MacGregor and Cameron of Erracht Tartans, do I wear?

[Jock Scot]

regardless of the fact i'm not a McGregor in the slightest?

Here we have a perfect illustration of clash of trans Atlantic traditions and thinking. This website is predominantly an American led website, where generally speaking, they are not constrained by the unwritten "its just not done" and "bad form" that we in the uk, even these days, generally observe. Its not a question of right or wrong from either point of view particularly when observed from the vantage point of one's upbringing and the country that you owe allegiance to. Well those are the roots of heavy Nationalistic stuff and kilts do not warrant that. Nevertheless, there are very different ways at looking at this situation.

The truth of the matter is that, you, me, anyone can wear nearly any tartan we like, apart from a very few "restricted" tartans". The next bit is broadly, the difference in international thinking. Whether we should or not is another matter entirely.

To be clear not everyone in the kilt world observes the second part of that statement as they genuinely don't see the need and that also applies to club ties, old school ties, Regimental tie/badges and so on. For me and perhaps you too, we regard the wearing of something that we have no connection to, a Clan tartan, as troublesome and troubling, 'sailing under false colours" if you like and to do so is "bad form" and personally I applaud that discipline and respect, but in truth, the decision is a personal one and it is down to you what you decide to do.

[RectaPete]

regardless of the fact i'm not a McGregor in the slightest?

Of course! I personally feel uncomfortable with wearing tartans of clans I don't belong to, but I wouldn't scream at anyone for wearing them.

On that note, I haven't seen many English universal tartans... there was a "St. George" tartan up on the Tartans Register but the notes said it was for waistcoats only

[Jock Scot]

I used to have a wee book, obtained many years ago, of English tartans and no doubt that there are more about now to choose from.

There are several fashion tartans about, some are very nice like "The Isle of Skye"or "The MacLately" or "The Scottish Wildcat" for example, that even the most ardent of Highland Scots traditional tartan wearers would find it difficult to object to anyone wearing one of those. Well alright they could in a certain circumstance, but at least the tartan would not be causing the upset!

[Finistere]

Charles, Wear whatever tartan you like, there are no tartan police, I wouldn't dream of going up to somebody wearing a French beret and say have got the right to wear it, a beret and a Kilt are a garment, that we on this forum like to wear, full stop. Kit.

[Father Bill]

While I quite agree that there are no authorized Kilt Kops, there are a more than just a few self-appointed ones, and also some intelligent individuals who are honestly interested and may probe a bit due to that interest. I have said frequently that a clan tartan is somewhat akin to a nametag. Wearing someone else's nametag has certain pitfalls and dangers attached to it.

For example, attending a church once to which I had never been, I greeted the woman at the door with "Hello Mrs. MacLeod."

Her jaw dropped and she asked "Do I know you? How do you know me?" I smiled and gestured towards her "Loud MacLeod" skirt (a more than slightly obvious nametag) and she said, "Oh, of course. How silly of me!"

Yes, anyone can wear what they want, but the question is "Should they?" You will at some time be asked if you're a member of the clan whose name you're displaying more than a little obviously. The safest answer is brief: "Yes; that's my tartan." If you (foolishly) venture into details, you'll either see eyes glaze over or open yourself up to demands for geneological proof that may be difficult or impossible to provide. If you cannot give that answer without niggling doubts, then don't wear it. Nothing ruins a tartan more quickly than a lack of confidence in it. In that case, wear a "district" or "fashion" tartan and be prepared to give that answer and... occasionally to get bizarre criticisms for that too.

Even those who should know better don't always. At my Legion Branch there's a woman whose brogue could not be cut with a knife; it would take a claymore, and a damned sharp one at that. She insists over and over that only white hose are formal. I'm going to collect some pictures of lairds, pipe majors and the Royal family and put them into my briefcase to just hand her because frankly I'm finding it annoying, but there are always as I say, self-appointed and usually misled experts. I know that I'll end up with a fight on my hand, but I'm prepared for that.

Similarly, I have been asked if I'm wearing my kilt "properly". I know what they mean, but I merely answer "Of course; you can see that the pleats are at the back," and I walk away in disgust. You can't argue with stupidity.

There are a lot of misconceptions often based on Hollywood and its global brethren. There are also a lot of folks who were told something once, perhaps in childhood, and it's entered the canon of their beliefs to be repeated forever ad nauseum. Kilt wearing falls squarely into the realm of these )*()(&^%()(*& nitwits' so-called "knowlege." While I find it annoying, again, you can't argue with stupid.

"Stupid" cannot be fixed with duct tape, WD40, or even a hammer. Avoid the argument by proper choice of tartan and then, ...walk away.

[Finistere]

Thank you Father Bill for the education, but we both live in countries where freedom of speech is one of the things we cling on to, why not have freedom of tartan? Its one thing to be proud of your clan or tartan name, but if that tartan is out there for me to buy and I like it, why should I be stopped. Kit

[kiltedsawyer]

Thank you Father Bill for the education, but we both live in countries where freedom of speech is one of the things we cling on to, why not have freedom of tartan? Its one thing to be proud of your clan or tartan name, but if that tartan is out there for me to buy and I like it, why should I be stopped. Kit

I think you missed Father Bill's point:

Yes, anyone can wear what they want, but the question is "Should they?"

[Finistere]

I think you missed Father Bill's point:

Yes, anyone can wear what they want, but the question is "Should they?"

Thank you Sir I did get the point but why shouldn't they, I'm in Europe and there are quite a few Europeans who wear Kilts, I doubt they have any Scottish blood in their veins they just like the Kilt, there is an Austrian Kilt maker claiming the Kilt came from there, I agree to a point that the celts roamed all over Europe and probably had a settlement there, but the Kilt origin, I think not. Kit

[kiltedsawyer]

Thank you Sir I did get the point but why shouldn't they, I'm in Europe and there are quite a few Europeans who wear Kilts, I doubt they have any Scottish blood in their veins they just like the Kilt, there is an Austrian Kilt maker claiming the Kilt came from there, I agree to a point that the celts roamed all over Europe and probably had a settlement there, but the Kilt origin, I think not. Kit

I guess you're just not going to get this.

[Finistere]

I guess you're just not going to get this.

I guess not