Grant ancient tartan in formal attire

**Warhoover** · 9th January 07, 11:09 AM

Greetings,
I am new to the community, first post actually. Finally going to join the rest of "decent" society and get my first kilt.

I was wondering if there are any Grants that may be wearing the ancient hued tartan in formal situations with an Argyle, Prince Charlie or other formal dress jacket. I would like to see a photo if possible. I have seen how striking the modern colors are but have yet to see someone with the ancient hues. I will end up with a kilt in both I am sure but, I have a formal doo coming up in 6 months and wanted some comparison.

Thanks in advance,

**macwilkin** · 9th January 07, 11:14 AM

Greetings!

I am not a Grant per se, but Lord Strathspey is the "honourary patron" of our St. Andrew's Society, and the Comyns/Cummings have had a long-standing relationship (good and bad) with the Grants over the years.

On the Clan Grant Society (US) web site, there is a good article on the Grant Tartans:

http://www.clangrant-us.org/tartans.htm

I'm sure Matt Newsome will have something to add; you'll be sure to want to listen to his comments.

Regards,

Todd

**Warhoover** · 9th January 07, 12:39 PM

Todd,
Thanks for the reply, I am familiar with the article on the website. There is also a photo of Lord Strathspey under the "Chiefs" link but it is not a good photo as far as overall color balance goes (even his black jacket looks red on his right side). I am sure he is clothed in the ancient hues since he has made it known that he prefers the ancient hues for the dress tartan. I understand the concept of the "ancient" hues to make the tartan more "worn" in appearance as does the weathered take it one step further. I have seen some state that ancient hues can show the sett of the tartan off more and I am inclined to agree.
I just can not make up my mind between the two and am looking for a push one way or the other, not really wanting to put a swatch of each on a lazy susan and blindfold myself and "spin the wheel".

Slainte,

**Rampant Lion** · 10th January 07, 09:17 AM

Hi Brad,
It's good to see another Grant on the board. I'm not sure if this is a picture of the Ancient Grant or just a lightened picture of the modern, but it looks close to the ancient.

There's also this one, the gentleman carrying the haggis wearing the Grant tartan:

Then there are these, which look to be the ancient colours too(or they could be lightened pictures of the modern, it's hard to tell at times):

Oh, and just to complicate the matters, there's always the Grant muted/weather colours, which I've seen in a kilt and they look amazing.

-William

**Warhoover** · 10th January 07, 10:15 AM

Brother William, I knew there had to be some Grants about on here! Thank you for the photos that is just what I needed. Now you have gone and done it though, I will have to add a muted to the list of things to investigate. As I have stated earlier I just needed a push in one direction or the other.

I think I am leaning to the ancient hues for the first one and the modern will have to play second fiddle for now. I should have done a search of the forum earlier. I just saw the photo of your wedding in the modern. I do like the bright red contrast with the black of the jacket. Belated congratulations by the way.

Thanks again for the photos, much appreciated!

Slante,

**Warlock** · 10th January 07, 10:16 AM

Great pics! Thanks for posting them.

**Warhoover** · 10th January 07, 10:18 AM

William and anyone else,

On a side note what are you opinions of the Grant tartan pleated by the stripe or by the sett? I know its a matter of personal preference, just looking for opinions.

Slante,

**AllenJ** · 10th January 07, 11:51 AM

I too am a Grant! I've actually written several articles for the Craigellachie in the past. I do have a picture of me in a prince charlie with the aincent Grant but it features my ex- girlfriend and I'm not sure her or her husband would appreciate it displayed. I do have several pics of me in it with a 1715 period jacket and bonnet. Lets see if this works...
http://s138.photobucket.com/albums/q257/aljo456/

**Rampant Lion** · 12th January 07, 08:53 AM

Brad,
I actually haven't ever seen a Grant tartan kilt pleated to stripe. I think it might look all right pleated to one of the light blue stripes. One of the dark blue stripes might work too. Personally, I'd go with pleated to sett.

As for what hue to go with, definitely go with your first inclination. When I first got my kilt I had no love for the Grant tartan in ancient colours. It was too orange for my liking, but over time it has grown on me. I'm toying with the idea of getting a second kilt made in either the ancient Grant Hunting or Grant muted tartan. The nice thing about the ancient Grant is that it's more subdued than the modern and I think less in-your-face.

My one recommendation is, if possible, is to get the material from Lochcarron. I've seen the Grant tartan where the sett is woven smaller and to me, didn't look as good. I know that Lochcarron weaves it with the sett being large as seen in my kilt.

-Will

**Warhoover** · 12th January 07, 09:23 AM

Will,
I most likely will go with the Sett pleating. I have seen the smaller sett that you mentioned. I have done some searching on the web and I know there are other Grant tartans that have the smaller sett Grant of Ballindalloch and Grant of Monymusk come to mind. I have not found a full list of Grant tartans yet on the web. One site will list some and not others, the next the same. I found 2 new variations yesterday one called Grant Piper and another called Grant Champion. The latter is more yellow. I have seen a variation of the hunting tartan that has a yellow stripe on it. I tend to agree with you that the Modern Red is somewhat in your face, (Not knocking it at all. I will definately have a kilt made in it as well) and that is one reason I was leaning to the ancient, plus you can in my opinion see the sett better.My father will have nothing to do with the ancient hue.LOL Thanks for the heads up on Lochcarron, I will keep it in mind.

Brad