Ties and kilts

[davidg]

How is it that a tartan tie is "too much" and yet, a tartan waistcoat is not?

Pass. But I do have to say that I don't like that look very much myself, even if it is well accepted and very traditional

But then again this is not about following "rules". It is about knowing what the traditions are, what the current fashions are, and then pleasing yourself. At least if you do something others would not normally do you are doing so knowingly, not out of ignorance of the customs

[Spartan Tartan]

Good point davidg. I was just asking for clarification. Personally, I "understand" that a tartan waistcoat is acceptable for more formal events. But I do not much care for them...nor do I like the look (on me especially) of matching tartan ties.

[JSFMACLJR]

I do not wear a tartan tie with the kilt. Some people do. It all depends how it is worn as to whether it is effective or not.

Of interest, perhaps, is this old photograph of my great-uncle and a friend. The picture was taken in the late 1920s or early 1930s in Argyllshire. My uncle is wearing a tartan tie and it doesn't look all that bad.

[O'Searcaigh]

. At least if you do something others would not normally do you are doing so knowingly, not out of ignorance of the customs

Like ever wearing a kilt!

[Alan H]

Pass. But I do have to say that I don't like that look very much myself, even if it is well accepted and very traditional

But then again this is not about following "rules". It is about knowing what the traditions are, what the current fashions are, and then pleasing yourself. At least if you do something others would not normally do you are doing so knowingly, not out of ignorance of the customs

Well said. Exactly.

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I have to agree with the folks who point out that "tartan tie and tartan kilt is overkill"...

...but notice that a number of us wear tartan waistcoats with tartan kilts. I've seen someone wearing a MacNaughton kilt, MacNaughton cadadh (tartan hose), and a MacNaughton tartan waistcoat, overlain with a brick red jacketm, and paired up with patent leather buckle brogues.. A number of us here would consider that to be the height of "proper" but yet go squeamish at the thought of a tartan tie.

Makes no sense to me.

BTW, I thought the guy decked out head to toe in MacNaughton looked ruddy awful, but hey, if he wants to wear the stuff, he's got the right to it.

[Jaggy thistle]

I used to always wear a tartan tie with my kilt then I stopped wearing a tie!!

[CMcG]

How is it that a tartan tie is "too much" and yet, a tartan waistcoat is not?

For me, avoiding wearing a tie and kilt in the same tartan isn't about too much tartan... I've been known to wear a tartan kilt and waistcoat set! It's more a question of what I'm used to seeing, which would be solid colour or regimental/school striped ties.

As an aside, I'm pleased that the university I'm doing my exchange at in Hong Kong has striped ties in the school colours: purple and gold. I look forward to wearing one with the kilt, without any consideration of whether or not it matches my tartan

And if one did want to wear a tie and kilt in the same tartan, JSFMACLJR's pictures showing that combo paired with a tweed jacket and waistcoat would be a good way to go. I agree with McMurdo, the visual break of a tweed waistcoat between tie and kilt is pleasing.

[Thomas H]

What about Tartan Kilt hose's .... Not much said agaisnt them

I guess the visual break would be the Knee ,

At any rate the OP asked what we all thought and I just think it looks good

wearing as much as one wants ,how they want .

[Peter Crowe]

As an aside, I'm pleased that the university I'm doing my exchange at in Hong Kong has striped ties in the school colours: purple and gold. I look forward to wearing one with the kilt, without any consideration of whether or not it matches my tartan

I can say I am lucky in as much as my Alma Mater has several ties. The University of Glasgow Tie (often called the graduate tie, and only worn in my experience by graduates) is black with narrow gold stripes in the 'regimental' style. I do sometimes wear it with my tweed argyle kilt daywear. There are also solid blue ties with the University crest, as well as the University tartan tie.

[OC Richard]

How is it that a tartan tie is "too much" and yet, a tartan waistcoat is not?

It's not the amount of tartan, it's where the tartan appears.

In traditional Highland Dress the garters/ribbons/flashes were nearly always solid/self-coloured, or more rarely striped.

Neckties were likewise solid/self-coloured, or more rarely striped or with a dot pattern, or even checked.

Headdress was solid/self-coloured.

In the old days, shirts were always white.

Tartan appeared on kilts, hose, waistcoats, plaids, and jackets but not elsewhere in the costume.

To someone used to Highland Dress in the old days, tartan flashes, neckties, shirts, and headdress (when worn with kilts) looks like "too much tartan".

But the fellow on the right below is quite traditional in his use of tartan