What kilt 'should' I wear?

**michael steinrok** · 21st January 06, 07:11 PM

Hey man wear what you like! Especially if you,re not a traditionalist yourself. Why truth be told there is a little sassenach blood in me ! (English)We like to keep that side of the family quiet. Oh did I type that out loud?

**Beery** · 21st January 06, 08:31 PM

Originally Posted by cajunscot

There are several tartans associated with English counties:

www.district-tartans.com/british.htm...

Thanks for that. Since I was born in Sheffield, that would be a nice choice for me - I like the colours too.

Eventually I'll probably get a Black Stewart, an Ancient Cooper and a Sheffield. Maybe also a Durham, since that's where my dad was from.

Thanks also to everyone else who responded. I appreciate all the replies.

**highlander_Daz** · 22nd January 06, 03:49 AM

The Tartan I reccomend to people who want a Non clan Tartan is "flower of Scotland" it was named after the National anthem of Scotland (Flower of Scotland) Written by Roy Williamson of "The Corries, Williamson had connections with clan Gunn so the tartan is similar, its one of my Favourite Tartans, my family Tartans are Cameron and Gordon, but I have a "Flower of Scotland" 8 yard Kilt from Hector Russell, and here I am !

**Woodsheal** · 22nd January 06, 09:15 AM

Originally Posted by Beery

and although my last name (Cooper) has a tartan associated with it (and I like the colour)

If I was lucky enough to have a family tartan - which I don't - I'd wear it...!

**Sir Robert** · 22nd January 06, 09:36 AM

You asked about the most restrictive tartan that would be the Balmoral Tartan, which is restricted to the British Royal Family, Nobody will sell you the tartan material. Now if you wove your own and sewed it into a kilt I am not sure that anyone would notice nor would the cops arrest you.

Even though Scotland and Germany do protect heraldry (coats of arms and titles) nobody protects tartans.

Because you have Welsh blood, pick a pretty Welsh Tartan. The fact of the matter is that only a few tartans out of thousands can be traced with any certanty to any Clan and few people can trace themselves with any certainty to any Clan. So it is all 18th C. BS anyway.

**Mr. Kilt** · 22nd January 06, 10:24 AM

I don't have any Scottish blood that I'm aware of, but I do have an Irish background. My dad's family came from the area around Larne, Co. Antrim in N. Ireland. I could wear the Co. Antrim tartan, but I don't particularly like the colours in it.

I'm not one to stick to "traditions" as far as tartan selection goes, so my first tartan kilt was a Black Watch. My second was a budget "Pride of Scotland" just because the price was right and I liked the colours. My third is a Hunting McLeod, again because I like the look of the tartan. I also have a kilt in the Gordon tartan on order. Some day I'd like to get kilts in some of the Canadian provincial tartans, as well as the City of Calgary tartan. Just have to win the lottery first. LOL

As Jimmy Carbomb always tells us...wear what you like, but try to find out a little bit about the tartan you choose. Now go out and enjoy!!

**macwilkin** · 22nd January 06, 10:27 AM

Al: if you have relatives from Northern Ireland (Ulster), then I would say you probably do have some Scottish blood, given the number of Scots who settled there in the Plantation. I always recommend the Ulster red tartan to folks with Ulser-Scots heritage.

Cheers,

Todd

**Jerry** · 22nd January 06, 10:34 AM

Originally Posted by cajunscot

Al: if you have relatives from Northern Ireland (Ulster), then I would say you probably do have some Scottish blood, given the number of Scots who settled there in the Plantation. I always recommend the Ulster red tartan to folks with Ulser-Scots heritage.

Cheers,

Todd

I agree, Todd. My family is from County Tyrone, but when I had the Irish American society look them up, They said I was really a Scot.

**Mr. Kilt** · 22nd January 06, 11:25 AM

Originally Posted by JerMc

I agree, Todd. My family is from County Tyrone, but when I had the Irish American society look them up, They said I was really a Scot.

As I noted on my new "kilts" web page, I have a hunch that our family may be Ulster-Scot, but I have no proof of this. I did not know about the "Irish American Society", but I just Googled it and found there is a Canadian version of the same thing. I'm just in the process of looking their site over, and I may join.

**KiltedCodeWarrior** · 22nd January 06, 07:21 PM

Highlander, nice tartan! I don't think I have seen that one before.

And while I would never have considered it, the combo with a black bowtie and white shirt is a good look. And are thos ghillie brogues I see? I assume the hose are white as well?

Probably need a belt, but you could attend any formal or semi-formal even dressed that way and nobody would accuse you of being under-dressed.