Quote Originally Posted by David E
OK, I'm confused

Other threads on this site and on Bravehearts give the impression that the general view regarding tartans is that you should feel free to wear whatever tartan(s) you take a liking to. I was told that people wouldn't mind, and may even be pleased that you liked their clan's tartan enough to want to wear it. However, this thread seems to totally contradict that.

I bought a kilt of the Modern Douglas tartan because I really liked the tartan (having taken advice on Bravehearts). I am not aware of any scottish ancestry and certainly have not proven any "entitlement" to wear that tartan (I assume it is a clan tartan). Have I committed a grave error?

I don't wish to offend anyone and there certainly seems some sentiment here that a clan tartan is "sacred" because of the meaning and heritage associated with it. John in Texas' story regarding the beret is a very good example of an item of clothing having special meaning. If someone has earnt the right to wear a certain item, then somebody else wearing that item who hasn't earnt it would understandably cause offence.

I guess the only thing I would say is that sensitivities could be mistaken for elitism and that may well put a lot of men off wearing kilts that otherwise would, and I think that would be a real shame.

I won't stop wearing my Modern Douglas kilt as I love it (and I don't yet own enough kilts to compensate for losing one), but I would be interested to hear your opinions as I don't want to make the same mistake again if, indeed, it was a mistake.

Cheers
David (feeling a bit of an outsider!)
don't worry bro, I'm English too, and I wear what ever I want. it's only in recent times that tartans have been associated with familys etc, maybe 200 or so. an since an Englishman (thomas rawlinson)invented the small kilt anyway.do what you want, you dont ahve to be German to wear jeans
(levi stauss).don't forget that the black watch although being a highland regiment was "british" well English, put together to keep the scots in line, the whole dress is based on English army, take the jacket, mess jacket when all said n done.
also many scots remained loyal to the English the campbells where one .as far as black watch offending the Irish, some Irish people consider themselves british anyway.