Two Plaids?

[Chas]

Nowadays it is considered "correct" or acceptable to wear a kilt of one's clan tartan and a folded shoulder plaid of one's family or district tartan, for example. One should never mix "dress" tartan with any other tartan however. If you are wearing a kilt of your clan's dress tartan, then the belted plaid should be of the same tartan as the kilt.

I would totally disagree. Unless you can quote a source to the contrary, I will defer to Jock Scot. Surely your clan and family are the same thing!

Regards

Chas

[IrishPiper]

thanks to all who have provided insight into this. definitely think uniformity is best.

[JSFMACLJR]

My authority for the rules pertaining to the wearing and mixing of various tartans comes from Sir Thomas Innes of Learney's "The Tartans of the Clans and Families of Scotland" (the late Sir Thomas was at the time Lord Lyon). On page 69 of his book in the chapter "The Highland Dress and How to Wear it" we read the following:

"Kilt.- If a member of a clan possessing one or more tartans, such as "clan," "hunting," or "dress," the person should wear one of his own tartans. On "dress occassions" the "dress" tartan is generally worn. If belonging to a sept of any clan, he should wear the tartan of the clan of which he is a sept; if the sept has a special tartan, he should wear it. When the wearer is entitled to both a "clan" and a "district" tartan it is admissible to wear a kilt and hose of the latter and a doublet or plaid of the former. It is not considered proper to combine either "clan" or "hunting" tartan with "dress" tartan. If one is to wear "dress" tartan, the kilt, plaid, and hose must be uniform."

So, there it is folks - straight from the Lyon's mouth.

As for clan and family tartans being one and the same, one can be a Brown (which has it's own tartan) and consider themselves to be a sept of Clan Lamont (which has a very different clan tartan all its own). In such a case, Mr. Brown would be perfectly proper wearing a kilt of the Brown family tartan and a folded shepherd's plaid of the Clan Lamont tartan. In some of the earlier editions of Robert Bain's "The Clans and Tartans of Scotland" there is an illustration designed to show contemporary Highland attire circa 1940 that has a gentleman wearing a kilt of Cameron of Lochiel tartan and a folded shoulder plaid of the Cameron of Erracht regimental tartan, which was perfectly acceptable.

As Innes of Learney wrote this not in his official capacity as Lyon, it has no "weight" of his office to support it.

As any heraldist knows, some of Sir Tam's theories were a bit "far-fetched"!

[M. A. C. Newsome]

As Innes of Learney wrote this not in his official capacity as Lyon, it has no "weight" of his office to support it.

As any heraldist knows, some of Sir Tam's theories were a bit "far-fetched"!

And, I think, the origin of some of the many "rules" of Highland dress.

For example, the origin of the so-called "dress" tartans was not in formal wear at all, but rather in 18th century lady's tartan fashion. Inned of Learney has been rather criticized in latter years as having really gone above and beyond tradition in dictating some of his sartorial tartan "rules."

[McClef]

I would agree that uniformity is best.

Occasionally there may be tartans that can compliment each other but expect they are relatively rare.

I only have 3 plaids and normally would not dream of not matching them with the kilt in the same tartan.

Apart from two years ago when I went to Cornwall and realised that although I had packed my Cornwall National plaid, I had, in a senior moment, forgotten to pack the Cornwall National kilt!

So, in order to honour the Cornish tartan, I allowed the plaid to "clash" with the kilt at a formal dinner (can't remember which it was now)! I am pleased to say that the Cornish tartan was recognised by the Cornish who saw it, however, and they were pleased that I had made the effort!

I am off to Cornwall again on Monday and this time have both the plaid and the kilt as well so no clashing and everything matching!

[ThistleDown]

The third type of plaid is a length of double-width tartan about 3-1/2 yards long, fringed on both ends, and usually worn folded to a quarter of its width lengthwise, then folded in half again on itself and carried on the left shoulder of the wearer for daytime/outdoor wear. This "shepherd's plaid" is the only type that is ever worn in a different sett or shade of tartan from the kilt.

Hmmmmm. I think I agree with you -- somewhat and sort of. The blanket sometimes called the "shepherds" and most often the "lairds" plaid was/is just a length of nice, warm, water-repellant stuff to drape over the shoulders when the rains come down. We have generally replaced that with much more efficient and effective fabrics, but on occasion it is still worn as it was -- dragged from the back of the sofa on the way out the door.

Invercauld didn't quite "drag" in this old photo of him, but the idea is there....

[ThistleDown]

Left: Alan Maclean of Dochgarroch; right: John Mackintosh of Mackintosh: Inverness Town House 2009



You will see the difference in their plaids, of course.

[Jock Scot]

I think some of us are falling into the trap of failing to distinguish the difference between theory and practice here. We can find a picture or two to justify our point of view; we can even find a hefty tome or two to justify whatever point of view we happen to have and there is no doubting that in this case it can be done. However, in practice, as in this case, things are not the same. It really has to be accepted that in Scotland plaids of any kind are not common(rare even) UNLESS you happen to be a member of a pipe band, Atholl Highlanders, or some such.The Scots do not often have a shelf full of books on the finer points of kilt wearing and even if they have(they have not by the way)they would not have read them! The lairds plaid is a slightly more common sight, usually(not always) when the Clan Chief(not limited to them ,though) is on public display at a games or, and I have to say it, when the Clan Chief is entertaining overseas visitors at the Clan gathering at the family seat. This does not mean that you can't wear a plaid if you wish. All I am saying is that common sense prevails and the plaid is not a regular piece of kilt attire in Scotland, these days. The mixing of tartans of different Clans is not done. Getting back to the original question, wearing a district tartan kilt and a Clan plaid would be unusual(few would recognise a district tartan anyway),but not "wrong".