The wearing of hunting, muted or ancient kilts.

[slohairt]

I think ancient and weathered colours can look quite good with black jackets. Especially when the tartan is black/green/blue based. (Of which there are many!) For example, I prefer to wear Graham of Montrose Ancient with a black jacket/coatee. Graham of Montrose Modern seems to blend in with the jacket too much, leaving only the white stripes visible.

[AFS1970]

My first kilt (and to date my only tank) is Ancient Baird. I picked it because I liked the colors better than the Modern Baird which I found too dark. I have worn it to many formal events.

A few years ago I was at a festival and talking with a kilt maker. I was looking through the book of fabrics and saw a Dress Baird that I had never seen before, it was basically a white background with the same stripes as the other two. I asked about it and was told that it really wasn't for dressing up but made for the predominantly white costumes of the girls competing in dancing. After hearing that I have been shocked to see a few pics on XMTS that show gentlemen wearing various dress tartans of the white variety, although they don't look bad most of the time.

So the short answer is you should have no problem in a formal setting with an ancient colored kilt.

[KentuckyCeltophile]

One kilt, several looks. A canny Scot's take. is a good thread by Calgacus to see different looks for formal wear. Also, there is a video on the Houston Kiltmakers site that "suggests" the color of hose and jacket to wear with different kilt color schemes (i.e.-lovat green with a hunting tartan and tweed jacket). Not to say that these are the rules, but I think its good to have some guidelines simply because I need a visual aid to help me achieve the look I'm going for. Either way you should be able to wear whatever kilt you have for any occasion as seen in the link above. I agree with most everyone here that there are no kilt kops. It's all about having fun and enjoying yourself.

[Andy Proffitt]

There is nothing wrong with any of them. Sir Lachlan MacLean, the Chief of my clan, more often than not wears Hunting MacLean. There are a few clan tartans that, to my eye, are off putting in their modern color, but have great hunting or ancient schemes. If nothing about it bothers you go for it. No tartan (besides a dancing tartan) will raise an eye.

[Mikilt]

I just got a Royal Stewart in Ancient colors from @Ruanaidh and I have every intention of wearing it for a formal occasion next week.

[freddie]

I just got a Royal Stewart in Ancient colors from @Ruanaidh and I have every intention of wearing it for a formal occasion next week.

Red is the one colour that works well for me in all the colour pallets. I have MacDuff kilts in both ancient and modern and love them both.

[Reiver]

Gents...I like them both and these are my finalists...your thoughts. Looking for something to dress up and down.....Scott Green Ancient or Scott Hunting...I do like the subdued a bit. The two quite a bit different I know.

[freddie]

Gents...I like them both and these are my finalists...your thoughts. Looking for something to dress up and down.....Scott Green Ancient or Scott Hunting...I do like the subdued a bit. The two quite a bit different I know.

Is the one on the right Scott muted? I think Scott green would be the Clan's 'hunting tartan' as this term refers to the tartan itself rather than a colour shade (very confusing I know)
BTW they are both brilliant tartans and I would be spoiled for choice between them!

[OC Richard]

I have always, since I first saw this movie in the 60s, loved this tartan! And I wouldn't hesitate one moment to get a kilt in it, pleated just so:

[Dughlas mor]

It is a tough choice, but I think I would go with the green, just a prettier tartan to my eye.