is this tartan suitable for formal occasions, why/why not?

[Galloglaigh]

After 11 attempts to register here under different names, we now have enough evidence to confirm that this is again Steven Aikens of Jasper AL. This time using an IP proxy in an attempt to hide his real location.

[California Highlander]

If I'm not mistaken that is the weathered Clan Chattan tartan

I think Kyle has it right. Zoom to a larger view of the photo.

[Galloglaigh]

After 11 attempts to register here under different names, we now have enough evidence to confirm that this is again Steven Aikens of Jasper AL. This time using an IP proxy in an attempt to hide his real location.

[Jock Scot]

Galloglaigh.

That is assuming that you are comparing like with like. There are subtle colour changes between one production run of tartan and another from the same mill, never mind other tartan manufactures with "their" particular ideas of what shades of colour should be in a particular tartan. Which makes tartan so interesting, dont you think?

[Galloglaigh]

After 11 attempts to register here under different names, we now have enough evidence to confirm that this is again Steven Aikens of Jasper AL. This time using an IP proxy in an attempt to hide his real location.

[Jock Scot]

The point that I am trying to make is, one mill's dark blue will be another Mill's medium blue and so on, so it is very difficult to compare tartan colours and come up with a definitive judgement from a picture on a computer screen, as we dont know, as in the example(Chattan) above if the cloth even came from the same mill.

[creagdhubh]

If I'm not mistaken that is the weathered Clan Chattan tartan

Yes, you are indeed mistaken. The kilt is in the modern colours, but I can't recall who wove the tartan. I'll send a message to Bruce asking him to confirm the weaver/mill. I was present at this particular Clan Macpherson Ball and I know Bruce very well. The kilt is fairly old, and was passed down to him by his father, Sandy Macpherson of Edinburgh. The photo may not have the best light to adequately show the tartan's colours; however, I will say that it does look a wee bit faded in person (due to its age, I'm sure), thus appearing to have hues more closely associated with weathered/reproduction tartans.

[creagdhubh]

And here is the weathered version:

I will say that this a fine looking tartan indeed. Especially in this particular colour scheme. The Clan Chattan tartan in reproduction colours from D.C. Dalgliesh is one of two tartans in which I've selected for my next two kilts.

http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/f...d-tweed-85322/

[Galloglaigh]

After 11 attempts to register here under different names, we now have enough evidence to confirm that this is again Steven Aikens of Jasper AL. This time using an IP proxy in an attempt to hide his real location.

[creagdhubh]

Yes, I've seen instances of older tartan that may have been originally woven in modern colors having faded to the point where it ends up looking like muted or weathered/reproduction colors - which is one of the interesting things about tartan.

I didn't mean to ruffle so many feathers by stating that Bruce's kilt looked like weathered Clan Chattan tartan instead of modern Clan Chattan, but to my eye in that photograph it does look like the weathered version, as the modern version (when factory fresh) looks much more vibrant; but you are certainly in a much better position to verify which colorway the tartan in his kilt was woven in having seen it first hand, rather than just in the photograph shown where it appears to be the weathered variation.

No worries at all! You are correct in your observation that judging by the photo, and the photo alone, the kilt does appear to be woven in weathered/reproduction colours. So, I can certainly see the reasoning behind your thought process.