Married a Douglas, sort of

[toadinakilt]

My mother-in-law's maiden name is Douglas. I know it's a bit of stretch, but does this give me fair enough cause to wear Douglas tartans?

[toadinakilt]

Bump.

No thoughts?

[Mipi]

Do you really need any excuse to wear specific tartan? I don't think so.

My blood is (a wee) Scottish only when I drank a drum (or more) of single malt, but I never have any doubts if I'm entitled to wear a kilt or tartan I like.

Regards!

Mipi

[toadinakilt]

You know, I just feel that in order to wear a certain tartan, I ought to have a good reason for doing so beyond my likes and dislikes.

[Jock Scot]

My mother-in-law's maiden name is Douglas. I know it's a bit of stretch, but does this give me fair enough cause to wear Douglas tartans?

Generally speaking it is usual to wear the tartan of your father's family. That may not be possible so, traditionally you would wear your mother's tartan. Of course that might not be possible either, so wearing your "in-law's" tartan would be a huge compliment to your wife's family.

Or, you could go down the route of, I want to wear that tartan and so I will.

In passing, it might be a nice gesture if you asked your mother-in-law if she would mind you doing so.

In truth, whatever you decide is really up to you and you are not doing anything wrong by wearing almost(there are a very few exceptions) any tartan you wish. It is in my view, nice to have a connection to a tartan however tenuous that may be.

[HeathBar]

My mother-in-law's maiden name is Douglas. I know it's a bit of stretch, but does this give me fair enough cause to wear Douglas tartans?

I'm going to have to agree that it is a bit of a stretch. For your wife perhaps it would be ok, since it is her heritage. If you already have blood ties to a clan tartan, I would stick to that. But this is all just my opinion.

Welcome back. Are you still on Lookout?

[toadinakilt]

Yes I am! Perhaps those of us kilties within an hour or two of Chattanooga should get together soon?

At the moment, all I have are black kilts, which is just fine for most casual wear. But my Scottish roots are all hearsay and shrouded in the mists of time (not to mention a courthouse that burned down, at least that's what my dad told me). And so, I figure I might honor my wife's side.

[Iainkp]

I figure I might honor my wife's side.

I think thats very noble of you, and on that basis alone I would say you should be able to wear their tartan


I don't have much experience with kilt wearing but for years now i've been trying to find my tartan for my surname (prentice) and found that none exists... however i have considered wearing my grandmothers surname's (sutherland) tartan and would think it would be approriate.

now it is a bit different because its a direct blood tie on my mothers side, however I dont think i would feel any differently if It was on my fiances side - marriage to me in the traditional sense is a union of two clans




Iain

[bricelythgoe]

I do it. I wear the MacKay tartan and it is my wife's grandmother (who shoe adored) that has that as her maiden name. Close enough ties to me.

[piperdbh]

If you want to wear the Douglas, go right ahead. You could also wear a state/district tartan.