To kilt in this clan color or that?

[Tobus]

If I come across a tartan I know is a clan tartan I will definitely make a stop here in the future as to gain the knowledge or permission to wear it.

No need to do that. No one here can give you "permission" to wear a clan tartan. You are already free to wear any clan tartan you want. And even if someone here did pretend to give you permission, that wouldn't make a hill of beans to someone who challenged you on it in public.

If it's approval you're looking for, though, the proper person to ask would be the chief of the clan in question. Some chiefs give it freely, some deny it, and some ignore such requests. But wouldn't it be a hoot if you did get written approval from the chief himself, and could throw it in the face of the self-styled tartan police? Oddly enough, usually the bozos who are rude enough to publicly challenge someone's clan affiliation don't even know who their chief is.

DrummerBoy has a great suggestion if you're a Marine. That's one of the tartans you definitely are entitled to wear proudly. But there are also some clan tartans which are also considered universal tartans, due to the fact that they have been worn by military units or for various other reasons. Black Watch (which is actually Campbell) is one. Black Stewart and Royal Stewart are also considered universal, as is Hunting Stewart if I'm not mistaken. So these are actually clan tartans that no one would take amiss if you wore. And a lot of the "plaid" patterns you will find at local fabric stores are variants of these universal tartans. They will look very similar, but seldom exactly like, these tartans.

[kilted scholar]

As a further twist to this question just because a tartan is advertised as being associated with a particular clan does not mean that the clan in question regards it as belonging to that clan. For instance, there are a wide range of tartans bearing the name "Campbell" on the market. However the position of the chief is that only four are validly associated with the Campbells. Three relate to Campbell branches - Breadalbane, Cawdor and Loudoun. As for regular Campbells, they are simply to wear plain undifferentiated "Campbell". All other versions - Dress Campbell, Hunting Campbell, Campbell Red and all other varieties - are not recognized.

So if a person was wearing a hunting version and - extremely unlikely - some officious busybody accosted them and asked on what authority they were wearing it, the simple answer - even more unlikely to persuade the busybody - is that no authority of any kind whatsoever is required to justify it.

Moreover, in terms of the Campbells, the chief has recognized the undifferentiated Campbell tartan as the tartan Campbells and those affiliated should wear as the clan tartan. No other tartan meets with his approval as the clan tartan. However, this does not entail the idea that no other person is "entitled" to wear it.

As others have indicated, this question has been discussed at great length in various threads.

[McElmurry]

OP "Is it kosher to wear tartans of other clans than those of my ancestry?"

If by “kosher” you mean in accordance with written or unwritten cultural laws or norms of the Highlands, then no it is not “kosher” to wear the tartan of a clan to which you do not belong or wear the tartan of more than one clan. If you want to be “kosher” research your family history, select and join a clan association, and wear the tartan(s) of one clan. You can also wear regional, fashion, regimental (if entitled), organizational or other universal tartans that are not clan related.

But there is no requirement to be “kosher” and as this is a forum of kilt enthusiasts most here are way too enthusiastic about kilts to limit themselves to one tartan.

[Tartan Tess]

I wear what I like; with respect.

[opositive]

i am adopted--so i am a mutt. to avoid the issue, i mostly stay away from "clan" tartans. there are lots of universal tartans, and i recently have become a fan of the irish county tartans (thanks in part to kilted carver selling some kilts he shrunk out of).

within the last week, i received a great holyrood casual from usa kilts. usa kilts have a great lists of tartans which are universal--casual pv has a short list, and the wool kilts have a more expansive list.

[brewerpaul]

Not being Scottish or of any clan affiliation I have always had this question in mind when buying my kilts. There are ways around wearing tartans without the worries of clan affiliation. Regardless of the tartan or kilt I wear the main thing I do is wear it properly and with pride. After that I look for tartans and kilts I feel comfortable wearing. This brings me to list a few I have that are regional or considered universal. Ive 3 Blackwatch and feel they are one of my favorite due to the colours of the tartan. The green, blue and black go well with most anything I can wear from burgundy hose to ragg wool sweaters. My Hamilton Grey is dandy for dressing up, I think this is one Heritage of Scotland had made. My saffron kilt is excellent for a solid. My tank is German Heritage, designed by Rocky, and hand sewn by Bonnie Greene. I do have a weathered MacKenzie from SWK that is great. In the works, when I get them sewed, are two out of Xmarks Tartan, one brown hemp corduroy kilt and Canadian Maple Leaf(fantastic fall colours). I do plan to get two clan tartans because I really like the tartan. Those would be a Dress Gordon and Black Stewart. I know the Black Stewart is fairly universal and accepted for anyone. There are many state, national and local tartans out there too.

To sum it up, it is easy to find many colourfull and classy tartans without clan affiliation or the feeling you shouldn't be wearing it. But if you do chose a clan tartan, as I will with the Gordon and Stewart, just wear them properly and proudly.

[Off kilt-er dude]

That's awesome I'll have to look into that tartan and get one when I see it!

[Zardoz]

To sum it up, it is easy to find many colourfull and classy tartans without clan affiliation or the feeling you shouldn't be wearing it. But if you do chose a clan tartan, as I will with the Gordon and Stewart, just wear them properly and proudly.

Indeed, I have 11 kilts, and if we don't count the saffron and solid black, and count X-Marks as a 'clan' tartan, the remaining 9 are all either district, non-clan universals, or 'fashion' tartans.

[Lyle1]

I wear what I like; with respect.

Sometimes the simplest answer is the best!

Please do no think that I am being rude, but the reality is that you must decide for yourself what you are going to wear, then follow the advice from Tartan Tess.

[Off kilt-er dude]

This has been most enlightening and I am going kilt up in the most comfortable way, If I need to I will ask clan chiefs but otherwise I will don a tasteful tartan and wear it respectfully. Thank you all for your input, Especially you Tobus!