Next wool kilt

**artificer** · 23rd June 14, 05:23 PM

As much as I love IoS, Ron Abbott is right that it's starting to be a bit 'done'.

If you have ties to Monaghan County I'd do that, next would be Fraser, assuming you have family ties there.

ith:

**McMurdo** · 23rd June 14, 05:40 PM

I have to say of my 18 kilts Isle of Skye has been in the favourite top 3 since I purchased it.

**GMan** · 23rd June 14, 07:06 PM

I love my Isle of Skye. But not to sway you in any way.

**rondo** · 23rd June 14, 07:12 PM

It is hard to beat the IOS in terms of color and balance... As others have said, though, it is becoming common.
Rondo

**TheOfficialBren** · 23rd June 14, 10:43 PM

The reason it's becoming so common is because it's so darned gorgeous!

**Richrail** · 23rd June 14, 11:35 PM

Alas I do have ties to all the the tartans except IOS, which is in the running because of what Bren said "It's so darn gorgeous". But the longer I take to decide the more cash I save.

**Norbo** · 24th June 14, 12:37 AM

I voted Isle of Skye as I really like this one and am looking at getting one for my self right now .

**Spartan Tartan** · 24th June 14, 05:00 PM

I am a fan of the Monaghan County Tartan. Easily my favourite of the choices.

**ForresterModern** · 24th June 14, 05:01 PM

IOS was my vote. Like Glen, mine never seems to migrate to the back of the closet due to its frequency of wear. Yes you may be seeing a lot more of it lately becoming a popular universal tartan. But I got no truck with that--it is not like I see a kilt on every corner, let alone one in Isle of Skye. A beautiful tartan remains that until major changes in taste come about, which is slow in coming in general when it comes to tartan at least. How many would say the same thing about Black Stewart, Royal Red Stewart, or Stewart Hunting, or even Black Watch.

My second choice on looks alone would be Donnegal--very nice juxtaposition and progression of colors and wide and narrow stripes. pattern.

**OC Richard** · 24th June 14, 05:50 PM

I voted IOS too. It's my favourite kilt! The others just don't get worn.

I still remember the first time I saw it (a flash memory, like the way you remember a big disaster!) and it just jumped out to my eye as possibly the most beautiful tartan I'd ever seen, somehow simultaneously traditional and edgy, muted and vibrant.

It's funny, I carried around two big swatches of Spirit of Scotland tartan, modern and ancient, struggling to decide which to go with for the kilt I intended on getting. (Some money fell into my lap and it was time!)

I could never decide whether to go with modern or ancient... so I went with Isle of Skye! And I've never regretted it.

About it being over-worn or passé, I know I can wear it to a local Games and it be the only one there. At one Games I did run into a couple people wearing it, and we posed for a group photo! Meeting other IOS wearers was a bit of a novelty for all of us.

About pipe bands, no band around here wears it. Back east I saw The Balmoral Highlanders from Picksburg wear it, but I understand that that band is no longer around. The Spirit of Scotland Pipe Band hired IOS kilts for their one and only competition day. I know of no currently competing band that wears it, though I'm sure there are a couple, because the big trend in the pipe band world is away from tried and true clan and regimental tartans and toward 'fashion', district, and bespoke tartans.

And there are other reasons for going with IOS besides its beauty. For one thing, you already have an earth-tone kilt (Douglas weathered, right? a lovely tartan!) so I myself would scratch Monaghan County off the list. (That's one of the 1996 House of Edgar Polly Wittering designs, isn't it?)

I also would scratch that particular Fraser off the list, personally, because I dislike the Allen Brothers' four-equal-bar creations. The traditional Fraser, which respects common norms of aesthetic design, is a far better-looking tartan IMHO.