Tartan authority - what can I wear?

[piperdbh]

My Lockharts hailed from Lanark and Carnwarth, which is not far from Roxburgh. If you want to wear our tartan, go ahead, with our blessing.

[Shedlock2000]

My Lockharts hailed from Lanark and Carnwarth, which is not far from Roxburgh. If you want to wear our tartan, go ahead, with our blessing.

That's a lovely offer! Thanks (fantastic Tartan too!!)

[Shedlock2000]

So, Im pretty sure I have narrowed it down to:

MacDonald of the Isle - weathered
Roxburgh Red - weathered
Roxburgh Green - weathered
Hunting Stewart - weathered
Kerr Clan Hunting - weathered

I have seen a number of great photos of the MacDonald of the Isles, but, does anybody have any photos of a kilt in the others?

Here are the swatches:Kerr Hunting Weathered.jpgMacDonals of the Isle Weathered.jpgRoxburgh Gree Weathered.jpgRoxburgh_Red_Reproduction_Colours_Pure_New_Wool_15.jpgHunting Stewart Weathered.jpg

So, what say all yea wise persons?

[mookien]

... I have seen a number of great photos of the MacDonald of the Isles, but, does anybody have any photos of a kilt in the others? ...

Looks like you got the snaps down for comparisons. Those are all pretty "earthy" to me.

You can use Google Images, enter text like "roxburgh red kilt" or "roxburgh red tartan", and oft times see actual (as opposed to computer generated) pictures of the kilt or tartan.

[ForresterModern]

As one whose surname is that of a lowland/border "family" (not historically a clan) and whose "clan" tartan come in two rather "vivid" varieties (Forrester Modern first looked to me like a clown tartan with all the jumbled up colors and little appearence to organization, while Forrester Hunting looked frankly like Ireland National with all the bright greens) I can tell you that the "connection" Tobus speaks of does have some depth to it, as I wear both my family tartans now regularly and without any conscious concern over their color patterns. I also look to the Douglas tartans in their various color schemes (wearing 5 different ones now with fabric for two more different ones) because that clan was closely affiliated with my family historically. I also wear regional tartans which I particulalry like, Maple Leaf and Isle of Skye, and other clan tartans to which I have some relations (MacDonalds and Allen) or some other string (MacDonald of Glencoe).

Rethink your concerns about your regional or clan tartan, and it may grow on you over time. To the newer kilt wearer, who already may be self-conscious about sticking out in a crowd just by wearing a kilt, there is sometimes an additive over-consciousness about bright or bold colors or patterns common in tartan (if I already stick out it will only be worse if the kilt is in really bright colors) that makes a newbie often want to choose more subtle tones and patterns, a feeling which will wear off as you become more comfortable wearing the classical tartan kilt. And as others have suggested consider other local families, allied families, adjacent areas, other unaffiliated tartans (so called universals), other family names in your geneology, and variant color schemes.

But as someone suggested you, as a neo-canadian, have more than the right to wear one of the loveliest tartans around, the beautiful Maple Leaf tartan (I have a kilt in this too which I absolutely adore---thanks Barb T). I could spend the rest of my life in that tartan alone and be more than satisfied I think.

[crash]

Shedlock, Stewart Hunting is one of my favorites and my next kilt will be either ancient or weathered. By the way you really need to see the Maple Leaf tartan as a kilt in person or a very good photo to appreciate it's beauty. Another one on my short list. SWMBO is going to smother me in my sleep with one of them one of these days. lol

[Shedlock2000]

Oddly enough, Crash, I came across a weathered hunting stewar the other day - it might have been the green now I come to think of it - and I was quite taken myself! I think I might look into it as I guess a number of mills might keep that stock.

Shedlock, Stewart Hunting is one of my favorites and my next kilt will be either ancient or weathered. By the way you really need to see the Maple Leaf tartan as a kilt in person or a very good photo to appreciate it's beauty. Another one on my short list. SWMBO is going to smother me in my sleep with one of them one of these days. lol

[David]

Its a bit off topic I know, but I never thought I'd see Carnwath mentioned here, last post on the 1st page - I forgot to reply with "quote"

[Nile]

As is evident from this discussion, we choose a tartan for a variety of reasons; family, historical and/or aesthetics. Family speaking, have you considered your mother's, your father's mother or even your wife's clan tartans? You could end up with many more choices and still have a kilt that's a connection to your family.