Thoughts on this tartan

[pascs]

I actually quite like that tartan.

What I really like however is that particular jacket/waistcoat. Any idea as to where to procure that one...?

They sell the jacket and waistcoat for £189

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/GREY-ARGYL...item66732daec4

[hootstwo]

They sell the jacket and waistcoat for £189

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/GREY-ARGYL...item66732daec4

Thanks so much for the response... I'll have to keep that in mind for when I've hit my weight loss goal.

[Connaughton]

I like the tone on tone black kilts and have considered a Dark Island kilt in the past. You might consider having only the neckware pulling that cream/buff from the kilt. That little bit of flash up at the neck seems to restate and POP the light tone in the tartan. I always understood that concept as "let that tartan shine Buddy". And as already stated above keep the sporran and jacket and shirt subdued. Again no competition with that tartan.

[ForresterModern]

I personally like the tartan itself, rather simplistic yet stately with nice color accent stripes, and in a color palette not so commonly seen except in the weathered tartans by Lochcarron. If you like it I say go for it. Not a bad price even for a machine sewn kilt. Tartan4less I believe is the ebay vendor for Tartanweb/St Kilda products, if my memory serves me right today. I have several Tartanweb machine sewn kilts and they are of good quality build and appearence. 199gbp equals a littlle over $300 US which is a decent price for a good quality kilt. Let us know what you think of its quality when/if you get it. Remember that the ebay site states an additional 19.99gbp for shipping to the US (another $30US to add into the equation) but this is for Economy Shipping. I would simply verify with the vendor what method of shipping they consider "Economy". If they are using either Royal Mails or ParcelForce as the method of delivery, I think you should be in good shape from the US customs duty standpoint, even if it is not trackable or takes longer than Fedex or UPS. The former two are slower but less likely to get hit with import duty (about $50-75US), while the latter are by business agreement with US Customs obliged to calculate the correct duty then add their own handling fees on top of that, and will bill you for the extra amount. The additional duty/fees IMHO would likely negate any apparent savings you got by ordering the kilt at what appears as a budget price.

Good luck, and if you buy you must post pictures and a review.

[xman]

I think it's attractive as well.

[creagdhubh]

Whereas Tobus brings up several good points, this particular tartan is definitely not my cup of tea - way too dark! Then again, the only tartan I wear (and ever will wear) are of Macpherson and Chattan setts!

Cheers,

[Father Bill]

It's not the colour of the tartan that's important to me, it's the history and the ancient connections. Without those, no tartan is pretty in my eye.

[Zardoz]

I like the colors, but I think I'd like it more if the sett was a little smaller.
That having been said, pair that with the charcoal argyll that almost everyone has, and you'd almost have a "kilt suit" look going, pretty cool.

[OC Richard]

It's not the colour of the tartan that's important to me, it's the history and the ancient connections. Without those, no tartan is pretty in my eye.

Few old tartans have much of a history (that is, an origin/pedigree/provenance which can be documented) and none are what I would call "ancient". (Well I don't think of the 19th century as being Ancient History, anyhow.)

The notion that tartans might be called anything other than "a tartan" or "a plaid" began with the 18th century Highland regiments, and the concept of specific named clan tartans seems to be a 19th century invention (probably growing out of the Cameron, Gordon, and MacKenzie regimental tartans).

For an old clan tartan's pedigree, we usually see it first appearing in a 19th century book such as Logan, but there is no known provenance beyond that.

Or it might appear in a Wilson pattern book, though oftentimes the Wilson tartans are known by numbers or fanciful names, and only later given clan designations.

Or, a tartan might be seen in an 18th century portrait, but we cannot know if the person wearing the tartan called it anything other than "a tartan", or if the sitter was indeed even aware of the concept of clan tartans.

So, I prefer to look upon tartans as they originally were: artistic expressions of a Celtic aesthetic to be enjoyed for their design and colour.

[pascs]

Well I've gone ahead and ordered the kilt in this tartan. I wanted something dark but I didnt like the black tartans and wasnt too keen on the grey tartans. I already have 2 green/blue tartan kilts so this should make an interesting alternative without costing the fortune of a normal made to measure wool kilt