Clan tartan ties, unforgivable sin?

[Tobus]

Fashion is ultimately an art form like any other, and art is and will always be subjective.

But it's important to note that "fashion" is not the same as "tradition". And I will concede that we're not in the traditional forum here, so we needn't frame the entirety of this conversation in that context. If we are talking about everyday clothing choices, a tartan tie with a kilt could be considered a fashion choice. Just so long as one knows it's purely a fashion choice that's a break from tradition. And let's be honest: the kilt is a traditional garment, despite all recent attempts to modernize it and make it popular or fashionable. When one wears a traditional garment in a non-traditional way, it is a fashion choice that may cause blank stares or whispers behind hands. One takes that risk when making a fashion statement.

At any rate, all this talk of fashion sort of fades into the background when it comes to formal wear or evening wear. That is the one place where tradition rules, regardless of whether we're talking about Highland dress or so-called Saxon dress. Breaking the traditions of evening wear makes one appear unmannered and uneducated. Is that arrogant? Well, yes. None of us here created those traditions or rules. But they do exist. Welcome to reality.