Hmmm... debating.

[Andrew Green]

Ok, so this talk of SWK has got me in the mood to acquire another kilt. I was thinking of getting one of their heavyweight wool pieces..
But they don't have a Gordon tartan in heavyweight. So I am trying to shoot for neutral here. I was debating the idea of getting a black shadow tartan kilt... but I really like the weathered Lamont tartan... except I have no connection to Clan Lamont. Do you think anyone would flip their lid if I wore a Lamont pattern with no connection? I have always maintained that one should only wear a tartan that you can claim a link to...
but it just looks good, and is likely quite comfy. I own some SWK economy kilts, and I am pretty happy with them for what they are. This would be a step up to something better, without breaking the bank, and still fill the "I want to get another kilt, and not have to wait two months" desire... and wool is the more proper fabric (although I am getting a Neokilt in PV for ease of maintenance). Thoughts or suggestions? SWK doesn't have a heavyweight BW in my size, so that rules it out.

[Mr. Kilt]

Go for it! I have kilts in the Gordon and Hunting McLeod tartans and I have no ties to either clan. Wear what you like, but do try to find out a little about the history of the clan so you can answer questions if and when they come up.

[turpin]

Ok, so this talk of SWK has got me in the mood to acquire another kilt. I was thinking of getting one of their heavyweight wool pieces..
But they don't have a Gordon tartan in heavyweight. So I am trying to shoot for neutral here. I was debating the idea of getting a black shadow tartan kilt... but I really like the weathered Lamont tartan... except I have no connection to Clan Lamont. Do you think anyone would flip their lid if I wore a Lamont pattern with no connection? I have always maintained that one should only wear a tartan that you can claim a link to...
but it just looks good, and is likely quite comfy. I own some SWK economy kilts, and I am pretty happy with them for what they are. This would be a step up to something better, without breaking the bank, and still fill the "I want to get another kilt, and not have to wait two months" desire... and wool is the more proper fabric (although I am getting a Neokilt in PV for ease of maintenance). Thoughts or suggestions? SWK doesn't have a heavyweight BW in my size, so that rules it out.

Andrew - I had similar feelings when I started in at X-marks, but there seem to be so many out there that just wear what they like, regardless of clan (Hamish and Riverkils for example). That being said, there are a lot of tartans in the Gordon palette. The weathered Gordon, as modeled here by Riverkilts, has a similar earthy appeal as the Lamont.
That being said, I just bought and received the SWK heavyweight irish saffron while waiting for my Modern Gordon tank to arrive from Scotland. What a deal.! The nice thing about the solid colors is you can easily wear printed shirts without clashing. Whatever you decide, wear it with confidence.

[Andrew Green]

Oh yeah, I know all about the Gordon varieties. There are weathered and muted varieties of plenty of the tartans. Modern is what I have seen in weathered, Red I have seen in Modern, Ancient, Muted, and Weathered, as well as a Weathered Muted. I have seen the Ancient variety, as well as the Old Colours variety, not too mention Dress, and there is even a Blue Modern variety out there too, which is a little harder to track down, but looks awesome. To top that, I also have ties to Muir (grandmother's name was Moir which is a variant spelling) from what I have read, and been told from various folks who are a bit more knowledgable than I am in the subject at this time... which has an Ancient, and a Modern variant, and looks really neat...and the Muir Ancient is also the CA state tartan (or at least the CA tartan is based on it...it looks identical to me, but I haven't had as much a chance to study it), if anyone is curious as to what it looks like. So, the tartan pallette there is quite open. I have pieces in Modern, but have Red Ancient/Weathered on the way, as well as 2 belted plaids in Muted/Weathered and Muir Modern that should be in route (purchased the fabric from the Tartan Museum). And I would like a modern kilt in wool... and as long as the thing fits well (they fit pretty well from what I have seen of the economy pieces... it should only be better with the higher end). I just like the more subdued colours, I think they look quite nice. So, I suppose I could absolve my guilt over wearing someone else's tartan. One could always argue that they were never standardized to begin with after all.

Turpin-
I take it you are a Gordon too, from your signatures. Glad I am not the only one!

[Andrew Green]

OK, so I bought a weathered Lamont kilt. It just looks nice. I am sure anyone who happens to be a member of Clan Lamont would be flattered that someone else found their tartan interesting enough to wear. So, I should have another piece to wear in about a week.

[Moose McLennan]

That is a very nice tartan indeed.

At the end of the day, a kilt in one's 'own' tartan is going to be a luxury for most people, just like it always was. Personally, I'm not a fan of most of the readily available 'universal' tartans anyway.

I have sometimes thought, if I ever get a kilt in Logan tartan, I might choose the ancient colourway. And if that doesn't mean I'd be choosing a tartan just because I like the colours, I don't know what is.

As an aside, the Clan Lamont society would seem to welcome any potential members with just an interest in the clan.

M.

[Jerry]

Oh yeah, I know all about the Gordon varieties. There are weathered and muted varieties of plenty of the tartans. Modern is what I have seen in weathered, Red I have seen in Modern, Ancient, Muted, and Weathered, as well as a Weathered Muted. I have seen the Ancient variety, as well as the Old Colours variety, not too mention Dress, and there is even a Blue Modern variety out there too, which is a little harder to track down, but looks awesome. To top that, I also have ties to Muir (grandmother's name was Moir which is a variant spelling) from what I have read, and been told from various folks who are a bit more knowledgable than I am in the subject at this time... which has an Ancient, and a Modern variant, and looks really neat...and the Muir Ancient is also the CA state tartan (or at least the CA tartan is based on it...it looks identical to me, but I haven't had as much a chance to study it), if anyone is curious as to what it looks like. So, the tartan pallette there is quite open. I have pieces in Modern, but have Red Ancient/Weathered on the way, as well as 2 belted plaids in Muted/Weathered and Muir Modern that should be in route (purchased the fabric from the Tartan Museum). And I would like a modern kilt in wool... and as long as the thing fits well (they fit pretty well from what I have seen of the economy pieces... it should only be better with the higher end). I just like the more subdued colours, I think they look quite nice. So, I suppose I could absolve my guilt over wearing someone else's tartan. One could always argue that they were never standardized to begin with after all.

Turpin-
I take it you are a Gordon too, from your signatures. Glad I am not the only one!

I too have Gordon ties. My mother was a Gordon, my middle name is Gordon, and I have a USA semi traditional in modern Gordon tartan.

[Cawdorian]

The Weathered Lamont Tartan from SWK may not be the weathered tartan recognized by the Clan Lamont Society. As I understand The Weathered Lamont Tartan is only available from the Clan Lamont Society in Scotland.

The Ancient Lamont Tartan is most commonly worn.

[turpin]

Turpin-
I take it you are a Gordon too, from your signatures. Glad I am not the only one!

No, you are not alone out there. My Gordon connection is through my mother by way of Virginia. And from what you reveal in your reply, you are WAY ahead of me in tartan knowledge. You are right about the fit of and quality of the made to measure wool kilts. I received an 8-yarder from Kitstore that was a wonderful fit in the waist and hips. I only returned it because I wanted it pleated to the stripe. Looking forward to getting it back in September.

Bydand to all of us!

[Andrew Green]

Glad to see a couple more Gordons out there...very cool.

I looked up a weathered Lamont through google, and the colours were slightly different. The brown tone was a little more "ruddy", looked like it had a slight heather-purple tinge to it, and from what I could tell, there was more grey tone than white. So I feel OK about wearing this tartan, as it doesn't seem as outright a match as I would have imagined... the colours look earthen enough to be suitable for re-enactment from what I have read... too bad it is a modern kilt, instead of a feilidh beag/philabeg. Either way, I think it looks nice...and the impulse monster got the best of me. Ha ha ha.

I got bit by the tartan bug...hardcore.