Origin and Use of "Dress" Tartans

[Deil the Yin]

In Thompson's So You're Going to Wear the Kilt, from which I have formed much of my opinions on kilt-wearing, I was given the distinct impression that "dress" or white based tartans were essentially for the competitive dancers. On occasion various folk have tried to tell me that these white based tartans are for the fancy evening "dress," but frankly I don't buy into that theory. The legend of the "dress" tartans being created for women's arisaig's seems more likely to me.

Further to, I think the dress tartans look hideous in a kilt! Ack. Then again, I don't think a woman looks right trying to wear the kilt like a man, either. Dixiecat keeps pointing to the fact that she see's women in tartan clothing other than "dress," but I hardly think that this is proof that "dress" tartans were not originally meant for the arisaig. Even as late as my Mother's generation (ie in the late 40's to 60's of the mountain South), girls who wore red fingernail polish were thought to be whorish. So to me the dress tartan for arisaig makes perfect sense, especially coming from Queen Vicky. And on top of that, women of this era are pretty much able to wear whatever they want without hardly a groan from the social commentators...

I'm not trying to say that men can't or shouldn't wear a "dress" tartan in their kilt- in my mind ultimately it's fashion- I just think it looks hideous, HRH notwithstanding (it still makes me shudder). Granted part of my bias is based on my early learning of kilt tradition, and that it just shouldn't be done. I suppose this is the same as some folk not wearing any tartan but their own clan... it's the way they were taught/raised etc.

[Dixiecat]

So to me the dress tartan for arisaig makes perfect sense, especially coming from Queen Vicky

People keep saying this, but no where have I actually found proof of this. I've found more proof of dress tartans being appropriate for white tie formal wear as actual fact, than any substance to the legend of Queen Victoria and white background tartans.

http://www.btinternet.com/~sbishop100/alicky8.jpg

Here's a photo of Queen Victoria with her grandchildren. Her great-grandaughter Alix (later last tsarina of Russia) is wearing a tartan skirt. And, it's the same tartan as her brother (standing behind her) is wearing as a kilt. 1882.

http://www.btinternet.com/~sbishop100/vic41.jpg
A photo of a tartan dress worn by the then Princess Victoria (later Queen) in 1835. Not a dress tartan.

Dixiecat keeps pointing to the fact that she see's women in tartan clothing other than "dress," but I hardly think that this is proof that "dress" tartans were not originally meant for the arisaig.

Nope, you've not read my posts correctly. I only pointed this out ONCE, and it was only an observation of internet images. I never used it as a conclusion of proof that you are.

[Deil the Yin]

Apologies, Ms DixieCat if I misread your posts.

Nope, you've not read my posts correctly. I only pointed this out ONCE, and it was only an observation of internet images. I never used it as a conclusion of proof that you are.

[JSFMACLJR]

People keep saying this, but no where have I actually found proof of this. I've found more proof of dress tartans being appropriate for white tie formal wear as actual fact, than any substance to the legend of Queen Victoria and white background tartans.

http://www.btinternet.com/~sbishop100/alicky8.jpg

Here's a photo of Queen Victoria with her grandchildren. Her great-grandaughter Alix (later last tsarina of Russia) is wearing a tartan skirt. And, it's the same tartan as her brother (standing behind her) is wearing as a kilt. 1882.

[.

They are wearing the Balmoral tartan.