Dress vs Hunting Tartan

[Jamie McP]

I have a kilt in Macpherson red, and I am considering buying a one in the Macpherson hunting tartan. Is is appropriate to wear a "hunting tartan" for dress?

[The Wizard of BC]

Simple answer - Yes.

Another answer would need to ask the question back to you, "What do you intend to hunt in your dress?"

[creagdhubh]

Greetings Cousin!

I would like to say at the outset, welcome to XMTS! And to aptly answer your question...why, of course it is! Many Macphersons, including myself (see the photos below), wear the 'hunting' sett, or the Breacan Glas for black tie occasions, even though our dress tartan prevails for formal events when the clan is together. This can specifically be seen at our annual gathering and rally in Newtonmore and Kingussie, Inverness-shire, Scotland when Cluny (our Chief) hosts quite the festive Clan Macpherson Ball at the Duke of Gordon Hotel in Kingussie. So, wear it proudly!











P.S. - PM me if you are keen on owning an 8-yard kilt in the Macpherson 'hunting' tartan in a basically "like new" condition, and at a good price (and if the kilt's measurments would work for you!). I have one available that needs a good home.

Na bean don chat,

[Pipersson]

I really like the hunting sett with white instead of grey called Macpherson of Pitmain as dess kilt.

Tom

[Jamie McP]

Thank you one and all for the info... and the pictures. This helps.

[creagdhubh]

I really like the hunting sett with white instead of grey called Macpherson of Pitmain as dess kilt.

Tom

I do too Tom, but that particular sett is really only traditionally worn by Alastair Macpherson of Pitmain, his family and those Macphersons descended from the cadet branch of Invereshie, of which Alastair is the Chieftain. The Pitmain sett also has much larger band of blue stripes. Of course, the tartan isn't restricted; all I'm saying is that the only people I've ever seen wear the Pitmain sett is Alastair and his immediate family.

Cheers,

[creagdhubh]

Thank you one and all for the info... and the pictures. This helps.

No worries, mate! Glad I could help.

[Pipersson]

I do too Tom, but that particular sett is really only traditionally worn by Alastair Macpherson of Pitmain, his family and those Macphersons descended from the cadet branch of Invereshie, of which Alastair is the Chieftain. The Pitmain sett also has much larger band of blue stripes. Of course, the tartan isn't restricted; all I'm saying is that the only people I've ever seen wear the Pitmain sett is Alastair and his immediate family.

Cheers,

Ah ok, Kyle...but in former times this sett was a common and general Macpherson tartan like Cluny B+W as far as I know...?!

Tom

And by the way...how do you find how my new bonnet is shaped ( a picture in my album).
Have a look if you don't mind ;-)

[frank_a]

What I really like are the party pics! What a great looking group obviously having the time of their life. I'm envious!

Frank

[creagdhubh]

Ah ok, Kyle...but in former times this sett was a common and general Macpherson tartan like Cluny B+W as far as I know...?!

Tom

And by the way...how do you find how my new bonnet is shaped ( a picture in my album).
Have a look if you don't mind ;-)

The Pitmain sett is a wee bit different from the typical "hunting" sett that most Macphersons are familiar with (see far right of the photo below), but I do understand what you are saying. Of course, the "hunting" Macpherson wasn't always referred to in this manner, that really didn't come about until much later when tartan manufacturers were creating tartans in all sorts of various colour schemes, and I think we are all aware of the history as far as that is all concerned. Long before those manufacturers came upon the scene during the tartan craze of the Victorian era, the "hunting" Macpherson was simply known as the 'Breacan Glas,' or "the grey plaid of Cluny." Originally, the lighter grey sections of the tartan were more of a white to off-white colour, and then gradually it was altered to a light to medium grey (or as a result from the white sections becoming dirty, or soiled from use). It's interesting, because even today at the annual Clan Macpherson Gathering in Inverness-shire, you will see Macphersons, to include Cluny, wearing the "hunting" Macpherson tartan, but they are all very different from one another. The colours vary; with some having light to medium grey, off-white, beige, a darker grey, and even a medium tan colour in their tartan! Naturally, many of the sett sizes vary too. The older kilts, typically worn by Macphersons native to the area, have very large setts, almost like a "zoomed in" effect, of which I rather like.

5-6.jpg

Cheers,

P.S. - Your bonnet looks great! Well done, cousin!