There have been a few questions asked about the fact that I was wearing a kilt at the Wedding and asking who can wear a kilt and a particular tartan.
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| The Edwards Tartan |
The tartan from which my kilt was made and which I wore for The Wedding is The Western Isles Modern tartan designed, as it happens, by the husband of the lady who made my kilt and who is an Islander. I chose it because the Edwards tartan is, in my opinion, very uninteresting.
Kilts are primarily associated with Scotland but they have traditionally also been worn by the Welsh and the Irish. They are a symbol of pride in the Celtic culture.
The plain answer is that anyone can wear a kilt and anyone can wear any tartan. There is no enforceable rules about any of these things. However (there is always a 'however') there are a few tartans which are restricted, meaning not everyone can wear them. The Balmoral tartan for example, can only be worn by members of the British Royal Family and there are still some clan tartans that can only be worn if the Clan Chief allows you to. Even in those cases, though, it is not illegal to wear the tartan — it would simply be considered in very poor taste. And in practical terms noone would sell you it so you'd probably have to weave your own!
Kilts are so practical and comfortable...and smart..all in one!
ReplyDeleteGZ, they are all those things but they are also exceedingly heavy! I would certainly not want to get mine wet. I said that because I've just come in from the garden because of a cloudburst! It has gone as suddenly as it came but my weeding bucket has about ¼" of water in the bottom.
DeleteThe Edwards tartan has beautiful shades of blue - I‘d be wearing it if I were an Edwards.
ReplyDeleteAs far as I know, the Rileys don‘t have a tartan (but I have not checked). I have always loved checks and tartans as a pattern, and often wear them in various colours and items. My latest acquisition is a summer kilt for ladies, of a good quality linen fabric, in hues of blue amd yellow. I love it but don‘t wear it often, since linen gets so very crumpled.
There is indeed a tartan bearing the Riley name
DeleteDetails at: https://www.tartanregister.gov.uk/tartanDetails?
A kilt skirt in blue and yellow sounds lovely: two of my favourite colours.
I have never really understood about tartans and who can wear them. Your explanation is very helpful. I thought you looked splendid in the blue and a very good choice. Are you still going to tell us about Catriona?
ReplyDeleteYes, Rachel, thank you for reminding me.
DeleteThere is also a Manx Tartan - blue, for the sea; green, for the hills; gold, for the gorse; white for the cottages and hints of purple, for the heather.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.tartanregister.gov.uk/tartanDetails?ref=2822
I've had a look, JayCee. Interesting.
DeleteI quite like the Edwards tartan. Many years ago my sister brought back from Scotland a scarf for me with our family name tartan. I suppose I still have it and the pattern looked nice enough.
ReplyDeleteApologies, Andrew. Your comment went to spam. Blogger playing up again. Colours and patterns are always a matter of personal preference and sometimes debate.
DeleteMost men look good in a kilt. It's a very forgiving garment. I like blue kilts, like yours, and green.
ReplyDeleteThank you Janice, it has the advantage of being the star leaving people to ignore the shortcomings of the wearer.
DeleteThanks for the explanation, Graham. I doubt that I will ever wear a kilt but should the occasion arise for me to do so I know that I will have wide latitude without risk of giving offence.
ReplyDeleteIndeed, David. Who knows when you might get invited to the wedding of a Canadian Scot.
DeleteI rather like the Edwards tartan. It's subtle and friendly with a hint of mystery - just like those who bear the name "Edwards"! e.g. Huw Edwards. Any relation?
ReplyDeleteNot to my knowledge, YP.
DeleteIt is a very nice tartan. The blue is a pleasant change from the abundance of red.
ReplyDeleteI'm reminded of all those shops along the Royal Mile, which appear to have a tartan for every surname. X
Jules, the Royal Mile, is a magnet for businesses selling 'Scotland and Scottish' of every sort. Every visitor with a Scottish name particularly from the US is drawn to it.
DeleteI thought your kilt was terrific, Graham. I love the colors of it. Thanks for the explanation about kilts!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Ellen. I like it too.
DeleteInteresting information
ReplyDeleteYears ago a woman I knew was big on being a Stewart. She was adamant that absolutely nobody should were the Stewart tartan but a Stewart. In America, it is one of the top popular tartan patterns.
Apologies, Maywyn, your comment went to Spam. Blogger being a nuisance again. People do get very precious about 'their' tartan. Many people who have multiple family connections can have quite a choice.
DeleteVery few kilts are warn here. We have very few Scotch people who move here now and most of the older folks are gone.
ReplyDeleteRed, that has surprised me. I thought that Canada still had a large Scottish contingent. Having said that I only know one (middle-aged) Scot in Calgary.
DeleteThanks for that knowledge about tartans and kilts - something I never knew before :)
ReplyDeleteYou are very welcome, Margaret.
DeleteI'm sure you will have seen the 1950's film 'Geordie' with Bill Travers, which is a great advert' for the kilt. He wears it with such confidence and pride.
ReplyDeleteCro, I have to confess that I don't recall seeing the film (which, of course, doesn't mean that I haven't forgotten it).
DeleteIf you can find it, I'm sure you'll enjoy it.
DeleteInteresting to know. I suppose with time it grows harder and harder to keep strict rules about it. It struck me when I read this that it's a bit similar with Swedish regional folk costumes - there are hundreds of varieties all over our oblong country, but I guess very few people nowadays know enough about it to be upset about someone wearing the "wrong" one... (I've never had one myself.)
ReplyDeleteThanks. Monica. I suspect similar situations arise everywhere where there is national dress.
DeleteI absolutely love tartan patterns I think they are beautiful, each one. I have 2 main ones - Dunlop and Mackintosh. My mother's mother has a very extensive Scottish genealogy.
ReplyDeleteAimz, Scots are always very proud of their heritage even after living in another country and culture for generations.
DeleteI like the Edwards tartan but I also like the one you wore. I like pretty much all of them really though I always thought the one King Charles wore (as a Prince) was pretty drab
ReplyDeleteThanks, Kylie. As Prince Charges he was entitled to wear various tartans. The one I noticed most was The Balmoral which he tended to wear when staying in Balmoral and that is rather dull. Some of the others he wore were not very exciting either.
DeleteThat is so interesting about the tartans. I have an Aussie friend whose family originated in Scotland and he was given a Campbell Tartan kilt when he visited family there.
ReplyDeleteDiane, the gift to your friend was a very generous and meaningful one.
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