Forrester or Douglas Next Kilt?

[LPF]

Hi there fellow Forrester,

I am in the same situation. I don't particularly like the Forrester Tartan and it doesn't come in many weights, and as you say it's a fairly new design. Where as the Douglas has a rich history. Given the choice if I were to invest in a quality kilt (which I am currently saving for) I would tend to go with the Douglas first and then if finances permitted get the Forrester second. But that is just my opinion.

Welcome aboard.

[mookien]

That looks pretty darn nice. The kilt is very very nice. I believe Chuck Mirabile one of the CO Regents for CDSNA has a very similar kilt at the AGM in Estes Park. What is the benefit of the "hard" tartan? ...

Henry: Thank you. As for the benefits of hard tartan, if there are material or functional benefits, eg durability, I am unaware of them. For an expert description of hard tartan I direct you to ...

http://newhousehighland.com/cloth.html

The description of hard tartan is towards the end of the page.

I chose hard tartan, because I, too, wanted something, if not unique, at least less common. I also liked the idea of having a kilt that was more like the old kilts of the 19th century. My description/impressions of the hard tartan cloth are written in the same thread that shows the coyote sporran.

John

[ForresterModern]

You've already gotten m y opinion by PM prior to this thread, but those who did not would probably recognize me in Forrester tartans as well as Douglas tartans in various colorways as well as non-affiliated tartans and a few more. I am a proud member of Clan Forrester, albeit one of the small cluster who are active. I only see the Forrester clan tent at Stone MOuntain each october and I hear that it makes it to a couple other games each year. But by far more common is the Clan Douglas tent, at almost every games I have been to. Never joined the society, just never felt the need to be part of too many "clans". Like you I realize that it is virtually impossible that any of my forebears wore the Forrester tartan as it did not exist, and Forrester was more of a lowland border march family with alliances, allegiances and lands and positions of power on both sides of the border, at least the middle and eastern portions. But is is unlikely that many wore kilts as that was not a lowland attire, and if they did it would have probably been either in border check or Douglas due to the close relationships between the two families. So I wear each with pride, different types and different reasons, but still pride.

Find what you like the looks of, buy it and wear it-----with pride. Your choice of tartan, your choice of pleating, your choice of accessories.

And by the way, I have some blond coyote pelt that will be left over from a project that is climbing up the queue of one of our own artisans, in case you wish to have your own coyote sporran built up.

And I told you that at least one or two of our cousins would pipe up when the Forrester name shows in the forum thread titles. There may be one or two more.

[hunterblawthyhorn]

I think I'm leaning towards a New House Kingussie in either Douglas Ancient or Wilsons. I love the idea of a coyote sporran!

Henry