Choosing a tartan -- one week until the jones begins

[davedove]

Black Stewart would work fine, especially since you're leaning towards that anyway. It is basic black, with lines of several other colors, so you can coordinate it with about anything.

[Barb T]

Just remember that if you pleat the Black Stewart to the stripe that it can look very purple from the back.

B

[cessna152towser]

I'd go along with Phil and Moosehead and suggest Black Watch. Its a muted colour scheme, will look good with dark hose, navy blue, lovat green, black or even a dark grey, and you may not want to look too garish when you first step out in a kilt. First two kilts I owned were both Black Watch. Though at the end of the day its not about what we think but you will feel most happy with at the end of the day.

[RockyR]

I agree with Barb... not a big fan of Black Stewart to the stripe.

My advice (having several kilts and seeing all of the PV we carry): IF you don't care about the "name thing" and you're going on colors alone... pick something that goes with the shirts you already have. Are you going to want to dress it up a little or is it for Formal or strictly casual?

Formal: Pick something with a white stripe and maybe some black (MacLean Hntg or Black Stewart or Ramsay or Clark). It's easy to throw on a white button down and a solid black tie to dress it up. It's also easy to dress down with a tshirt if needed.

Casual: If you're a big fan of Red shirts, pick a tartan with red stripes (Campbell, Scotish National, etc). If you like Black Shirts, pick a tartan with some black in it. If you have all kinds of colored shirts, pick MacPherson or Caledonia!

Hope this advice helps.

[Robin]

If you have all kinds of colored shirts, pick MacPherson or Caledonia!

I disagree...I have a Caledonian kilt myself...it's a flamboyant tartan and I really think such a tartan looks best when you wear white, black, blue or earth tones. Flashy colours will make you look like a christmas tree.

[Mattg]

Well, I just ordered a Black Watch so I'm partial

[cessna152towser]

Now that kilt does look really good Robin - and the Charles Rennie MacIntosh chair makes an appropriate accessory!
http://www.sculptart.com/crm.htm

[RockyR]

I disagree...I have a Caledonian kilt myself...it's a flamboyant tartan and I really think such a tartan looks best when you wear white, black, blue or earth tones. Flashy colours will make you look like a christmas tree.

I was referring to the fact that you have MANY color choices as there are lots of different colors in MacPherson or Caledonia. Bottom line... wear what you like!

[ckelly327]

I have both a Black Stewart and Black Watch from SWK. I tend to wear lighter and brighter colors with the Black Watch because it's dark enough on it's own and I prefer the contrast. I find the Black Stewart a little more versatile so that almost any red, white, green, yellow or black can be worn and still make the kilt stand out. I've even worn it with a blue sportcoat and it looked fine.

Bottom line is what everybody else is saying - pick the one you like best and you'll feel better about it. Just be aware that you didn't even mention accessories yet and that's a whole other ball of fun.

[timber]

Wow, lots of great advice, but I was expecting that from this bunch. I think Black Stewart will be the one, but now I have more ideas for the next kilt. The Caledonia looks fantastic, it's on the list now.