Appropriety? (funeral)

[ThistleDown]

I'm sure acceptability is dependant on where you are, so bear in mind that my advice here only relates to Scotland and Canada. Sadly, I am at an age when attending funerals is becoming more frequent, so I'll just tell you what I have been wearing for the past dozen years or so: charcoal grey, dark tweed and black jackets (no silver), always with a vest, a white shirt (never coloured), dark grey or black tie, and solid-colour hose (no tartan, no dicing and always black or charcoal-grey or charcoal-green), black flashes and black brogues.

I guess I'm fortunate in having a number of tartans in the closets to choose from, but my dear and so-observant wife tells me that the kilts I have been wearing most often to funerals over the last few years are a modern Davidson pleated to sett (that makes it pretty dark), Seaforth Mackenzie for the funerals of "Budge" Bell-Irving and Smokey Smith, Clan Chattan by Jamie Scarlett for the funeral of the late Mackintosh, and a muted Davidson woven by Dalgleish 35 years ago or more just last week.

[Zardoz]

Thankfully, I have only had to attend two funerals since I began wearing kilts, the first was for the Grandmother of one of my best friends. Since I have known many members of this big family for decades, and this lady was a second generation Irish American, a famine family, I thought it would be OK to sport my Ireland's National kilt. I wore it with a charcoal argyll & waistcoat , charcoal hose, green tie and flashes. There were like 60 people at the chapel and graveside, most of them family. I kind of hung back, and though the folks I didn't know looked at me a bit, no comments either way. When we got to the lunch afterwards at the fellowship hall, everyone was interested and complimentary, when they'd ask about the tartan, I'd say it's in honour of our roots etc., we talked about family history a lot, so all good!

The second time was at a service for a well known guy in the motorcycle industry here. I was all ready to catch some crap, but I've been in the business here for almost 20 years, they all think I'm nuts anyway!

[Balaamsass51]

Have thought about this and I know what I would like to do. Have a Locharron Strome range Highland Granite kilt with tie/flashes flashes to match, black hose and shoes, white shirt, with black argyle jacket and vest.

But I certainly could use my Newsome kilt etc. as is if I could get the money together to buy the jacket and vest.

Matt H.

[aviewfrom]

Funerals are an event to pay respects, to honor the one who passed away and show support for the family. I don't see how wearing a kilt in the manor already mentioned in this thread would be out of place. Especially so if the one who passed was a close relative who knew you wore kilts. When my Grandmother passed away my Uncle who owns a Harley dealership wore the leather pants he had on when he gave his Mom, my Grandmother, her first cycle ride. He chose to wear them because she got such a kick out of him in those pants. Unconventional, yeah. Fitting, very much so if you knew my Grandma.

[cessna152towser]

Black kilts or Black Watch tartan kilts are quite commonly worn to funerals in Scotland, though I have also seen kilts in brighter tartans worn at funerals.

[Jock Scot]

Black kilts or Black Watch tartan kilts are quite commonly worn to funerals in Scotland, though I have also seen kilts in brighter tartans worn at funerals.

Plenty of loud MacLeod to be seen at the late Chief John of Clan MacLeod's funeral.

[davedove]

I think the biggest factor should be respect for the occasion. That should guide your manner of dress and what tartan you might wear.

If you are wearing a bright tartan to stand out and be noticed, that does not fit my idea of respect. It shouldn't be about you.

However, as in Jock's example of the MacLeod Chief's funeral, that tartan was worn by those of the clan, honoring the Chief. That would be completely appropriate.

[Bart_In_A_Kilt]

You really need to grow them whiskers back and hide that "Baby Face"

I wore something like this to a viewing a few weeks ago


[snip]

[McMurdo]

You really need to grow them whiskers back and hide that "Baby Face"

It has grown back since that photo was taken, then I recently shaved it off again, now it is growing back yet again.

[JSFMACLJR]

Here I am at the burial of my father in 2006: