For a lasting and practical addition to one’s wardrobe, a tweed jacket can be a very smart choice. Selecting a quality piece in a timeless style will allow for many options in when or how one enjoys this classic look.

Favored heavily by those who enjoy a traditional style, a tweed jacket is often considered a wardrobe basic.

A highly adaptable piece such as a tweed jacket is an essential in putting together a polished and refined style.

The gentle pattern really makes this a neutral piece in fashion terms, meaning it can be worn in a wide variety of ways. Paired with jeans and a casual shirt, the polished sophistication of tweed can lend an classy appeal to weekend wear.

Trying the same jacket over dress slacks, or a nicely fitted skirt for the ladies, this look can be sophisticated and professional for the office. A staple in many closets, the easy to match nature of tweed is a popular and timeless fabric for both work and play.

Picking up a color from the tweed pattern in shirts or accessories can tie the look together very nicely.

To achieve a serious and elegant look, pair neutrals with the subtle pattern of a tweed jacket. For a more fashion-forward style, the understated tweed can be worn with patterned pieces to give a bit more zing and a playful sense of fashion.

The fashion show has been hosted by Sir Sean Connery (accompanied by his wife Micheline) in effort to help Friends of Scotland charity organization founded by Connery in its mission. Friends of Scotland organize a benefit every year and the theme of this year’s fashion show was “Mad for Scotland”.

Various styles were presented during the runway performance, from the most conservative, worn by Matthew Modine, Alan Cumming or Kyle MacLachlan, to absolutely crazy and abstract pieces like the ones presented by Joan Jett or Colin McAllister and Justin Ryan.

There was a lot of tartan, accompanied by wonderful performance and great humour on both guests and models’ sides. Wonderful clothes created by both young, creative Scottish designers and world’s top designers were displayed in the most entertaining manner by people known and unknown. Celebrities were walking along veterans and even children, all dressed in variations about the Scottish kilt.

Many well known newspapers and magazines like Vanity Fair, Fashion Week Daily or Los Angeles Times praised the event, emphasizing the grandness of the event and its growth. In the beginning, Dressed to Kilt was a simple kilt fashion show but now, after eight years it evolves into an impressive affair, successfully promoting Scottish fashion and culture. Hopefully, next year it will become grander, better – if it is possible, of course.

Image via Wikipedia

What is it about kilts that most people find intriguing? Kilts are one of the most recognizable pieces of national dress in the world. They may look like skirts, but are worn by soldiers of the Highland regiments, men not known to be sissies. Many women find men in kilts irresistibly sexy, plus there’s that whole “what do they wear under their kilts” question.

Kilts as we know them have only been in existence for a few hundred years. Ancient Scots wore tunics like most men in that time period. A garment of woven wool called a belted plaid was worn over the tunic as a sort of outer garment, coat, and traveling blanket all wrapped up in one. Due to the length, they were pleated, wrapped about the body, and belted. This was the beginning of the kilt.

Kilts are now available in many tartans, representing clans such as Stewart or McDonald. For many years they were only worn on special occasions or by the military, but they are now becoming more and more popular for daily wear. Most men find them quite comfortable. Unlike the tight pants that many men wear, they are not constricting at all. They are comfortable all year round–warm in winter and breezy in summer.

Kilts have a style all their own, so they never go out of fashion. They can be dressed up with all the accessories and a Prince Charlie jacket for evening wear, or dressed down with a sweater or tee shirt for casual wear. They are elegant, practical, and fashionable.

[photo by: Adam UXB Smith]

Tweed jackets and clothing was worn originally by folks who lived in the countryside and was well suited for jackets to keep the wearer toasty warm in the bleakest of conditions.

Today, tweed is used in high end designer clothing and is making a great comeback on the runways all over the world. The Scottish tweeds that are on the market today offer the classic styling of tweeds with an updated look that is appropriate for business attire or weekends in the country.

To add to your wardrobe, choose items that are classically styled for long lasting items to build a base for your closet. Classic pieces such as tweed jackets never go out of style and will hold up well under a great deal of wear. When you are building a wardrobe, it is important to make sure that you choose pieces that will last for years without going out of style and only use trendy items as seasoning for your attire. Not only will this build a great looking wardrobe, but it will save you money in the long run.

[photo by: Huzzah Vintage]

Tweed is a great example of an item that remains in style for decades. Scottish tweed is made from some of the finest materials in the world and is a great addition to any wardrobe.

Much has been written, and less understood, about Scottish tartan and who should wear which tartan or indeed who is entitled to wear whatever tartan. I would like to discuss this point and give my opinion of the answer to this problem and hopefully shed a little light on the area.

The Scottish nation has been going for quite a wee while now and it has successfully spread its wings to many distant corners of the world. It still seems to have kept a lot of its traditions and especially with evenings like Burns Suppers, continues to flourish well even outside its borders; in fact some would contend it flourishes better outside its borders!!

One such Scottish tradition, which is recognised throughout the world, is tartan. It is so well recognised that there is even a “Tartan Day” in America which was on the 6th April this year. I realise that there is a debate, nae argument, that tartan was invented by the Victorians (I will debate this at another time ), but the basis of tartans lie back in the past with the clan structure.

Clans were like big gangs. Not that I am in anyway trying to suggest that they were violent thugs, that is far from the truth, but they were the bygone eras’ way of people sorting themselves into families that could depend on each other for comfort and succour. Each clan had their own identification in a clan crest (taken from their coat of arms) and clan colours, tartan.

Technically there were only about 90 actual clans that existed, that is 90 families that were big enough to exist as a clan in their own right. The confusion comes when people think, “Well there are more than 90 names in Scotland”. Yes you are quite right. I do not have the latest figure but there certainly is far more than 90 !!!!

Back in the clan era families that were too small to be a clan in their own right would approach the local clan chief and basically ask for his protection. If that protection was forthcoming the family became a “sept” of the main clan. As a sept of the clan they would wear the clan’s colours and emblems to show their allegiance.

In fact a great example of this was at Glencoe. If I asked you how many MacDonalds were massacred by the Campbells, what would you say? 20?….30?….150?….1000?

Answer any of these and you are wrong. The technical answer is:

NONE!!!!!!

Bet you win the pub quiz now!!!

They were all MacIans a SEPT of Clan MacDonald from Glencoe and were all wearing the MacDonald clan colours and crests so in that respect they were taken as MacDonalds.

Another example of this would be my family. My family name is Dickson. The Dickson’s were a clan sept of Clan Keith and to that end I wear the Clan Keith tartan and wear the clan crest.

There are, however, many Scottish names that were not associated with any particular clan. This is easily covered as there are many “District” tartans that can be worn.

So basically to find which tartan you should wear just trace back to see what clan you were affiliated with and you have an answer. Tartan is your clan or family colours that they use to identify themselves.

Now that’s the traditional part. There is of course the new way. Wear what you like. There are so many tartans available now that many people are choosing a tartan that they just like. There are many tartans like “Pride of Scotland”, “Heather Mist”, “Strathisla” just to name a few which have been invented in the recent years. They can be worn by anybody that cares to wear them and they are a wonderful addition to anybody’s wardrobe.

If you need any advice about Scottish weddings or indeed about clan affiliations or anything else Scottish, don’t hesitate to contact us and we will do our best to help.

By: Sreve Dickson

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

www.thetartanbox.com