Forum Thoughts

[allenlynott]

I wonder how many of us actually have ties to Gunn. May they be having a kilt or family.

[David in Maryland]

allenlynott, my own clan, MacCorkhill, is a sept of Clan Gunn. I cannot for the life of me find a clan tartan for MacCorkhill, so I believe my next kilt will also be in the Gunn tartan. It's a very attractive pattern!

- Dakotan

Dakotan,
MacCorkhill is also a sept of the Clan MacLeod, specifically the Lewis MacLeod's. This is quite interesting considering your avatar includes the symbol for Isle of Man. Leod, the founder of MacLeod's, was the son of Olaf, King of Isle of Man.

http://www.clan-macleod.com/gensepts.html#maccorkill

[Dakotan]

I was aware of this allegiance as well... I just don't like the clan MacLeod of Lewis' tartan as well as clan Gunn's.
I feel my clan runs in pretty fine company!

[Chris]

I have to chime in as well about how much I like our little "mutual admiration scoiety". I also agree with Al that there is nothing wrong in discussing other, related, topics of interest, such as single malt Scotch.

I'm typically pleased at the absence of the femme fatale element!

[allenlynott]

Make mine an Irish Whiskey. After the Army, I can't take Scotch anymore. This is a common affliction: to much of a good thing.

Cheers,
Allen

By femme fatale, do you meajn women or "freestylers"?

[Hamish]

Hi Ham
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So where do we disagree?

HI Robbie,

Well, I don't think we do, actually. Somewhere along the line I obviously picked up the wrong set of vibes in thinking that you might not have approved of wearing the kilt, for example, as casually or as informally as many do thesedays. I see now that we share very similar views indeed, and I am glad of it.

[Alaskan]

I am actually waiting for my first kilt to arrive.
I have wanted one for a very long time, since my father's pride in our Scottish herritage has rubbed off on me. Now that I have a job of my own and don't have any dependents yet, I figured now was the time. Since ordering my kilt I have become very excited about it and after looking at many sites like these, I think I will continue buying kilts so that I can make the switch and phase pants out of my wardrobe. I am very conservative in what I consider a kilt. I am so conservative that I am reluctant to call something a kilt if it is not made of wool, even if it is made the same way and in a tartan pattern. On the other hand, I am not conservative at all in what I think should be worn with the kilt. I think that it should be OK to break the rules on how a kilt should be worn... as long as you are not in a formal situation. Also, I think that before breaking the rules you should know the rules.
I would like to know from Hamish and Robbie how they feel about wearing a matching tartan tie with a kilt. I know that this is a no-no in the United Kingdom, but in the United States it is acceptable, and I like the look. I am currently working as an assistant language teacher (ALT) in Japan and sometimes we have conferences where ALTs from around Japan (and before that around the world) gather. I was wondering if I was to wear a matching tartan tie
would the Scottish ALTs be understanding if I explained to them that it is acceptable in the U.S. or would they feel that the rules of what is acceptable in Scotland are the only rules that matter? I guess what I really want to ask is; Do YOU Hamish and Robbie feel that other countries' rules on kiltwear have any validity, or should the rules in Scotland be the rules everywhere?

[bubba]

Alaskan, just my opinion and all, but I think a tartan tie with a tartan kilt is overkill. Just a bit too much. A better choice would be select a tie that matches one of the major colors in your tartan. I think it looks a bit nicer and gives you a dressier appearance.

[Hamish]

I would like to know from Hamish and Robbie how they feel about wearing a matching tartan tie with a kilt. I know that this is a no-no in the United Kingdom, but in the United States it is acceptable, and I like the look. I am currently working as an assistant language teacher (ALT) in Japan and sometimes we have conferences where ALTs from around Japan (and before that around the world) gather. I was wondering if I was to wear a matching tartan tie
would the Scottish ALTs be understanding if I explained to them that it is acceptable in the U.S. or would they feel that the rules of what is acceptable in Scotland are the only rules that matter? I guess what I really want to ask is; Do YOU Hamish and Robbie feel that other countries' rules on kiltwear have any validity, or should the rules in Scotland be the rules everywhere?

Hi Alaskan, Welcome to the Forum.

As I have said on so many occasions: there really are no hard-and-fast rules governing how, and with what, the kilt should be worn. There is, however, such a thing (and an important thing) as "tradition". Tradition tells us how we should wear our kilts formally, but not casually. Since you are talking of "Scottish" dress here, my feelings are that you should consider how the Scots dress formally or semi-formally (which, if you are proposing to wear a tie, would seem to be the style in question). It will be a rare occurrence indeed that you see a kilt being worn with a matching tartan tie in Scotland and, although I live in England, I just could never do that myself. As Bubba so rightly says, a plain woollen tie, whose colour matches one of the more prominent colours of your kilt, is what is required here.

What we have to consider is your overall appearance - how others will perceive you. Bubba uses the word "overkill", and again he is correct. Tartan ties are primarily worn when the wearer is not sporting the kilt (ie: with a suit, blazer or tweed jacket and trousers). I am afraid that, to me, matching tartan ties and kilts are as naff-looking as a T-shirt and Prince Charlie dress jacket would be.

There are no laid down rules concerning this - it is all a matter of aesthetics.

[Graham]

Hi Alaskan, welcome to the forum I think you may be our first from Japan.
I know that things celtic seem to be very popular in Japan.
Last year while hiking I met a Japanese couple who have been into Scottish Country Dancing for years. They were very excited to see me in a kilt.

I know people here who wear a tartan tie with a kilt. I prefer a plain tie myself, to me it's a bit like wearing stripes and checks together.
If the tartan matches it's better, different tartans would look out of place.

Wear what you like and feel good in.