MacFarlane B/W

[M. A. C. Newsome]

Again, not B&W MacFarlane, but another B&W tartan (Menzies, I believe, though it is hard to tell). But it shows it in a lady's skirt, to give you an idea of that look.


This is from our museum's gift shop catalog, lady's skirt page:
http://giftshop.scottishtartans.org/ladykilt.html

[Farlander]

Really, why is that?

I think the popularity of the MacFarlane tartans have little to do with the tartans themselves. In my humble (albeit biased) opinion, the tartans are quite attractive. The issue is not their attractiveness, but that there are not that many of our clan around. There are something like 10 times more Stewarts, Campbells or Murrays around than there are MacFarlanes. Of course one does not need to be a MacFarlane to wear a stunning MacFarlane kilt, but that is not so common.

I did a google search (gotta love google) and found these on Flickr.

Matt, thanks for finding these pictures! I came up with nothing when I googled this in the past. I wonder how it would look in a box pleat?

[The Celtic Gypsy]

Ok, the B/W tartan kilts are very striking. But i gotta ask - why B/W tartans in the first place?

[Sammac]

This is proof yet again how dangerous this site is. I'd all but convinced myself that I don't need a Scott B&W tartan (my grandmother is a Scott.) After seeing it, getting one is pretty inevitable. That's one of the most stunning kilts that I've seen.

With you there lucienrau, Scott B&W is on my definite to get list as my great-grandmother is a Scott.

[ali8780]

Ok, the B/W tartan kilts are very striking. But i gotta ask - why B/W tartans in the first place?

Are you asking why they exist?

Love the ladies skirt above! (sorry, too lazy to go back and quote another quote )

[The Celtic Gypsy]

Are you asking why they exist?

Sort of asking that. I want to know why black and white tartans of the various clans were created in the first place. What was the purpose of a black and white tartan?

[Mael Coluim]

The MacFarlane tartan is quite sharp. Kerr the Walker has a sharp B & W tartan, the Shepherd with a thin red line. Very nice.

[ali8780]

Sort of asking that. I want to know why black and white tartans of the various clans were created in the first place. What was the purpose of a black and white tartan?

Sorry, I don't know much in the way of history of tartans...

[Farlander]

Sort of asking that. I want to know why black and white tartans of the various clans were created in the first place. What was the purpose of a black and white tartan?

A very worthy question! Perhaps Mr. Newsome or some other kind and knowledgeable person will come along and provide us with a definitive answer?

Sometimes B/W tartans are referred to as a "mourning sett", although the brightness of these setts seem a little bold for a funeral to me. They are also referred to as an "evening sett". This perhaps reflects the modern sensibility that for males, a formal evening event should be void of color except black or white.

[Dixiecat]

Menzies has a B&W tartan

Special Dress Black Menzies is actually black, white and blue. Further away it does look black and white though.