Gordon Tartan Dilemma

[guitarmatt]

The tartan usually called "red Gordon" is actually the "old Huntly" sett according to what I have read. The usual Huntly district tartan is based on the same pattern as MacRae.

Interesting. The Huntly does indeed look very similar to the MacRae, which seems to be of a similar vintage. The STA also has this to say about the Huntly tartan:

From Wilsons’ 1819 – Marchioness of Huntly’s tartan. Also from ‘Old and Rare Scottish Tartans’ published in 1893 by D.W. Stewart. The book was illustrated by samples woven in silk. The Huntly district tartan is known to have been worn at the time of the ’45 rebellion by Brodies, Forbes’, Gordons, MacRaes, Munros and Rosses which gives a strong indication of the greater antiquity of the ‘District’ setts compared to the Clan tartans.
Jamie Scarlett MBE says (Jan 2005) that this tartan was the personal tartan of the Marchioness – thus the Wilson’s name ‘The Marchioness of Huntly’s Tartan’ but over time, because it contained the name ‘Huntly’ it became accepted and used as the district tartan for Huntly.

A battalion commanded by James Moir served under Lord Lewis Gordon at the Battle of Culloden. I don't know if anyone in my family was involved, but they were certainly in the area at the time.

[figheadair]

Interesting. The Huntly does indeed look very similar to the MacRae, which seems to be of a similar vintage. The STA also has this to say about the Huntly tartan:

A background to the origins of the MacRae type setts is here http://www.scottishtartans.co.uk/The...39;s%20Own.htm

[freddie]

The weathered Gordon is nice for outdoors but I don't think it's dressy enough for anything else (I personally don't like the brown colour and much prefer the muted shades of House of Edgar). If you don't want the dark modern tartan (and you're replacing a Dress Gordon kilt) then I would recomend the Ancient Colours. The yellow line doesn't show quite as well but the green and blue are fantastic.

[OC Richard]

The weathered Gordon is nice for outdoors but I don't think it's dressy enough for anything else.

I think I know what you mean: the brown shades of "weathered" kilts look great with brownish tweed day jackets etc.

But I've seen "weathered" kilts worn with full Evening Dress and they look just fine to me. Just another colour scheme in my opinion.

[Riverkilt]

The wonderous thing about House of Gordon tartans is that I could have just as easily only ordered House of Gordon tartans and still had a wide range of kilt looks.

Just no need to pick one House of Gordon tartan over another...gonna buy them all. Four down and counting...its the peaceful solution...