tattersall et al?

**CMcG** · 13th August 10, 11:12 AM

I'm realizing that I'm quite ignorant about fabric patterns. Perhaps we can get a discussion going about various patterns and their suitability for kilting?

In particular, I'd like some advice about mixing patterns, which I have generally avoided. Also, perhaps people could share what they think is a nice version of any given pattern and what is a nasty one?

Pictures are especially welcome!

Some examples courtesy of Google:

tattersall:

gingham:

herringbone:

houndstooth:

argyle:

**creagdhubh** · 13th August 10, 12:05 PM

Hiya mate,

Are you talking about wearing such fabrics in a dress shirt with the kilt? I primarily wear tattersall and check shirts from Brooks Brothers with my Highland day attire. I have all kinds of colours and variations of check size. I also wear solid colours in pink, light blue, white, light yellow, and light green. All from Brooks Brothers, all with a spread collar (not button down), and some with french cuffs and some with plain, barrel style cuffs. I love mixing my patterned shirts with regimental stripe (styled) neckties of various colours and stripe sizes, as well as various shooting neckties from Barbour, which consist of grouse and/or ducks patterned onto each necktie-I don't worry about matching or even toning colours with the tartan of my kilt-it looks far better when one is not matching head to toe in my honest opinion!

I don't like the Argyle pattern with anything that deals with the wearing of Highland attire except for evening hose, made in the Argyle pattern in order to compliment the tartan of the kilt. Anything else, i.e.-a sweater, shirt, sweater vest, etc should be avoided in my opinion-clashes way too much with Highland attire. I think other material such as houndstooth, any sort of tweed style, herringbone, gingham, tattersall, checks, etc look absolutely outstanding with Highland daywear. It's basically the country look in which I think your talking about, or at least on your way to. It's a look that I like very much, as it is classic, timeless, nostalgic, practical (especially for the autumn and winter months-and often parts of the spring and summer if you reside in the Highlands), very smart, and simply beautiful to the casual observer.

I do wear gingham dress shirts occasionally, however, I ensure that they are in a relatively small gingham check, as I don't want that style of shirt to be too overpowering-typically pinks and light blue hues, with darker coloured neckties. I basically adore the Brooks Brothers-esqe, preppy, private school/university look with the addition of Highland attire and all of its pertinent accessories. Hope I helped you in any way, or at least contributed to your thread in a valuable manner.

Kyle Macpherson

Slainte,

**MacLowlife** · 13th August 10, 08:15 PM

One theory has it that you can mix patterns, especially several different plaid/check/ tartan patterns as long as you vary the scale. Following this, you can certainly wear a tattersall shirt with a tartan kilt and, should you choose, you might easily wear a houndstooth or shepherd's check jacket as well. Of course, much depends on the size of the teeth, and the level of contrast. Mellow is generally better than garish, I believe.

As for the herringbone, I think you can wear it with a tartan kilt, so long as the contrast is fairly mild between the two shades. Many fine kilt jackets are made up in windowpane tweeds, too.

All of the above items are central to the shootin and fishin and huntin country gentleman look, as is the fair isles sweater. When wearing these in seeming random combinations, it helps to be either foggy or inbred or rich as the devil. The addition of a tartan kilt is not likely to make things much worse.

You will find discussion elsewhere of the advisability of wearing more than one tartan at the same time. Objections fall into two camps, either heraldo-tartanic ( you can only wear different tartans belonging to the same clan, not two complimentary tartans belonging to different families, even if they are all your own) or aesthetic (two plaids by definition can not "match") but there are plenty of examples of great looking outfits that break either or both of these rules.

You might finally consider the distance from which your outfit will be observed. If you are going to be on a stage or a football field, you can wear a lot of things that would make people's eyes hurt if they were across the train compartment from you. Many intricate patterns appear solid at ten feet.

Again, it helps to be rich. Or famous.

**MacLowlife** · 13th August 10, 08:17 PM

Personally, I believe a paisley tie goes well with tartan, especially an ancient madder one with a hunting sett.

**Jock Scot** · 14th August 10, 01:23 AM

We are talking mainly shirts here?

Picture 1: perfect for a shirt.
Picture 2: smaller check and less loud is a fine option, light blue works well for a shirt.
Picture 3: for a shirt, in pale colours fine, particularly khaki.Herringbone in tweed can look great for a jacket.
picture 4: small pale blue works well for shirts and tweed houndstooth is a classic jacket pattern.
Picture 5:for a shirt? No. For a jacket? No. For a sweater? Perhaps. For hose? If you must.

Just so you know, in UK terms a "dress" shirt is worn with "dress"(formal evening) attire , for example, a PC. Everything else is just a shirt.

**longhuntr74** · 14th August 10, 05:53 AM

Slightly OT, but I just bought a shirt of that exact same tattersal patternt at Kohl's last weekend and will be wearing it to the Highland games today. Just looked at it and was amused.

**JSFMACLJR** · 14th August 10, 06:10 AM

I am a devote of gingham shirts. I wear them with the kilt, too!

**artificer** · 14th August 10, 06:19 AM

I'm a big fan of tattersal on a shirt.

I have several I'll wear with brown/grey suits or, of course, with a Kilt. None has to match anything else.

I don't personally care for gingham though. It always reminds me of the theater production "Oklahoma".

**macwilkin** · 14th August 10, 08:03 AM

I love tattersal shirts...if only Brooks Brothers wouldn't make them with those blasted collar buttons! :mrgreen:

LL Bean has some nice patterned shirts for more casual wear.

T.

**Jock Scot** · 14th August 10, 08:10 AM

Originally Posted by cajunscot

I love tattersal shirts...if only Brooks Brothers wouldn't make them with those blasted collar buttons! :mrgreen:

LL Bean has some nice patterned shirts for more casual wear.

T.

I could not agree with you more,those button down collar things are downright awful!