What is proper for women?

[ThinBlueLine]

vmac3205,

She was not too concerned with formal affairs yet, but thank you for handling the topic ahead of time.


Pleater,

So basically just dress however you wish to, right?

[turpin]

If she is allergic to wool you should look into a skirt in Polyviscose from USA Kilts, although I don't know if the Munro tartan is available in PV. I go a mini-kilt for my Daughter, and it is very well-made, AND machine washable.

[MacLowlife]

For years I observed ladies Of A Certain Age at Tartan Balls wearing wool floor ( or ankle) length skirts with frilly blouses and velvet jackets. The organization sponsoring these balls underwent a change in membership and the new younger members were married to women less inclined to dress that way. Some decided to simply wear cocktail dresses and the occasional sash or scarf and some decided to interpret Tartan a little differently. It helped that a few catalogues and designers have made tartan a centerpiece of their collections ( J Crew, Ralph Lauren Rugby, etc), but many clever women simply used tartan fabric for otherwise conventional evening wear. It is a shame that silk tartan costs so much, noticeably more than wool, but a taffeta gown made up in Munro Black and Red, for example, would be a beautiful thing. Depending on your wife's age and shape, she might want something more along the lines of a cocktail dress or even the dreaded long skirt.

Check out this vendor, whose website surely looks good:


http://www.clangatherings.com/

Of course, if you are looking for daywear, the same principles can be applied. Suits, jackets, skirts, trousers, all look good on some ladies and all look good in some tartans. Check out the Lasses Wear thread for plenty of ideas, good and bad- and remember the sage advice of one poster there, who pointed out that it is probably best to let her choose.

Good Luck

[JSFMACLJR]

there is always the option of a tartan sash worn in a variety of ways. Scotty Thompson's "So Your Going to Wear the Kilt" does address this and I believe describes how to form a rosette from a tartan sash. (There are some who say that the sash is to be worn on the left shoulder save for chief's/chieftain's wives or ladies of nobility in their own right--as well as Scottish Country Dancers for that matter--but I've not seen hard evidence for this.).

Actually, James, it is supposed to be the other way around. Clanswomen wear the sash from the right shoulder; wives of chiefs, chieftainesses, and colonels' wives wear a sash from the left shoulder. The Court of the Lord Lyon has a pamphlet describing this :
http://www.scotarmigers.net/pdfs/info-leaflet-7.pdf

Cheers,
Sandford

[Ozark Ridge Rider]

Actually, James, it is supposed to be the other way around. Clanswomen wear the sash from the right shoulder; wives of chiefs, chieftainesses, and colonels' wives wear a sash from the left shoulder. The Court of the Lord Lyon has a pamphlet describing this :
http://www.scotarmigers.net/pdfs/info-leaflet-7.pdf

Cheers,
Sandford

Whew!! Glad you cleared that up, Sandford. I thought I was misinformed - again.

[bear]

Lighter weight, apron closure on left, and usually 4 yards are the norm. Length? I've seen all kinds of skirt lengths. A kilt should be fit as a man's kilt.
I think the North American people are no more strict than the Brits regarding 'rules.' it's just that our opinions are funneled through the narrow tube of kilt sites. The majority just wear kilts and don't bother with the discussions.

[M. A. C. Newsome]

Actually, James, it is supposed to be the other way around. Clanswomen wear the sash from the right shoulder; wives of chiefs, chieftainesses, and colonels' wives wear a sash from the left shoulder. The Court of the Lord Lyon has a pamphlet describing this :
http://www.scotarmigers.net/pdfs/info-leaflet-7.pdf

Cheers,
Sandford

I have my own thoughts on the whole "ladies must wear their sash on the right shoulder, unless they don't" rule.
http://albanach.org/sash.htm

I think most ladies should wear their sashes on the left, unless they have a reason for wanting to wear it otherwise.

[Chas]

Actually, James, it is supposed to be the other way around. Clanswomen wear the sash from the right shoulder; wives of chiefs, chieftainesses, and colonels' wives wear a sash from the left shoulder. The Court of the Lord Lyon has a pamphlet describing this :
http://www.scotarmigers.net/pdfs/info-leaflet-7.pdf

Cheers,
Sandford

That seems to be quite definitive. Except for the last sentence which makes no sense and is strictly speaking not a sentence at all.

Bearings in Scotland, and the principles on which they are allotted and should continue to be allotted.

Regards

Chas

[Semiomniscient]

Detroitpete & Semiomniscient,

Thank you both, that definitely clears things up. It looks like she has little to worry about aside from her wool allergy.

If she has a wool allergy, then I recommend silk.

[JSFMACLJR]

If she has a wool allergy, then I recommend silk.

Really, tartan sashes for evening wear should be silk.