Kilt Question for the 'Rabble'

[creagdhubh]

Greetings,

I have compiled my own definitive list of the remaining kilts (Forever! This is it, no more!) in which I plan to order in the future, with the kilt woven in the Macpherson Reproduction Colours, by D.C. Dalgliesh, being at the very top of the queue. I have commissioned our forum's own, Barb Tewksbury, to make my first 'new' kilt, and I am quite confident I shall call upon her kilt-making skills for the other kilts I would like to have made, thereafter.

I should preface by saying that all of the kilts will be made of heavy-weight, pure new wool, ranging from 15-16 ounces in weight, but no heavier. One of the kilts, due to the nature of the tartan and its mill, will be made in 13 ounce, medium-weight, pure new wool (I could approach D.C. Dalgliesh to see if they could weave a similiar tartan in their heavy-weight fabric, foregoing the lighter weight wool, of a mere 13 ounces!). All of the kilts will also have the following specifications - no question: no rear belt loops, pleated to the line (Colour choice TBD, yet in my experience, pleating the Macpherson red-based setts to the double white line is always a good choice. And the Macpherson dress tartan would look rather smart if pleated to the double red line), double-fringe, and fully lined.

It may be obvious from the preceding details, that one part is missing...the leather straps and buckles. This is where my question shall be posed; based upon each tartan, what colour should I have the leather kilt straps be, brown or black? It is obvious to me, that the reproduction/weathered colours would look superb with brown leather kilt straps and brass buckles - I wouldn't do a brown strap with a silver buckle either - brass only, and silver for the black straps. Also, how many straps and buckles should I have? The standard three, or the more unusually seen, two? Presently, the kilts I currently own all have three black leather kilt straps with three silver buckles.

Here are the tartan setts of the Highland clan to which myself and my family belong. The list also includes the Clan Chattan Confederation, to which the Clan Macpherson has long been associated with, since at least 1609, when The Clan Chattan Confederation Band of Union was signed by the chiefs and/or chieftains of many Highland clans and tribes of Inverness-shire and Badenoch:

Macpherson Reproduction Colours - D.C. Dalgliesh - K1 Heavy-Weight


Macpherson Standard Colours - D.C. Dalgliesh - K1 Heavy-Weight


Macpherson Dress Standard Colours - D.C. Dalgliesh - K1 Heavy-Weight


Macpherson Weathered - Lochcarron - Strome


Macpherson Muted - House of Edgar - Medium-Weight Old & Rare Range (Could have D.C. Dalgliesh weave into their K1 heavy-weight cloth?)


Chattan Ancient - Lochcarron - Strome


Chattan Standard Colours - D.C. Dalgliesh - K1 Heavy-Weight


Chattan Reproduction Colours - D.C. Dalgliesh - K1 Heavy-Weight
(Tartan doesn't exist yet - special weave must be commissioned. I am in the process of altering D.C. Dalgliesh's standard colours version of the Chattan sett, to their reproduction colours, utilizing Scotweb's Tartan Designer - tartan image forthcoming)

I realise that this isn't that serious of a question, but in a sense, it is to me. I love the little details that make up a truly bespoke garment. So, what would the 'rabble' recommend based upon my tartan line-up?

Warmest regards,