Quote Originally Posted by Barb T. View Post
I can't think of a single one that looked horrid once it was made into a kilt, even if it seemed "unfortunate" in the bolt.
One exception, maybe, is when a perfectly good tartan is spoiled due to which portion of the tartan is chosen for repetition across the pleats.

I mostly prefer kilts which are not pleated to the tartan, but there seem to be some tartans the overall effect of which depends on all of the colours being seen.

One example which I happen to have a photo of is the UCR tartan. The tartan itself is lovely, with an amazingly rich blue set off against "gold" (what some call "old gold", a mustardy yellow actually).

When the entire tartan is seen all is well, but for some reason they decided to pleat the kilts so that in the pleats only the mustard yellow is seen. Pipe bands play in a circle facing inwards so that it's only the ugly yellow backs of these kilts which are usually seen. Almost everyone who has seen this band has made negative comments about their kilts. Most say that the tartan ugly, but I think it's the backs of the kilts they've mostly seen.



This photo is actually flattering to these kilts. In person the enitre back looks like an ugly mustard yellow colour. On one piper you can see the lovely rich blue of the tartan itself.