Dress tartan = failed concept?

**Dixiecat** · 2nd February 10, 06:04 AM

I wonder if you could edit the title of this thread? Dress tartan is not fail. How can you not love Dress Turnbull?

**KD Burke** · 2nd February 10, 09:07 AM

Would you really call this a "fail"?

**Tobus** · 2nd February 10, 09:59 AM

Heh, well, in the title what I meant was the idea of dress tartans seems to have failed to catch on in mainstream kilt-wearing circles (not that wearing a dress tartan means you have failed as a human being or that all dress tartans are failures). The point being that, like Rocky illustrated, dress tartans are very rarely requested.

I changed the title of the thread, though. I hope no one took offense or misunderstood it.

I do like the looks of the dress tartans you have shown so far in this thread, though! Some dress tartans look very nice. The pics posted thus far seem to show a nice blend of color with the addition of reasonable amounts of whites.

Some of the designs I've seen, though, seem to be just plain awful. The Colquhoun dress tartan just makes me scratch my head and wonder, "What were they thinking? Did they really think people would wear this?" They took a perfectly nice and traditional tartan design and ran huge white bands through it, throwing off all sense of symmetry and balance between colors. Maybe it would look better when seen in actual wool tartan, completed in a kilt. But I'd think a kilt-maker would have nightmares trying to lay out the pleats.

http://www.tartans.scotland.net/tart...an_id=1069.htm

*edited to add: Apparently the system won't let me change the thread title that displays in the forum. Sorry.

**Farlander** · 2nd February 10, 12:09 PM

Originally Posted by Dixiecat

... How can you not love Dress Turnbull?

I do not believe that I have seen Dress Turnbull before. I have to agree, it is quite an attractive tartan!

I think it is a bit unusual though for a 'dress' tartan in that it does not have the usual large white stripes (or other light color). As such, I would guess that this tartan may not be as good for dancing? My understanding for dancing is that you want/need large contrasting colors. On the plus side, being as attractive as it is, it might make it more popular for general wear.

**tulloch** · 2nd February 10, 01:44 PM

The Vermont state tartan is very like a dress tartan and is gorgeous! I am on a several year wait for a Dress Ross Hunting kilt. It is a really nice tartan too. It really is just what you like. I like the Dress Ross Hunting.

**Raphael** · 2nd February 10, 01:46 PM

I won't call Dress Tartan a 'fail' because they are great looking tartans.

**macwilkin** · 2nd February 10, 02:04 PM

Originally Posted by tulloch

The Vermont state tartan is very like a dress tartan and is gorgeous! I am on a several year wait for a Dress Ross Hunting kilt. It is a really nice tartan too. It really is just what you like. I like the Dress Ross Hunting.

That's because there is a Vermont Dress tartan, and a regular tartan tae boot:

http://www.standrewssocietyofvermont.org/

:mrgreen:

T.

**Panache** · 2nd February 10, 02:09 PM

Originally Posted by RockyR

That being said, MacLeod of Lewis (aka Loud MacLeod) is also known as MacLeod Dress. It has no white, but is still called a 'dress' tartan by some.

Rocky,

I'm pretty sure that is just a myth perpetuated by those of Macleod of Lewis heritage that are looking for an excuse to wear the Macleod of Harris tartan instead of their own.

Cheers

Jamie :ootd:

**davidlpope** · 2nd February 10, 02:14 PM

Here's a good photo of the chief of Clan MacPherson wearing what may be considered a "dress" tartan (it has a light-colored background). My opinion is that this particular tartan falls into a distinct subset of tartans that are now referred to as "dress tartans" that seem to have started out as full-fledged, albeit bright, regular tartans (e.g. MacMillan, Barclay, Macleod of Lewis). These seem to be to be distinct from "dress" tartans that were created by added white to a pre-existing clan tartan.

Cordially,

David

**Jock Scot** · 2nd February 10, 02:48 PM

Originally Posted by Panache

Rocky,

I'm pretty sure that is just a myth perpetuated by those of Macleod of Lewis heritage that are looking for an excuse to wear the Macleod of Harris tartan instead of their own.

Cheers

Jamie :ootd:

No no Jamie you have it all wrong. The MacLeod of Lewis(Lewes) is the dress tartan of the senior Clan( Chief MacLeod of MacLeod) MacLeod of Harris. In other words the MacLeods of Harris are the one's with the choice!