Did I buy the ugliest kilt on the planet?

[Father Bill]

Hi.

I've said this elsewhere, but the idea of an ugly tartan is somehow foreign to me. Twill is a marvellous cloth, and to me tartan is beautiful almost without fail. (Okay, there are a few corporate setts that are a wee bit forced, but that's not what we're on about here.)

Your tartan is your nametag. I went into a church for the Kirkin' o' the Tartan once and greeted the woman holding the door with "Good morning, Mrs. MacLeod." She looked shocked and puzzled that I knew her name since she didn't know me, and looked immediately to verify that she was not wearing a nametag... but the "Loud MacLeod" is unmistakeable anywhere.

Why do we tease about the "Loud MacLeod"? Because it is a beautiful thing to have something that brilliantly bold, and we love to recognize what it is.

Whether weathered, (you may chuckle if you wish) modern, ancient, hunting or standard, your tartan is recognizeable and says who you are. I joined the Clan Sinclair Association of Canada after walking down the pavilion of the clans and having been "spotted" by the association as I passed on the other side. I was wearing Sinclair Hunting modern. The chap there told me that he had said to the others in the tent that I'd be there on my way back, and he was right. The important thing here is that he spotted my kilt and knew immediately who I was.

So the thing with your tartan is this: Does it matter what colour or colours your nametag has so long as the name is spelled correctly? Matching the other things you wear may be important, but your tartan is... your tartan. Your tartan. Match your hose to your shirt or tie if you like, or perhaps just your garters. Make sure that your jacket compliments your shoes if you care about such things, but your tartan stands on its own -proudly. -beautifully. -distinctly. -perfectly.

It's always your tartan and if you're not proud of it, you need a psychologist, not a wardrobe change.

Wear it proudly. Wear it defiantly. Wear it often... and love it! It's yours!