Newbie Questions

**JockMcPlop** · 21st March 13, 11:35 AM

Good day!
First off let me apologize for my user name. It is the name of a Scottish charactter Rowan Atkinson uses in one of the Black Adder series. I laughed so hard when I heard it at first it just seemed a natural as a user name here. Please, I mean no disrespect by it.
Having said all that... well, I want to get kitted out top to bottom with an "outfit", for lack of better terms! I am not Scottish however my wife has Scottish roots and I was told because of this connection by the marriage I would be allowed to wear the hunter kilt of the (can't remember the clan name). Question, are the rules this stringent? Next, I don't want to break the bank yet I also don't want to look like I just came out of the dollar store, if you understand my meaning. Where do I start? What item is core to the outfit? what comes next?
Thanking you all in advance!

Jock McPlop

**Paul Henry** · 21st March 13, 11:49 AM

Welcome,
There are hundreds, even thousands of available tartans and there is no actual "right" to wear them (with a few exceptions) but some choose to only wear their clan/family one, whilst others choose ones they like, it's up to you and your personal feelings. I have several family ones I wear but I also wear others whihc I like because of the design or colours , but both are equally valid. It's generally a good idea to find out a little about the tartan so you have an idea of the background but it is unlikely that people would particularly outraged if they saw you wearing their tartan, most likely they would be honoured!
Obviously the most important part of the outfit is the kilt, they come in a huge range of prices, styles and qualities so you need to work out sort of budget you need to put aside. A properly made kilt will last for decades so it is worth investing well.
Most tartan come in colour variations :-
Modern - usually stronger or bolder colours,
Ancient - usually faded colours
Hunting - usually with more blue and green
Weathered/Reproduction - usually more browns and greys
work out the kilt first and then find things , and remember that a kilt can be worn in many way from the very casual to the very formal and everywhere inbetween, it's not jsut for Burn's Night!

**JockMcPlop** · 21st March 13, 12:00 PM

Thank you for replying. I set a 1000.00 budget for everything and am presently getting details on the family name . I like the idea of the greens and blues. Also glad to know about the 'rules', I wasn't sure! I suspected the kilt was the 'heart' of the matter. I am off to a shop this weekend to get that started.
Thanks again for the great advice!

JMcP

**Father Bill** · 21st March 13, 12:21 PM

Welcome to the "Great Rabble!"

You'll get a wide range of advice here. Paul Henry who has already replied is a knowledgeable kiltmaker, neither of which I am, but I would add to his clear statement that the four bolded types of tartans aren't either more or less modern; those are just terms used to describe those colour palettes.

He's absolutely right; you can wear pretty well what you want, but it's often respected to stay with a familial connection. With that in mind, you don't have to wear the hunting version - you can wear any of the family tartans so long as they're not reserved to the clan chief or to another family. You can check 'em out at http://www.tartanregister.gov.uk/index.aspx where they'll tell you if there's a restriction. There aren't a lot of them.

Pick your type of kilt and realize that this can be an excellent long-term investment. (the heavier the weight and more yardage, the better swing and wear, but also the more expensive) Then pick your kiltmaker. S/he will source out the tartan for you. Any of the kiltmaking sponsors and participants here are highly respected, but it's good to work with somebody near to you. You haven't said where you live. A nearby kiltmaker can take his/her own measurements of you.

Hang around here for a while and see what people say about the folks and suppliers near you before you lay down your $$; meanwhile, one more time, welcome!

**creagdhubh** · 21st March 13, 12:32 PM

Originally Posted by paulhenry

Welcome,
There are hundreds, even thousands of available tartans and there is no actual "right" to wear them (with a few exceptions) but some choose to only wear their clan/family one, whilst others choose ones they like, it's up to you and your personal feelings. I have several family ones I wear but I also wear others whihc I like because of the design or colours , but both are equally valid. It's generally a good idea to find out a little about the tartan so you have an idea of the background but it is unlikely that people would particularly outraged if they saw you wearing their tartan, most likely they would be honoured!
Obviously the most important part of the outfit is the kilt, they come in a huge range of prices, styles and qualities so you need to work out sort of budget you need to put aside. A properly made kilt will last for decades so it is worth investing well.
Most tartan come in colour variations :-
Modern - usually stronger or bolder colours,
Ancient - usually faded colours
Hunting - usually with more blue and green
Weathered/Reproduction - usually more browns and greys
work out the kilt first and then find things , and remember that a kilt can be worn in many way from the very casual to the very formal and everywhere inbetween, it's not jsut for Burn's Night!

Welcome!

And...what Paul said.

**faithwalker** · 21st March 13, 02:27 PM

From west central Florida,

, I've been here for a short while myself and have learned so much that my head would explode were it not for the duct tape. I agree with all said with emphasis on Father Bills last line (if possible). So far I've changed my desired tartan 3 times and my choice of fabric/weight twice. It's not easy waiting but in my cookie jar resides more empty than full so I must be sure before I dive in head first.

**JohntheBiker** · 21st March 13, 02:58 PM

Welcome.

Don't be in a rush to put your money down. If you get into wearing kilts, there will be no end of opportunities to invest in kilts and accessories. Some research on this site will help you to make informed decisions about the type of kilt you want and what else you might need.

A good kilt can be a lifetime investment. Guarantee you will make a better decision with a little help from this site.

**MNlad** · 21st March 13, 03:57 PM

***. Do your research and go slowly, as hard as that may be. Sure, you may get a price break by getting a "package deal," but does the package really include what you ultimately want or need? If you visit some of the photo threads here you will see a wide variety of individual styles and you will be ultimately developing your own. Most kilties (stole that expression from another thread) who go the package route, if they're truly into wearing the kilt, soon discard much or that original purchase. So buy wisely. Enjoy the trip; it's a great ride.

Oh, yeah, and welcome to the Rabble.

**Nile** · 21st March 13, 07:23 PM

Greetings JMcP and welcome to X Marks. So much good advice already so I don't have much to add except that it is advice that I have heeded without regrets. Like Faithwalker said, you'll be back and forth but, you will learn and will eventually zero in on the tartan (or not) and the style you want to pursue. Most important for all of us is... we like wearing A kilt (a kilt of our choice).
Nile