Two recent threads hashing out dress tartans:

http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/f...tartans-55188/

http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/f...concept-56819/

Cordially,
David

Quote Originally Posted by Woodsheal View Post
Jock, I understand that the word "dress" in "dress tartans" means "formal" and does NOT refer to the woman's garment. I'm just foolishly stuck in my historian's mode, and way back in Highland history, so-called "women's tartans" (used for their arisaids) traditionally had a white or light-colored base.

So, when I see, for instance, the "Dress Gordon" tartan, I'm reminded of the historic women's tartans. Dress MacLeod would not fall into that category with its strongly colored ground....