What Tartan Can I Wear? (2024)

FAQs

What Tartan Can I Wear? ›

Luckily, for those with no Scottish blood or ancestry, there are universal tartans and non-clan tartans they can wear. These types of tartan include Highland Granite, Isle of Skye and Black Watch.

Luckily, for those with no Scottish blood or ancestry, there are universal tartans and non-clan tartans they can wear. These types of tartan include Highland Granite, Isle of Skye and Black Watch.

Q – Which tartan should I wear? A – Traditionally people wear the tartan (if any) which relates to their surname. If there is no appropriate name tartan, look for a district tartan connected to the area where your ancestors lived.

Balmoral tartan is the only restricted tartan, to members of the Royal Family.

To find your clan or family tartan, simply enter your surname or clan into our Family Finder. You'll be provided with a list of potential names to choose from. By clicking on a name, you'll be brought to a dedicated page where you'll be able to explore a range of tartans and products specific to that clan or family.

It is considered an open tartan, which means it is acceptable for anyone to wear, regardless of affiliation. The Black Watch tartan is a universal symbol of bravery and tradition. It is worn by the British Royal family (male and female), Highland athletes, and everyone in between.

In conclusion, wearing a kilt is not cultural appropriation. It is a garment that is meant to be celebrated and shared with the world, and anyone can wear one with pride and respect for Scottish culture.

Whatever the origins, the Royal Stewart tartan nonetheless has a longstanding royal pedigree. King George IV (Queen Victoria's uncle) wore the tartan during his 1822 tour of Scotland, and Victoria later officially adopted it as the tartan of the royal family.

Given its heritage, tartan is an ideal choice for autumn and winter wear, as well as for the business casual dress code.

How do you belong to a clan today? Today, anyone of the chief's surname, or variants of that name, is automatically considered to be a member of their clan. Online resources like our Clan Finder can help you identify such connections from your own surname.

What tartans does the Queen wear? ›

The Balmoral tartan was named after the Castle in Aberdeenshire and has been worn by every Monarch since Queen Victoria. The only other person that is approved to wear the Balmoral tartan is the Queen's and the new King's personal piper.

Nowadays Royal Stewart is the most widely produced tartan commercially thanks to its striking red colour scheme. No one thinks of it as even expressing royalism. It's simply the most widely worn tartan in the world.

Yes, it is possible to mix and match different tartan and plaid patterns in one outfit. However, it can be tricky to pull off this look without overwhelming or clashing patterns. Several designers have incorporated multiple tartans in the same look, creating unique and eye-catching outfits.

Celtic hold the distinction of being the first British club to win the European Cup and they are among Britain's best supported teams. However, while they are undoubtedly Scottish and British, the Glasgow outfit have a strong connection to Ireland and a unique affinity with Irish supporters.

If your Irish family has a clan tartan, and wears a lot of plaid, generally, you're probably Scots-Irish. If your Irish grandfather was a member of the KKK, you are probably Scots-Irish. If your Irish grandfather was a Freemason, you are probably Scots-Irish.

Not every Scottish surname will have a tartan, so often people wear the tartan of their mother's maiden name or the tartan of a Scottish district. Tartans have become popular for sporting teams and businesses too.

For the most part, you're free to wear any tartan you wish.

To be faithful to Scottish tradition, only those descended from the Houses of Breadalbane, Cawdor and Loudoun should wear the tartans belonging to those houses; all other Campbells and members of other Campbell septs should wear Ancient or "plain" Campbell tartan, which is composed of threads of only three colors: blue ...

Royal Stewart is the most popular plaid, according to the Scottish Register of Tartans and was originally the personal tartan of Queen Elizabeth II and The Royal House of Stewart. Traditionally, Royal Stewart should only be worn with the permission of the Monarch.

21st century

In Highland Dance competitions and exhibitions, the regulations of the Scottish Official Board of Highland Dancing (SOBHD) have stated regarding underwear: "Dark or toning with the kilt should be worn, but not white."

Why don't you wear pants under a kilt? ›

During the 18th century, Highland regiments in the British Army were known to wear kilts without anything underneath, which is where the term "going regimental" comes from. This practice was considered a display of toughness and masculinity, as well as a way to maintain mobility and comfort during battle.

55% of kilt-wearing men say they wear dark underwear, and 38% go commando. 7% wear shorts or tights. Those Scottish gentlemen who do wear kilts will be pleased to know that women are big fans of kilts, Scottish women in particular.

There are several different variations of the Burberry tartan; the most popular is recognized by its tan or cream color, black and white intersecting stripes, narrow red accent stripes and the Knight insignia. At a certain point in Burberry's history, this pattern became a victim of its own popularity.

Tartan patterns can hold much cultural significance for their wearers, representing specific locations, clans, counties and family names. Ireland, Scotland, England and Wales each have their own national tartan designs, which people incorporate into kilts or other cultural memorabilia.

Plaids are any crisscross patterns of two or more colours; Tartans are plaids with a name to identify a community; Checks are plaids with a regular pattern, usually of only two colours.

Fall/Winter 2023-2024 trends: the tartan

It is hard to think of anything more emblematic of Great Britain than tartan. On a kilt or a plaid, this pattern, which we no longer hear about, is making a comeback this Fall/Winter 2023-2024 Fashion Week.

Red and black buffalo plaid is usually associated with the holiday season. As much as I love my red plaid wraps, they need to go back into the closet. Avoid wearing any red and green plaid until next Thanksgiving. That plaid is just too Christmasy.

Being the old soul that I am, tartan and plaid should trend all winter, every winter. *Note: Winter doesn't end when the holiday season does! Not to mention one more little thing…

One of the easiest ways to tell if you might have Scottish ancestry is by your surname, or that of your family members. You might think of Scottish surnames as being 'Mc' or 'Mac' names, like MacGregor or MacDonald, but there's actually a lot more variety in Scottish surnames.

The Blacks are recognised as a sept, or branch, of the three Highland clans of MacGregor, Lamont, and Maclean, and the reasons why the name came to be linked with these clans, particularly in the case of the MacGregors and the Lamonts, are rooted in tragedy and remain a stain on Scotland's historical record.

What is the oldest clan in Scotland? ›

What is the oldest clan in Scotland? Clan Donnachaidh, also known as Clan Robertson, is one of the oldest clans in Scotland with an ancestry dating back to the Royal House of Atholl. Members of this House held the Scottish throne during the 11th and 12th centuries.

The word sporran is Gaelic for purse, and serves as just that for a traditional kilt outfit. Sporrans were born out of necessity to work as a pocket; and would be used to store coins, fire-making paraphernalia, as well as oats and onions!

Some of Scotland's most popular tartans include Royal Stewart Tartan, Black Watch Tartan and Camel Thomson Tartan. These tartans are all incredibly versatile and look fantastic with any outfit.

New research suggests a piece of fabric found in the Scottish Highlands in the early 1980s is the oldest surviving tartan, likely dating to the 16th century. A patterned cloth featuring interlocking stripes, tartan is traditionally associated with Scottish kinship groups known as clans.

According to the official Scottish Register of Tartans, the most complex tartan to weave is the Ogilvie with approximately 96 colour changes. It dates back to 1812 and is also known as the Drummond of Strathallan tartan.

Tartans are something that isn't exclusive to either Ireland or Scotland but was worn by the Scottish to represent the clan that one was associated with. To this day there are over 25,000 different designated clan tartans in the country today.

A piece of fabric discovered in a bog in the Scottish Highlands might be the oldest traditional tartan ever found, new research suggests. The piece of material could be up to 500 years old, according to scientists, who said it survived because of the lack of air that was getting to it.

Mixed Tartans.

Even if not, one of the great things about tartan is that it mixes well with others. It is very hard to find a tartan that will clash with another, so there is rarely an issue if you choose to mix them up together in your room.

Traditionally, members of the wedding party, including the groomsmen, bridesmaids, and even the bride and groom themselves, wear the same tartan. This is known as the "clan tartan" and represents the family or clan of the groom.

Ties and Bow Ties

In fact, not all kilts have them at all. For the most part, you are just fine with going without these accessories. A kilt without ties and bow ties can make you look especially dashing. You can try wearing a regular tie with your kilt, and tying the knot at the front instead of tying a bow tie.

Who is stronger Irish or Scottish? ›

Again, they say Scottish whisky is stronger, thanks to the minimal two distillations. Irish is smoother and more neutral, thanks to the third distillation. The aging process sets the two apart.

Experts believe that a majority of Irish people have Celtic roots; however, a study published on Thursday found they may also have a great deal of influence from the Vikings, Anglo-Normans, and British.

The Celtic peoples have historically lived across mainland Europe stretching from Swizerland and Turkey in the east to Britain and Ireland In the west. They can be defined by multiple physical characteristics such as red hair, blue and green eyes, tartan clothing, and prominent statures.

Oct 2021. Scotland and Ireland are close neighbours, and it is no surprise that commercial ancestral Y-DNA testing and the resulting hundreds of Y-DNA Case Studies conducted at Scottish and Irish Origenes have revealed lots of shared ancestry among males with Scottish or Irish origins.

The traits of loyalty, family pride, eagerness to fight, and self-sustainability are enduring traits that can be applied to the today's descendants of the Scots-Irish settlers. They are the men and women in rural areas, the soldiers, the hunters, the conservatives, the frugal, and the self-sustaining.

Irish ancestry is by far the most common foreign ancestry in Scotland.

In Scotland (and indeed all of UK) only individuals, not clans, possess a heraldic coat of arms. Even though any clansmen and clanswomen may purchase crest badges and wear them to show their allegiance to his or her clan, the heraldic crest and motto always belong to the chief alone.

To find your clan or family tartan, simply enter your surname or clan into our Family Finder. You'll be provided with a list of potential names to choose from. By clicking on a name, you'll be brought to a dedicated page where you'll be able to explore a range of tartans and products specific to that clan or family.

In modern usage, "Scottish people" or "Scots" refers to anyone whose linguistic, cultural, family ancestral or genetic origins are from Scotland. The Latin word Scoti originally referred to the Gaels, but came to describe all inhabitants of Scotland.

The Robertson tartans can also be worn be the following families: Collier, Colyear, Connochie, Conochie, Cunnison, Dobbie, Dobbin, Dobie, Dobieson, Dobinson, Dobson, Donachie, Donaghy, Hobson, Inches, Kynoch, MacConachie, MacConchie, MacConich, MacConechy, MacConnochie, MacDonachie, MacGlashan, MacJames, MacLagan, ...

Who can wear Gunn tartan? ›

All of our Gunn items can also be worn and displayed by the following associated families: Enrick, Galdie, Gallie, Ganson, Jameson, Jamieson, Johnson, Kean, Keene, MacCorkill, MacCullie, MacIan, MacKames, MacKeamish, MacKean, MacMains, MacManus, MacOmish, MacRob, MacWilliam, Magnus, Main, Mann, Manson, Neilson, Nelson, ...

This remained the official tartan of Queen Elizabeth II and, technically speaking, was only to be worn with the express permission of the Queen herself. In reality, due to its popularity, it has become a universal tartan, which can be worn by anyone who doesn't have their own clan tartan.

The Stewart Tartan

This tartan can be worn by anyone and it is also the personal tartan of the current queen. Others who wear the Royal Stewart tartan include the Scots Guard, the Black Watch and the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards.

The Royal Stewart Tartan

The most recognizable royal tartan, the Royal Stewart (sometimes spelled Royal Stuart) dates back at least as far as 1800, according to the Scottish Register of Tartans, though it may in fact be much older.

The Balmoral tartan was named after the Castle in Aberdeenshire and has been worn by every Monarch since Queen Victoria. The only other person that is approved to wear the Balmoral tartan is the Queen's and the new King's personal piper.

There are two Smith tartans, one was originally the Gow Hunting which became adopted as a Smith tartan and the second was designed for Sir William Smith who was the founder of the Boys' Brigade. There is no chief of this name so it is appropriate to adopt the Crest and Motto of Clan Chattan.

Dress like an Outlander in Jamie Fraser's very own family Outlander tartans - MacKenzie and Fraser. When we first meet Jamie Fraser he is wearing the MacKenzie tartan.

Regularly The King can be seen in Scotland wearing his collection of kilts which include Hunting Stewart, Balmoral and the Rothesay tartan.

It has never been confirmed why the Prince is opposed to wearing a kilt- despite the royal family having their own Balmoral tartan- however, at his graduation from St Andrews University, the prince had the option to wear one, but instead, chose to wear a white bow tie and black silk academic gown with a red lining.

It is the private property of The Royal Family and can only be worn after permission from The reigning Monarch. The only other person permitted to wear the Balmoral Tartan is The Sovereign's Piper, whose kilt and plaid are made in it.

Who wears black tartan? ›

It is clear that for at least 270 years, the Black Watch tartan has been worn by Scottish soldiers. At times, regiments have worn lighter shades and some darker, but the essential pattern, worn historically by Rob Roy's sons, has stayed the same and is a symbol of Scottish loyalty, courage and sacrifice.

Known as an 'open tartan'‚ a Black Watch plaid kilt is perfectly acceptable for all to wear at Highland Clan gatherings‚ regardless of Clan affiliation. Worn by state leaders, military heroes, highland athletes, and people who just love the look. The Black Watch tartan is a universal symbol of bravery and tradition.