Matching tie to the kilt

[creagdhubh]

I just pick a neck tie I like, that catches my fancy as I look at the tie rack. I never wear a tartan neck tie with the kilt, and I never try to match colours vis-a-vis tie and kilt.

I use the same approach, as Sandy. Works well every time...and no stress.

Cheers,

[creagdhubh]

Even in Scotland you will occasionally see a matching tartan tie (and hose flashes) worn with the kilt but this is considered by many native Scots to be something of a faux pas. A matching tartan waistcoat is fine. Tartan hose in the evening is fine, even a tartan doublet is fine but a tartan tie suggests that the wearer is unfamiliar with the conventions of kilt wearing.

Outside of Scotland, I doubt if anyone would know or care.

Agreed, well stated.

Cheers,

[English Bloke]

I wore a lambswool tartan scarf that matched my Kilt once. There was a lot of red but I thought it looked rather fetching... Before stepping out these days, I usually ask my missus what she thinks now. She has a better eye than me.

[OC Richard]

My "eye" or sense of taste or style in Highland Dress comes two main sources: looking at thousands of images of people wearing Highland Dress from the earliest known images through the early 20th century, and the traditions of the kilted Scottish regiments.

Tartan neckties were extremely rare (in fact I can't think offhand of a single vintage image showing one).

In The Highlanders of Scotland nearly all the neckties are plain black. There are a couple with subtle dot patterns, or striped.

The hundreds of vintage photos I have of men in Highland Dress from the 1850s through the 1920s nearly always show a plain dark necktie.

And, in Britain the wearing of striped neckties to display one's regiment or university or what have you is common.

So, the neckties which look "right" to me are plain black or other dark colour, striped school/regimental, and to a lesser extent dot patters or other overall patterns or motifs, or a single logo in the middle. .

I should point out that it's not a matter of looking at old photos and formulating a set of "rules" which must be followed. Rather, it is a matter of aquiring a sense of aesthetics over time, a sense of what "fits" and what does not.

I will note that I've recently been, by accident, coming across a few old photos of men in Highland Dress wearing tartan neckties. These photos are from the post-WWII era.

Now here's a recent example (2 weeks ago) of a Drum Major wearing a necktie which matches his kilt very well indeed! (He's a member here.)

[cck]

I wore a lambswool tartan scarf that matched my Kilt once. There was a lot of red but I thought it looked rather fetching... Before stepping out these days, I usually ask my missus what she thinks now. She has a better eye than me.

A tartan scarf seems more acceptable. But this brings up the inconsistencies; matching fly plaids - definitely yes, matching neckties - probably no.

[Jock Scot]

----------- matching fly plaids - definitely yes,-----

Well actually, no, it is not essential at all. Have a look at the Atholl Highlanders, or a picture of the late Sir Donald Cameron of Lochiel, or the picture of a "covey" of MacDonald Chiefs just for example( I am sorry I am not cleaver enough to produce them here). As long as the tartan is of the SAME clan, it matters not if the tartan, or the hue matches the kilt.

[creagdhubh]

Well actually, no, it is not essential at all. Have a look at the Atholl Highlanders, or a picture of the late Sir Donald Cameron of Lochiel, or the picture of a "covey" of MacDonald Chiefs just for example( I am sorry I am not cleaver enough to produce them here). As long as the tartan is of the SAME clan, it matters not if the tartan, or the hue matches the kilt.

Precisely! Whilst in Highland evening attire, I sometimes wear a tartan waistcoat (cut on the bias) of a different colour scheme, or hue, with a kilt of the same tartan (sett), and it works rather well!

Cheers,

[Tobus]

In The Highlanders of Scotland nearly all the neckties are plain black. There are a couple with subtle dot patterns, or striped.

I've noticed that too. And on that subject, I also notice that very few were the same style of necktie we wear today. Many were bow ties or (I don't know the correct term for this...) ribbon ties which were tied in a large bow with tails hanging down. But in almost all examples, they are black.

Some exceptions are these, which I find fascinating:

Angus MacDonell, wearing what appears to be a blue and white neckerchief of some sort, which lends itself a somewhat casual style.




And then there is this fellow on the left, who I believe is Archibald MacIntosh, wearing a length of tartan around his neck. It's obviously not a tartan tie, but some sort of scarf, tied in a decorative manner and tucked into his waistcoat. It's the only example I see of tartan being worn at the neck. I can't be sure, but it appears that it does NOT match the tartan of his kilt or waistcoat.

[OC Richard]

Here's an Athol Highlanders piper. Seems that the kilt and plaid match.



But here's a pipe band where the kilt and plaid do not match. I really like this look.



Both tartans are copied from the same 18th century painting (The MacDonald Children). But two versions are often in production, one that has the black line of the original (seen in the plaids above), and the other a defective version which lacks the black line (seen in the kilts above).

(thus did the Allen Brothers foist yet another bogus tartan upon us.)

[Jock Scot]

Ooops, duel post. Deleted.