Clan tartan ties, unforgivable sin?

[Tobus]

I would not wear a tartan tie with a kilt, or mix tartan patterns. But, well, see below.

(I don't post this as an example of "how to do it", but to show that it's not a hanging offence.)

[Famous Willie]

I would not wear a tartan tie with a kilt, or mix tartan patterns. But, well, see below.

(I don't post this as an example of "how to do it", but to show that it's not a hanging offence.)

To me, looking at this photo, I think the thing that stands out the most for me, is the White Hose. The White Hose just does not fit at all... I have a pair of White Hose, and I haven't worn them since I got my Black, and Navy Blue and Bottle Green hose... In fact all I prefer to wear is my Black Hose...

[LKM]

I personally feel that there are times where it works and times where it does not. I would say it does not work with a Prince Charley yet it could work with a vest/waistcoat that go further up the chest. The a less formal argyll, tweed jacket, or just the vest seems to be more forgiving styles.

[Liam]

In Sir Sean’s case, a black self tie bow tie would be more suitable. I occasionally wear a matching long or bow tie with a tweed jacket.

[imrichmond]

Respectfully, which one we think looks better will not answer the question of which is more traditionally correct if that's part of your calculation.

In the case of tartan ties, it seems to me that fashion is perhaps a more determining factor than tradition. When I began piping in the late 1950s, for example, the fashion in Ontario was to wear a tie in the same tartan as the kilt. This was the prevailing fashion in pipe bands (those that did not wear a military style uniform) and among kilt-wearers at highland games and other informal functions. Around the mid-1970s, the fashion changed. The tartan tie was out and the so-called "clan tie" was in. This was a tie, usually navy blue or black, with multiple replicas of the appropriate clan crest embroidered on it, generally in slanting rows. That fashion passed, in its turn, after about 20 years, to be replaced by the current trend of wearing ties unrelated to tartan or clan. Many pipe bands, meanwhile, nowadays have their ties custom made in a design specific to the band. There are, of course, numerous exceptions, but the above outlines the changes I have observed in the wearing of ties over the past 60-odd years.

I must say that I was struck during my last two sojourns in Scotland (2012 and 2014) by the number of Scots I encountered wearing a tartan tie with their kilt, given that this fashion has largely disappeared in North America. It appears, however, to be quite unexceptionable in the old country.

It is perhaps worth mentioning that pipe bag covers, except in the military, have followed pretty much the same fashion as ties. Up until roughly the mid-1970s, the tartan bag cover was the norm. From the mid-70s on, solid-colour bag covers have replaced the tartan ones, which are now rarely seen outside the military. Again, it seems to me that this is a question of fashion rather than of tradition.

[jumary]

I like the carved staff the gentleman is carrying. It doesn't look like blackthorn. Any ideas?

[plaid preacher]

I'm grateful for all the advice I have received here, so here it goes. Why would you wear a tartan tie with your kilt! Is 8 yards of tartan not enough for one outfit!!!???!!!

But seriously, I wear a neck tie to compliment and set off an outfit. When you are wearing a navy blue suit do you wear a tie in exactly the same colour, with no stripe or pattern? If you have grey harris tweed jacket and slacks on, do you wear a tie that exactly matches the tweed? No? Well for the same reason, you wear a tie that sets off the outfit. Now to be honest, when I wear my navy suit, I wear my Lamont tartan tie, because it sets it off.

..and I hate to say it, but the picture of Sir Sean is ... just wrong!

[Laurentius]

Well I went in the end with the clan tartan tie, but I don't think anybody was looking at the tie, they were looking at my kilt and I had nothing but compliments for it.

[Laurentius]

I like the carved staff the gentleman is carrying. It doesn't look like blackthorn. Any ideas?

Not bad, but I have a few of my own made from willow that I have grown. The full Harry Lauder perhaps.

[pushka]

May be a bit unorthodox, but I was a groomsman for an Australian Scotsman's wedding - Navy/Gold theme, and I wore matching bow-tie and flashes with pattern on them

https://photos.app.goo.gl/rK3l4MgxkMee29Uy1