Northumberland Tartan

[David H]

I have traced my mothers lineage to Newcastle which is located in Northumberland. I am considering getting the Northumberland Tartan, but I am having doubts.

My concern is what do I wear with this tartan? Other than a black or white shirt or hose or wearing it to a formal occasion, it seems like this tartan is a hard one to wear on a regular basis.

Give me your thoughts and suggestions before I decide to purchase one. If I don't purchase the Northumberland Tartan, I may go with the Newcastle or the Tyneside Scottish.

[Bugbear]

I don't see why you couldn't wear it with anything that you would wear with any other tartan. It's the black and white check, right?

[English Bloke]

My Mum was from Northumberland and I've thought about the Shephard Check Modern (Northumberland Tartan) for a Kilt. It's a special weave but I think it would look great in a tweedy sort of way. I'd love a six yard, double box pleat in it. I've also looked at the Newcastle Tartan and love the idea that it's inspired by the colours of Newcastle United but not keen that it is restricted and only obtainable through 'International Tartans'.

I'd sell my soul to have a Kilt in Tyneside Scottish, another special weave. Unfortunately, being the shallow and worthless man I am, my soul wouldn't raise anywhere near enough to afford the price of the kilt so that's that idea out the window. Short of a lottery win or a Bank Job these will be just ideas for a while yet.

Hasn't Tattoo Bradley got a Kilt in Shephard check? Can't find a linky to pictures but...
I know Redshank has a Tyneside Scottish Kilt

[Jock Scot]

I would not get too wound up with all this matching up business. This idea is a very modern thing, in last 30 years, and seems to be coming from the North American area.

[Highland Logan]

I would not get too wound up with all this matching up business. This idea is a very modern thing, in last 30 years, and seems to be coming from the North American area.

I second Jock. People here tend to post many pictures here dressed in a monochrome look of black and white, or the dreaded black on black. And it seems that some consider complementary colours to be "like" colours. For example; black watch kilt, black shirt, black hose and black tie. Regardless of how often I hear that it looks good, it does not.

A gentleman should know how to dress himself, and with the internet to use as an informaiton source for those whom dressing up is foreign, there should be not reason for the lack of colour seen in so many kilted wardrobes.

The key is complementary colour, which are colors that are of “opposite” hue in a colour wheel. And of course good taste and common sence. Get what ever tartan you want, don't get caught up in the monochrome look.

Frank

[Bugbear]

Yes, it's the thirty-something, North Americans who came up with and are worrying about matching , and color coordinating, and seasonal skin tone color types.

In fact, I have contributed to this myth of needing to coordinate the colors in a kilt ensemble.

I confess and ask forgiveness, and will try not to bring it up again.

[svc40bt]

Here, member Kerr the Walker sports the similar Carr check casually.



It seems to me one could wear almost any color with such a kilt, very versatile.

[Phil]

Surely a black & white kilt would go with pretty much anything? I can see the point maybe of trying to pick out one of the shades in a multi-coloured kilt for a tie and hose just so it doesn't clash but that surely can't be a problem with black and white? I would be wearing something colourful to brighten the whole ensemble up.

[M. A. C. Newsome]

When wearing this tartan my advise would be to not limit yourself to the colors in the kilt when selecting what else to wear. Dont think just of the kilt, but of the outfit as a whole. You can match hose color to your shirt color, for instance, and because the black & white of the kilt is pretty neutral, you can wear just about any color you want.

I wear a Highland Granite kilt, which is just different shades of grey, and I'll often wear it with things like a red shirt, grey hose and red flashes; or a bottle green shirt, green hose and grey flashes.

Second point, this tartan should not be a special weave. It's the same as the Shephard check, which Lochcarron stocks in both 10 oz and 16 oz cloth.
http://www.lochcarron.com/tartanstrome/shepherd.html

If your kiltmaker or Highland haberdasher is telling you that the Northumberland tartan is not available, it's probably because they didn't see "Northumberland" on their tartan list and didn't know enough to realize it's the same as Shephard. So if they say it is not available, just ask for "Shephard" and see what they say.

[Kerr the Walker]

Here, member Kerr the Walker sports the similar Carr check casually.



It seems to me one could wear almost any color with such a kilt, very versatile.

Not trying to nit-pick, but for the same of accuracy, the kilt I've got on in this pic is Kerr Shepherd check. Not having a lot of color in it to begin with, it gives you quite the range to mess with. As I understand it, the Northumberland check is the Kerr Shepherd check minus the red bits. I think the Northumberland is sharp as all get out and would definitely make an extremely versatile kilt.

I say go for it! And post pictures when you get it of course.