Dress tartan = failed concept?

[Jock Scot]

That is precisely what I have seen dress tartans described as. I don't think I've ever seen it said that they were restricted to this role, but this role was the original intent of dress tartans (and again, it just doesn't seem to have caught on as a generally accepted thing, seeing as how most men still wear their original tartans for formal events).


It's always difficult to read "tone" in written words, but I sense that you're getting a little defensive here, and I hope it's not because of what I said. Regardless of the original intent of dress tartans, I don't think anybody is claiming that they can't be worn elsewhere. Yours looks great for any role.

I'm just interested in how/when/why they came about.

Until recently, don't forget, the cost of kilts was almost prohibitive to be able to afford two. Most people were "happy" with one tank(the only style choice anyway) and most people did not venture out into the dizzy social heights of going to formal events regularly(if at all) to warrant one made of dress tartan. Two very good reasons why dress tartans were/are not so common. Personally I do think they look out of place when worn as day wear, unless you are a MacLeod of Lewis that is.