mens Vs. women's sashes

[kilted guys wife]

hi everyone

I want to get my husband a tartan sash however every one I see for sale is on a female model. I’ve seen photos of men in sashes that looks much the same as the ladies just worn off the other shoulder. Is that the only difference?

Thanks so much

[Zardoz]

Basically, there are no mens 'sashes', there are plaids and fly-plaids

[O'Callaghan]

Although, just to confuse things, SportKilt do show sashes being modelled by men.

[Geoff Withnell]

Basically, there are no mens 'sashes', there are plaids and fly-plaids

Altho a laird's plaid worn over the shoulder looks like a thick sash.

[Tobus]

I’ve seen photos of men in sashes that looks much the same as the ladies just worn off the other shoulder

Those are likely cheap costume photos you've been seeing. There are some vendors who sell absurd Scottish costumes with fake kilts, sashes, a tartan hat, and a tiny little fuzzy sporran. But there is no such thing as a men's tartan sash in traditional Highland attire. (I can't say as to whether there might be examples of men wearing tartan sashes when wearing trousers, such as for an awards ceremony or such, but it simply isn't done when wearing the kilt.)

When they make tartan sashes for faux-Scottish costumes, they are attempting to recreate the look of a full plaid, or even a belted plaid. But it is not the same thing, not by a long shot.

[Mr.Charles Anthony]

Kilted Guys Wife: Let me try the basics(&the pros chime in here please, she appears to need a basic answer to pick a gift). A womans sash is not much more than a quite long scarf you might wear in winter. A mans' fly plaid, which is supposed to resemble the top half of the much older style kilt, is wider and longer, and most often has an attachment device on one end, to hold it to the belt. Sometimes they are fringed on one end, even al four edges. To buy one for your husband, it should be the same tartan-and maker, if you can, so it will match the kilt. These things are most often used in formal settings. If you do buy one- come back here and ask the Readers for help with a good vendor.
{Note to the Guys! Wake Up & help us married kilt wearers, here is a lady in favour of men in kilts! Let's help here out}
As Ever
CSA

[Tobus]

A womans sash is not much more than a quite long scarf you might wear in winter. A mans' fly plaid, which is supposed to resemble the top half of the much older style kilt, is wider and longer, and most often has an attachment device on one end, to hold it to the belt. Sometimes they are fringed on one end, even al four edges.

The construction of fly plaids may vary, but the one I have is just a rectangular piece of tartan cloth, fringed on all edges. One corner of it is pleated with two simple stitches, and meant to act as the corner that gets pinned to the jacket. Basically, the small tucked pleats give it more strength at the pin point, and make for a more decorative appearance. There is no attachment device, though. You would simply pin the brooch (or whatever type pin you're using) through the fabric. And a fly plaid is not meant to attach to a belt. It simply drapes over the shoulder, with the only attachment being the pin at the shoulder.

But again, this may vary between makers. I'm not really even sure there's an industry standard on how they're supposed to be made, since they don't have much of a history in Highland tradition.

[creagdhubh]

Those are likely cheap costume photos you've been seeing. There are some vendors who sell absurd Scottish costumes with fake kilts, sashes, a tartan hat, and a tiny little fuzzy sporran. But there is no such thing as a men's tartan sash in traditional Highland attire. (I can't say as to whether there might be examples of men wearing tartan sashes when wearing trousers, such as for an awards ceremony or such, but it simply isn't done when wearing the kilt.)

When they make tartan sashes for faux-Scottish costumes, they are attempting to recreate the look of a full plaid, or even a belted plaid. But it is not the same thing, not by a long shot.

***

[Ryan Ross]

Just to beat a dead horse- Yes, men do not wear a tartan sash, traditionally.

Certainly, some men DO wear a tartan sash, but then again, some men wear dresses, also.

The fly plaid is a rather new innovation, is rather annoying to wear, and is designed or intended to be worn only at high levels of formality (black tie and above).

If you want to get your husband a nice, traditional, useful piece of tartan for wear above the waist, look for what's called a "day plaid".

{Note to the Guys! Wake Up & help us married kilt wearers, here is a lady in favour of men in kilts! Let's help here out}
As Ever
CSA

Actually, the lady never mentioned kilts.

[creagdhubh]

Greetings,

I wear a day plaid occassional, usually only in Scotland for my clan's annual gathering and rally in Badenoch, and am quite fond of them - given they are used in the appropriate clime and place. This style of plaid is often preferred by many Highland Chiefs, as well as Chieftains of cadet branches of a particular clan - this is the case with my own clan, the Clan Macpherson - though Cluny (my Chief) hasn't worn a day/blanket plaid in several years.

They can be rather expensive (far more costly than a simple lady's sash, or a gentleman's fly-plaid), with much of the price depending upon certain details regarding the tartan itself. The construction of this style of plaid is fairly straightforward: Typically, 3 1/2 - 4 yards of tartan, single or double-width, with hand-purled fringing (about 4 to 5 inches in length) on the opposite ends, but not on all four sides as in a fly-plaid. It's basically reminiscent of a tartan picnic blanket and can actually be used as such for an 'off the cuff,' inpromptu Highland picnic! Keltoi and the Scottish Tartans Museum Gift Shop offer these type of plaids for sale, or you could simply order the tartan and do the fringing yourself (there have been threads on this forum relating to purled fringing). Best of luck!

Here are several visual examples of a day/blanket plaid in use; they have been a part of traditional Highland day attire for many years:












Cheers,