Questions about Flashes and other "Accessories"

[unixken]

Without wishing to hijack this thread, how would that apply to someone like myself; I have no clan affiliation, yet when I have gone kilted to formal events (weddings usually), my partner has insisted that I wear a MacLean kilt pin on my Manx tartan.

Our U.S. members will likely understand this more, but imagine that you lived on the West Virginia and Kentucky state line, in the USA, right after the civil war, and you wore a Hatfield crest with your McCoy kilt.

You, yourself, may not have the slightest problem with it. But rather than picking one or the other and only upsetting half of Appalachia, you mixed the two and angered both sides.

[Manxstralian]

Our U.S. members will likely understand this more, but imagine that you lived on the West Virginia and Kentucky state line, in the USA, right after the civil war, and you wore a Hatfield crest with your McCoy kilt.

You, yourself, may not have the slightest problem with it. But rather than picking one or the other and only upsetting half of Appalachia, you mixed the two and angered both sides.

Respectfully, would that not be more like wearing a MacLean pin on Campbell tartan? Also, does my combination not just hearken back to the Kingdom of Sodor and Mann? Not trying to be argumentative Ken, and your input is noted (as I said, I'm not entirely reconciled with the idea myself), but I think perhaps your analogy is too strong.

Cheers,

Cameron

[Jock Scot]

Without wishing to hijack this thread, how would that apply to someone like myself; I have no clan affiliation, yet when I have gone kilted to formal events (weddings usually), my partner has insisted that I wear a MacLean kilt pin on my Manx tartan.
It slightly bothers me as I would never wear a MacLean tartan unless I married her, but after almost ten years of being together I'm as close to family as I could be with the exception of the ring. Generally, I put up some resistance, but occasionally accede to her wishes. Am I committing a faux-pas in this circumstance, especially from your traditional perspective Jock (and Kyle)? Something tells me I am, but then it could be argued that she is my common law wife and therefore I am technically part of Clan MacLean.

EDIT: The kilt pin in question was a gift from my "Mother in Law" at the MacLean Clan Gathering, so it carries extra sentimental value as well, however I'm just not a "if you can buy it, you can wear it" kind of guy.

Cheers,

Cameron

In theory you are not making a faux-pas, because you are mot mixing two Clan symbols. In practice, most people would not know a Manx tartan----I don't! They might know Clan MacLean symbols, but probably not. So there you are wandering around minding you own business doing no one any harm at some event or other and who pops into view? Yes that's the fellow, the "expert" ! We have all met him, the one who knows nothing about much and even less about tartan, particularly when he has a few pints of ale on board! The incorrect identification of the tartan followed by very direct rude questions, getting ever louder if there is a crowd and here comes one ruined day! You know these "social niceties" were not thought up by some "jobsworth" with nothing better to do, far from it. They developed, overtime because it just made life easier all round. That's a good enough reason for most of us, I would say.

[Manxstralian]

I realised after posting that you would say that district tartans were not accepted/recognised in Scotland, which makes the question slightly pointless.. However, since I don't "have" a clan, but do have a "connection" to a clan (I can hear the rolling of eyes already) am I being rude, or merely unconventional? Or do I wait until after the wedding then wear the pin with no issues? And in a final question, in your opinion Jock, once we are married, should I only wear MacLean tartans?

Sorry for all the questions, but I read your advice with great interest, as I am one of the many who value your traditional outlook.

Cheers,

Cameron

[Livercunian]

My personal view is that mixing Tartans looks somewhat unsightly and as far as mixing Clans goes I would also say that this is A No No!
When I first got serious about kilt wearing I bought Black Watch Tartan flashes to match my Black Watch kilt,after more research I bought original Military Surplus Black Watch flashes (Red Wool) and I now wear them all the time when I wear brogues.
I find that they go well with everything.