can do something does not necessarily mean that we should.

From then on. All understood that mixing Clan tartans from outwith the family was a no-no, but within normal and sensible bounds Clan tartans and non clan tartans can be worn together, on occasion.

I am fulfilled in that I've dragged a great story from Jock Scot Thank you for that grand mental image. As you imply, it would be dancing close to the line of Brigadoonery and the tartans would have to work together to avoid that. But it could be done and possibly done well if enough care is taken.

I feel I owe you and Lord Slim a dram.

[Jock Scot]

HootinHoller.

I will raise a glass with you, in memory of " Bill" anytime.

[Nathan]

Clanranald frequently wears different Macdonald tartans.

Here he is with his Clanranald 1914 kilt and his Clanranald modern waistcoat (or perhaps a scarf tucked in under his jacket?:





Here he is with a plaid in MacDonald modern tartan and the same Clanranald 1914 tartan kilt.





Here we see Clanranald in his ancient MacDonald tartan trews and his MacDonald modern tartan plaid. I can't tell if the trews are ancient MacDonald or ancient MacDonald of Clanranald because the two tartans are alike with the exception of a thin, white, line.

[figheadair]

Do not mix plaids. I don't event mix tartans within the same clan, like MacKenzie modern and MacKenzie hunting. Just don't do it. It looks bad. If the military does it, it is for a specific reason.

Really? I don't see what the problem is, nor do others such as Clanranald (already posted by Nathan) or Donanld Cameron of Lochiel

Two different tartans may be worn together quite properly as long as they are tartans of the same clan (hunting, dress, ancient, modern, weathered etc.) but never tartans of different clans.

This of course implies that tartan associations are set hard and fast, which they are not. I might choose to wear a MacDonald related kilt and a plaid in what is now called MacIntyre but in reality is an old 18th century sett that pre-dates its adoption by the clan. Is that wrong? Or how about wearing a Munro plaid, again, a tartan that is much older than its current clan connection. There are many more examples, all of which go to show that trying to apply 'rules' to tartan is like running on quicksand - likely to sink at the first step.

[OC Richard]

This is one of my all-time favourite pipe band photos, the Isle Of Skye Pipe Band many years ago, which often appears on post cards.

Note that the kilts and plaids are two different MacDonald tartans. I love it! I don't think any non-Highland band would do such a thing.



Of course kiltwearing is far older than the concept of "clan tartans". Here are the MacDonald children mid 18th century. As you can see each garment is its own unique tartan. The kilt, jacket, and waistcoat of the child on the right are of three different tartans, though all use the same colours and do not clash. Wonderful to see this continue, on Skye, over 200 years later.



Sad in a way that hundreds of years of continuity on Skye has passed away, and the Isle Of Skye Pipe Band has switched to kilts of a recently designed tartan- Isle Of Skye!



Then, as now, the Drum Major is wearing an army kilt, not the kilt of the band. (And I think I spot a Queens Own Highlanders plaid brooch.)

[Jock Scot]

Of course you are right Peter, but to be fair though, you are speaking from somewhat of a rarified atmosphere.

For us mere mortals that work from more shallow knowledge probably based on a "tartanarus" style book, or hand-me-down information based on doubtful foundations, then there are quite understandable conclusions made, if sometimes inaccurate ones, that are drawn. Please keep on keeping us out of those quicksands!

[MacRobert's Reply]

Point well made Peter but post-18th Century conventions still have some currency and, while not solid ground, can save us from social approbation.

[Tenmiles]

A very wise local gathered up a special outfit for the clan gathering and from what I remember, he wore a Clan Macleod of Lewis tartan kilt(Macleod of Harris wear it as their dress[formal] kilt), a MacLeod of Harris tartan jacket(cut on the bias), a Seaforth Highlanders Tartan(cut on the bias) waistcoat, some Stewart tartan for his hose and Lochaber tartan for his flashes. ALL of those tartans he was "entitled" to wear.The end result was a riot of colour-----------------and looked dreadfull! It got the message through to the warring factions though.

Shame there's no photo of such. I'd love to see it.