family with tartan above the waist

[OC Richard]

In researching the lovely pipe tune Tommy MacDonald of Barguillean I came across this photo of him and his family.

He is at upper right. At upper left is said to be his aunt Mrs MacDonald of Dunach, who has a fine pipe tune named for her as well.

I thought it was interesting to see multiple tartan jackets and waistcoats being worn in a Highland family.

The gent back row second from left has a jacket and waistcoat in one tartan, a kilt in another.

The gent front row left has a jacket and kilt in one tartan, a waistcoat in another.

[Shinenotburn]

All very distinguished looking I might say. I love their looks

[Jock Scot]

Looks like they have either dressed for dinner or, are off to some evening function or, have they just put on their best attire for a photograph regardless of the time of day?

An after thought. Some cleaver person might be able to identify the tartans but two things come to mind.

1. They are certainly not wearing everyday kilt attire.
2. Mixing tartans of the SAME CLAN is perfectly acceptable in traditional terms. Although it usually used to be done with evening attire, particularly in the Western Highlands.

[OC Richard]

Since they are named MacDonald, and assuming all the tartans seen are so named, I will speculate that

-man standing second from left: kilt Dress MacDonald, jacket and waistcoat Clanranald.

-man standing far right: kilt Dress MacDonald, jacket and waistcoat Clan MacDonald.

-man seated far left: kilt and jacket Clan MacDonald, waistcoat Clanranald.