Ladies - Pictures please to help me out!

[sydnie7]

Can't locate a photo in my archives, but will try to describe another option. One end of sash is gathered into a rosette which is invisibly held with a small rubber band or the like and finished off with a decorative brooch in the center. The rosette is placed on the front of one shoulder with the long end of sash trailing over the shoulder and hanging down behind. The weight of the brooch is enough to keep this in place during light activity (walking, but not dancing). Not having it pinned on allows you to a) not have pinholes in your evening dress and b) easily remove/place it when desired.

[creagdhubh]

Examples of ladies tartan sash wearing - courtesy my lovely wife, Stephanie and my great-aunt and uncle (dancing in the photos) whom live in Inverness-shire Scotland:









Regards,

[Tobus]

Here's an old one of my wife wearing a Texas Bluebonnet tartan sash casually at the San Antonio games... Apologies to Tobus if this is the "Miss America" style he mentioned.

OK, so now I feel like I've pretty much "stepped in it". I hope no offense has been taken where none was intended.

Shaun, I think it still has an imaginative and somewhat free-flowing look, the way she's wearing it. I like that she used a simple knot or wrap-over at the bottom, and the top has a sort of 'draped' form. It looks like she's wearing it comfortably and, for lack of a better word, naturally. For some reason, I always think tartan looks better when it's allowed to drape. I suppose it allows the pattern to be broken up a little bit (the straight lines formed into natural curves, interacting with each other), making it more visually interesting. Complexity, I suppose, would be the concept.

Whilst kilts are necessarily worn with the tartan hanging straight down, making curved "drape" impossible, I always enjoy seeing sashes, plaids, shawls, scarves, and other upper-body tartan accessories take a more flowing form. Especially when worn on the female figure, which is well suited to curves and such. That's purely my own aesthetic preference, though, and has nothing whatsoever to do with what's "correct" vis-a-vis tradition.

The same is true, Kyle, of your great-aunt in the dancing photos. In the picture showing her right side, see how the tartan pattern "flows" down her back? How lovely is that? She looks for all the world like she's been wearing it comfortably and naturally all her life (which perhaps she has!). I really think that this free-flowing look displays the simple beauty of tartan at its finest.



Now this isn't to say that wearing it in a more straight-line folded fashion, and pinned together at the bottom, isn't "correct" or traditional. Your wife, Kyle, looks absolutely lovely in the photos, and indeed you should be proud to have her on your arm. But do you see what I'm saying about how much more interesting and natural a tartan sash can look when it's allowed to drape and flow?

I hope this is all taken in the spirit in which it was intended, viz., interesting conversation and food for thought.

[ShaunMaxwell]

Tobus:

No worries from this quarter. I understand your point completely.

SM

[GoodGirlGonePlaid]

For a little more casual daywear kind of look, Mickey got me a wool sash from Stillwater that I wore with a large brooch on my shoulder (which is hard to see) and belted at the waist over a simple black dress. I liked the look and got many compliments that day.

Love it! Great belt too!!! #iWant

[creagdhubh]

The same is true, Kyle, of your great-aunt in the dancing photos. In the picture showing her right side, see how the tartan pattern "flows" down her back? How lovely is that? She looks for all the world like she's been wearing it comfortably and naturally all her life (which perhaps she has!). I really think that this free-flowing look displays the simple beauty of tartan at its finest.



Now this isn't to say that wearing it in a more straight-line folded fashion, and pinned together at the bottom, isn't "correct" or traditional. Your wife, Kyle, looks absolutely lovely in the photos, and indeed you should be proud to have her on your arm. But do you see what I'm saying about how much more interesting and natural a tartan sash can look when it's allowed to drape and flow?

I hope this is all taken in the spirit in which it was intended, viz., interesting conversation and food for thought.

Tobus,

Thanks for your tactful reply mate, your comments are always welcomed and much appreciated. I hope I did not come across as defencive or in a 'huff' with my initial response, as that was most certainly not my intent, nor tone.

I completely agree with your keen observations. I absolutely love the manner in which my great-aunt (Catriona Macpherson) wears her sash - free-flowing and allowed to drape naturally and rather gracefully down her back. As far as I am aware, this is the way she as always worn her sash. This particular sash is the Macpherson weathered tartan by Lochcarron - matching the kilt of my great-uncle (Lloyd Macpherson).

My wife does tend to wear her sashes in the folded and pinned fashion, it's simply her personal preference, and I respect that. I think she would definitely be open to wearing her sash in another way, perhaps something more along the lines of my great-aunt, Catriona. I must admit, it was a challenge enough to convince her to wear the tartan of my clan in place of her Clann Donnachie tartan - she's such a staunch supporter of her own clan, and rightly so! Yes, I am a lucky man to have her as my wife, and I thank God everyday.

Thanks again for your comments and perspective, Tobus.

Cheers my friend,

[bonnie heather]

Here's a photo of me and my dance friends wearing our sashes with one end coming down over the front, gathering about 12" of the sash into a loop with a small rubber band, and pinning a brooch where it's gathered. The long end of the sash is going back over our shoulders and is pinned on the right hip.

[creagdhubh]

Lovely!

[CopperNGold]

Father Bill,

How about enticing her toward the way of the tartan with an accompanying beautiful brooch?

[Mark Stephenson]

Father Bill,
Here is a photo of my wife and me (on left) We are wearing MacTavish Modern. Both are from Locharron. However, my kilt is 16 oz tartan and Carol's gown is 13 oz tartan. They are not identical even though both are MacTavish Modern from the same mill. So, if you do order a skirt/dress for your wife and a sash, be aware that they may not match your kilt if they are a different weight.