Stewart Great Kilt

[Kilted Doghdóir]

Good evening.

I’m having trouble deciding which Stewart tartan to one day get my great kilt in. I’m hoping people can post pictures of themselves in a Stewart great kilt or something similar. I’m leaning towards the modern hunting tartan but am very curious to see what the weathered hunting tartan and black tartan look like in a great kilt. I was thinking the royal stewart may be to bright and busy but who knows.

Thanks in advance,

Kilted Doghdóir

[figheadair]

Have you considered the Old Stewart?

[RichardtheLarge]

I would recommend the Stewart Old tartan with the ancient color scheme. I have several things in this tartan...it’s beautiful and I love it.

With that being said, I would recommend against buying a great kilt unless you have some specific reenactment or costuming need for one. They are very uncomfortable and impractical to wear in my opinion.

Instead, I would recommend having a tailor make a standard kilt and the detachable plaid described in this article:
https://kiltmaker.blogspot.com/2008/...plaid.html?m=1

In my opinion this is the best of both worlds—when added to a tailored kilt it looks like a great kilt but with the option of leaving it behind if you don’t want or need it—in my experience, that’s most of the time!

[Pleater]

I tried out a great kilt.
It swept things off tables and shelves, snagged on handles and knocked over drinks.
It was soon converted into a dressing gown.

Anne the Pleater

[DCampbell16B]

I would also recommend against a belted plaid (great kilt) unless you do a lot of 18th C or earlier reenacting (as noted above). I have one, and haven't worn it in decades. Put that money to use in good Highland wear that you will wear often.

[OC Richard]

I love the Hunting Stewart Weathered in Marton Mills tweed https://martonmills.com/product-cate...d-collections/

I think it's the nicest kilt fabric I've ever worn. It looks and feels terrific.

(I know opinions vary, and many people don't like tweed for kilts.)

I personally don't want a great kilt, but if I did this is the cloth I would use.

However Old Stewart in Ancient Colours is quite lovely, and would be a close second choice for me.

[Madadh]

Here I am in my Stewart of Bute great kilt.

[Crazy Dave]

Instead, I would recommend having a tailor make a standard kilt and the detachable plaid described in this article:
https://kiltmaker.blogspot.com/2008/...plaid.html?m=1

In my opinion this is the best of both worlds—when added to a tailored kilt it looks like a great kilt but with the option of leaving it behind if you don’t want or need it—in my experience, that’s most of the time!

I recently bought in an online auction, a kilt that came with a drummer's plaid. It is pretty much like you describe. It also happens to be the Royal Stewart Tartan. It is not a "weathered" tartan, but rather a standard tartan that was actually weather from standing in the sun. If this kilt and plaid could talk, I'll bet it would have an interesting tale!

[OC Richard]

...a kilt that came with a drummer's plaid.

I just want to point out that that sort of plaid, called a "belted plaid" in the old Highland Dress catalogues, has never been worn particularly more by drummers than other people.

It was the standard plaid of officers



Long standard with civilian Evening Dress



Worn by civilian pipers



And even military pipers, though this was not commonplace.



Interestingly, military drummers did not, and still do not, wear that sort of plaid.

Rather in the pre-WWI Full Dress all Other Ranks, riflemen and drummers alike, wore this sort of plaid. Note that it's not fringed, and is not worn with a brooch, rather tied at the epaulette with a ribbon.



Here being worn.

[Crazy Dave]

I just want to point out that that sort of plaid, called a "belted plaid" in the old Highland Dress catalogues, has never been worn particularly more by drummers than other people.

It was the standard plaid of officers

That plaid looks different from the one I have. The one I have has a belt made of the same wool that goes around the waist and some pleating sewn in at the belt, so it doesn't hang loose in the back like the one in you picture.