Newbe Question alert: Okay to wear other tartan?

**Kid Cossack** · 24th September 06, 09:47 AM

Oatmeal Savage:

The only sorry oatmeal I've ever seen was at a Navy base in North Carolina. I don't think you've said or done anything to be sorry over. You had a question about tartan wearing, and you asked it. As you may have gathered from the responses, there's more than one way to skin the proverbial cat, and there's more than one way to look at which tartans one can/ought wear.

I am sort of of mixed minds regarding "appropriate tartan" wear. To the extent that wearing a clan tartan means allegiance to the clan, I'm not entitled to wear any of 'em. (I am an American, and the only oath of allegiance I have taken is to support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies foriegn and domestic.) On the other hand, I've got kith and kin from several Scots clans, and I've a couple of the tartans. I've also got kilts in tartans that I just like---for instance the Farquharson casual USAK. First off, it's a pretty tartan, and second of all, one of my favorite Victorian mechanical devices is the Farquharson single shot rifle.

Then again, I'm also a former Marine, and I'd look askance indeed at someone in the Leatherneck tartan who wasn't a Marine.

And speaking of the Marine Corps, they told us at boot camp that the only stupid question was the question you didn't ask.

Ever forward, with pleats flying in the wind!

**macwilkin** · 24th September 06, 11:45 AM

Moved thread to heraldry and tartans section. Please post all tartan-related questions here.

Regards,

TJW

**gilmore** · 24th September 06, 12:17 PM

Originally Posted by Roan Carter

More than anything, I really don't think a highlander would have let anyone else tell him what colors he was allowed to wear. Do as you please and enjoy your freedom. ; )

I had to chuckle when I read this. I would hazard a guess that you have never met a highlander. All I have known are fine people, and being British have keener notions of appropriate and inappropriate behaviour than do some from other cultures and countries.

**Monkey@Arms** · 24th September 06, 09:54 PM

Originally Posted by Southern Breeze

There's no law against it. Just wear them with respect and a little knowledge of their history and background. Take a look at this thread-

http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/s...7&page=1&pp=10

Damn you, Southern Breeze. I had never seen that thread before and had to stay up till 1:30 am to make it all the way through to the end.

Best regards,

Jake

**davedove** · 25th September 06, 04:48 AM

MacWage, that was the best way of explaining it I have heard. Good job!

While there are no laws, and there are certainly NOT the ancient links that many people believe, there are many more recent meanings to the tartan and to wear the tartan associates you with those meanings.

**MacWage** · 25th September 06, 04:52 AM

Originally Posted by davedove

MacWage, that was the best way of explaining it I have heard. Good job!

While there are no laws, and there are certainly NOT the ancient links that many people believe, there are many more recent meanings to the tartan and to wear the tartan associates you with those meanings.

Thanks!!!

**Robin** · 25th September 06, 05:33 AM

Many of the ancient (pre 1819) tartans had...and some still have...no name, they were registered by Wilsons of Bannockburn with a number.
They were all fashion tartans...some received fancy names (like Caledonia...No.4 and No.155) and some are now in use as clan tartans (like Wilson No.232, later Regent, now MacLaren)

Go check the STA Tartan Ferret and search for wilson ...you'll see what I mean...

STA

it's refreshing

**arrogcow** · 25th September 06, 06:00 AM

Another thing to bear in mind is that just because a tartan has a clan name does not make it a clan tartan. For instance the tartan I'm wearing in the pic in this thread http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/s...ad.php?t=21083 is called Montgomery. However, it is not the official Montgomery Clan tartan.

Adam

**Robin** · 25th September 06, 07:01 AM

Observation:

Many old tartans have purple or pink.

**auld argonian** · 25th September 06, 07:09 AM

Originally Posted by Robin

Observation:

Many old tartans have purple or pink.

Wouldn't that be because of vegetable and other natural dyes? It's my understanding that the modern versions of most tartans (and modern is a relative term, isn't it?) contain colors that are much more brilliant and saturated than the older ones bcause they used chemical dyes.

Best

AA