McGregor dress tartan

[okiescot]

This is my first post on this forum so please forgive any stupidity I express. I am preparing to buy my third kilt. The first one was a modern red MacGregor in 13 oz. that was pleated to the sett. I was new and so I bought the default pleated to the sett style.

My second kilt was Scotland's National in 13 oz. which I wanted pleated to the line (stripe?), but since it was for a band I had to accept the sett pleat.

I have really like the MacGregor dress tartan since I first saw it and that is the tartan that I have decided on. I also have decided that I want it pleated to the line (stripe?) since it will probably be my last kilt due to my age and my health. I have a choice of 11 oz. or 16 oz. and I have decided to go with the 16 oz. weight.

The question I have is how should I request the pleating on it. I have not been able to find any pictures of the McGregor dress tartan and I only have a 6" square swatch, which is not enough material for me to work with.

Does anyone have any pictures of a dress MacGregor kilt and especially if it is pleated to the line (stripe).

I have spent several days looking at posts and doing searches, but was not able to come up with anything on this topic. If I have overlooked a thread on this please direct me to it and forgive me for not finding it.

Thank you in advance for your help.

[fluter]

Hello and from South Carolina.

Are you referring to one of the tartans with a white background? These are usually worn by Highland dancers. If I recall correctly, the MacGregor clan chief has approved the green-on-white version for clan members who dance.

Otherwise, the chief is rather a minimalist regarding tartans. His approval extends to the "red and green" (the usual version) and the "red and black" for clan members.

There is more at the Clan Gregor Web site, here.

[SlackerDrummer]

Try this website: http://highxpress.tripod.com/tview2.html

I think the Dress MacGregor, however is a dancers' tartan, isn't it?

[Father Bill]

And by the way, Welcome to the Great Rabble!

[Dixiecat]

Try this website: http://highxpress.tripod.com/tview2.html

I think the Dress MacGregor, however is a dancers' tartan, isn't it?

It's a dress tartan that can be used by dancers. It can also be used by anyone who is not a dancer.

[Big Mikey]

Although the dress tartans are USUALLY worn by dancers they are not exclusive to dancers. A few male members have posted pics here of their dress kilts and in all honesty there is one on my list in the future.

Now back to the OP, this question does need to be answered in order to get the right help.

[okiescot]

Thank you for all of the replys. The tartan in slackerDrummers post is the same as my swatch with the exception that the green in my swatch is a bit lighter in color.

I understood that the clan chief did not accept the dress green at all. I am not a purest although I do try to be as proper as I can be. One of our bandsmen had a dress MacPherson kilt and I always thought it was quite striking.

Since "So You're Going to Wear a Kilt" said that many men do wear white for formal occasions and for dancing I shall continue my pursuit of a dress MacGregor kilt. It also says that pipe bands are not held to quite as strict rules. At 74 years of age my skin has become quite tough so if you see me,feel free to rag on me a bit and we both can laugh about it.

I am beginning to think that no one has a dress MacGregor kilt. If anyone does know of one I would be most appreciative if you could get a picture of it for me.

Thanks again for all of your help.

[Highlander31]

....Are you referring to one of the tartans with a white background? These are usually worn by Highland dancers. If I recall correctly, the MacGregor clan chief has approved the green-on-white version for clan members who dance.

Otherwise, the chief is rather a minimalist regarding tartans. His approval extends to the "red and green" (the usual version) and the "red and black" for clan members....

Our chief has also approved the MacGregor of Glengyle/Deeside for the general clan members. While it is his belief the MacGregor of Cardney should be worn only by members of that particular branch of the clan. He does not restrict the wearing of any of the tartans, saying "a person may wear what he or she likes."

[okiescot]

Thank you, Highlander31, that makes me feel a little bit better about this project.

[M. A. C. Newsome]

It's a dress tartan that can be used by dancers. It can also be used by anyone who is not a dancer.

While it is true, in general terms, that anyone who wishes may wear a dress tartan, it should be pointed out that in the case of the Dress MacGregor tartan, the clan chief has actually expressed a specific opinion.

To whit:

I have officially approved the MacGregor Green dance tartan which is called MacGregor Green for wear by dancers only. As I was formally asked if the tartan could be worn by some dancers who are of MacGregor blood, I was happy to agree given that their representatives had taken the trouble to ask me about it. However, the caveat is that it should only be worn by those who compete or have competed in highland games. It should not be worn by MacGregors at large. I regard it as a sort of badge of honour, knowing the stringent training and discipline that goes into these competitions.

(Note he calls this the "MacGregor Green" tartan rather than "Dress MacGregor." He typically eschews terms such as dress or hunting to refer to any MacGregor tartan.)

Now, the above quote may sound rather authoritarian, but remember it does come from the clan chief who was specifically asked his opinion on tartans for the MacGregor clan. He also says in the same statement:

People can obviously wear what they like within the bounds of good taste – the difficulty comes when they wear something which is not what it purports to be. The discussion is not helped by emotive phrases like ‘tartan police’ as if the chief goes around with sunglass clad outriders in boots ‘bagging’ anyone who is not wearing the right tartan. The kilt, tartan, and its accoutrements are peculiar to Scotland, people of Scottish descent, and those who wish to be affiliated to Scotland in some way. It should all be treated with a bit of respect as other nations do with their national forms of dress.

Quotes from the chief are taken from this web site, well worth reading if you are interested in MacGregor tartans.
http://www.clangregor.org/article-ourtartans2.html