Matching tie to the kilt

[JSFMACLJR]

In Iran they have made the necktie illegal... they are considered decadent....just a bit of useless trivia...

That's unfortunate.

[Jack Daw]

I've worn a tie for church or work since a kid. If I gave it up now, the world might spin out of control. Matching a tie to a nosebleed - that explains my affinity for a red one, I suppose.

[Zardoz]

Not trying to be the forum steward, but there is a current thread on this subject here; http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/f...57/index4.html

For my part, I'm OK with the matching tartan tie as long as there's a waistcoat in there to break it up from the kilt.

[cck]

The general feeling is not to wear a tartan tie and matching kilt. Wearing a vest would break that up and be better. I think wearing two different forms of the same tartan would not look good. Of course, if you have a set such as matching bow tie and comberbund, they should be worn together.

Unless you stick with a solid color, finding a tie to go well with a tartan can be a challenge. I'm a color-matching freak, so when I finally find a good match, I feel like celebrating.

[Tobus]

What is the feeling about matching the tie to the kilt?

My feeling on it is that you can do it if you want, but it's not necessary. Wear whatever tie you like. If it suits the occasion and doesn't absolutely clash with what you're wearing, it'll be fine.

Many of us here in America were raised to think that a sharp-dressed man should always have his entire ensemble perfectly colour-coordinated. And indeed, it can look very nice when everything matches perfectly. But there's a certain liberty and sense of style that comes from intentionally not matching everything together. It adds a bit of complexity, interest, and personal flair to an outfit when they all seem to go together, but nothing actually matches.

For me, wearing a matching tartan tie with a kilt would be too "cookie-cutter" and unimaginative.

[Father Bill]

I guess when I hear about attempts to "match" things, I just remember that I like to match everything in my outfit... and not to worry if it matches my tartan, the kilt in particular. My tartan is... it's my tartan, and therefore it's always right and doesn't have to match anything to stand proud!

[davidg]

Let me add my 2 cents worth

I agree wholeheartedly that anyone can wear whatever they like. But, a request for advice has been issued and I get the chance to give my opinion. I do feel the hairs on the back of my neck prickle a little bit when I hear that "a lot of nonsense" is talked about not wearing a tartan tie with a kilt. Why? because common fashion sense moulds us in everything, even in kiltwearing, and wearing a matching tartan tie with a tartan kilt simply does not look good regardless of whether you are wearing a vest or not. That may be my opinion but it also seems to be the view of the majority of Scots as well

Consider other forms of dress. Do you wear a denim tie with your jeans? Does anyone wear a pin stripe tie to match their pin stripe suit? Have you got a grey flannel tie to match your grey flannel pants? The answer is usually a resounding no. Why, because it doesn't really look good

Of course there are exceptions and, in any case, I will not raise an eyebrow if I see you in matching tartan but I will have some thoughts running around in my head about matchy matchy and whatever else you might be wearing in matching tartan, wondering whether you have an obsession or not

In the words of Jock Scot, "it's simply not done" (not in the world of good taste, anyway). I'm sure you could all can find plenty of photographs to show that Rob Roy, William Wallace or other ancient Scots wore matching tartan ties if you want to attempt to prove me wrong but I don't think I've ever seen a Scot wearing one in real life. Solid colour to match or co-ordinate with the colours in the kilt, yes. Tartan, no

[Mike_Oettle]

While I have worn tartan ties since I was a boy (starting with one in my clan tartan, Lindsay Modern), it seems to be overkill to wear one with a tartan garment.
(I did break the rules when I was in the army and wear a tie in the regimental tartan with my regimental kilt, but it was frowned on. I did it to buck the system.)
I have enough plain-colour ties to go with both my kilts, and if I need any more when I acquire another kilt or two, I will see to that also.
With my Botswana kilt I generally wear a plain blue silk tie, but if I have a blue shirt on, I will wear my latest acquisition, a yellow silk. (The tartan does not include yellow, but instead a sort of mustard shade. However I have chosen yellow to co-ordinate with it, and also have yellow flashes.)
With my Mighty Men kilt I can wear white (I do so especially with a red shirt), red, purple or green.
Black would also be acceptable, but I am not keen on black ties (I do have a black shirt).
On occasion I also wear a white tie with the Botswana kilt and a blue shirt, with blue hose and white flashes.
And on Saturday night I wore green shirt and hose with my Botswana kilt (which includes no green) and blue flashes and tie. It seemed to work.
And on occasion I have also worn a Paisley tie in black, blues, greens and reds with my Botswana kilt – it could probably go with other tartans, too. It was given to me to mark my 100th blood donation.
Regards,
Mike

[Kilted Cole]

I try very hard to have the tie the same as the kilt. This is not always an option for what ever reason, from that stance I try to have a solid colored tie that fitts with one of the predomenant colors of the kilt. Keep in mind I'm nuerotic about this as a result of my time in the military and its become sort of a tick of mine. Another option you could do is in nicer weather wear just a vest instead of the whole 3 piece suit style and without a tie. I find that its really successfull in that its very sharp yet not overly formal. What is boils down to is what you precieve to look both flatering and appropriot by your individual taste. I'm sure whatever you decide to do, you'll look smashing in it. Good luck and Happy Kilting.

[MacRobert's Reply]

Even in Scotland you will occasionally see a matching tartan tie (and hose flashes) worn with the kilt but this is considered by many native Scots to be something of a faux pas. A matching tartan waistcoat is fine. Tartan hose in the evening is fine, even a tartan doublet is fine but a tartan tie suggests that the wearer is unfamiliar with the conventions of kilt wearing.

Outside of Scotland, I doubt if anyone would know or care.