from the scottish highlands





remember this skirt from yesterday?

as a few of you pointed out, it is actually a kilt.

i happen to have a very dear reader named alan in scotland.
he is a stylist for a major department store.  he is very keen on style and fashion, and i'm totally flattered that he reads my blog.

he is a real sweetheart and he has a friend ross that really knows his kilts. 
so he contacted me this morning with all kinds of information on my kilt.

first of all each scottish clan has its own kilt pattern.
you can identify each clan by the colors and pattern.

i believe my kilt is from the malcom clan.
each scottish surname belongs to a clan and all the clans have various tartans that identify them.. usually a modern/ ancient/ hunting and a dress tartan.  all of them can be completely different but specific to that clan.
  if i got any of this wrong, please forgive me but it's a little confusing!
and with a little more research he determined that the maker of my kilt is right there in the scottish highlands.

this is one of the reasons i love blogging.  i have the absolute best readers.  meeting people like you and alan and ross who take the time out of your day to pass on wonderful information, whether it is in regards to fashion, food, gardening or animal cruetly.  i say it all the time but you guys are the best.

and

this is one of the reasons why i love shopping 2nd hand.  you aren't just buying a garment, you are buying a bit of history. 


i think this is just fascinating that i found my kilt laying in a pile of clothing at a yard sale here in redlands.  it is indeed a small, amazing world we live in.

thank you alan for passing on such wonderful information to me.
and i promise to wear it on st. andrews day!

cheers everyone!


xo
janet



43 comments

  1. Great stuff! I'm from the MacDonald clan myself.

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    1. Janet,

      How lovely that you found out what's what about your lovely kilt from those who know.

      My last name is Orr. Orrs are septs of the MacGregors. You can read about the bloody history of the MacGregors and how septs came to be here:
      http://www.rampantscotland.com/clans/blclanmacgregor.htm

      My Orr family came to the mountains of North Carolina in the early 1700s where they became teachers, preachers and farmers. Some of them are still there. Some of them are now Florida Crackers such as I.

      In my father's later years, he became interested in his Scottish heritage and joined the St. Andrews Society.
      http://www.standrewsoftampabay.org/

      Daddy wore a kilt whenever the occasion called for it and when no kilt wearing occasion was on the horizon, he sometimes devised one.

      Last night my husband and I celebrated St. Patrick's Day by watching the Clancy Brothers Reunion show on DVD. One of the beautiful songs performed on the show is 'Wild Mountain Thyme' aka 'Go Lassie Go.'

      Wild Mountain Thyme sung by the Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem
      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2KSIozxB0rs

      After the show was over I looked up the lyrics to 'Wild Mountain Thyme.' According to the Cantaria Folk Song Archive, it's a variant of a Scottish song by Robert Tannahill (1774-1819), "The Braes of Balquidder."
      http://www.chivalry.com/cantaria/lyrics/wildmt.html

      Cheers,

      Karen

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  2. If any of the info is wrong i take full blame Janet!..Alan x

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  3. That makes it even more special! And I agree, I am constantly amazed at "what "turns up
    "where". It makes for some fun junking!!!

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    Replies
    1. i does make it so much more special. and it makes me love junking even more too.

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  4. So interesting Janet! I've been to Scotland, and it is a beautiful country with great people. Your kilt is beautiful. I understand your love of the second-hand and vintage clothes you buy -- old things do have stories. I have the same interest and curiosity about the vintage things I buy for our home. In fact, our home itself, built in 1922, has a fascinating history that one day I will post about on my blog.
    Claudia

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    Replies
    1. that's how i started too. with house stuff and then moved on to clothing. i hope one day to visit scotland!

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  5. How cool is that? Thanks for the update!

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  6. Janet, Love the kilt and chambray shirt. Another great way to wear the shirt, which is really hot right now. Interesting about the kilt..Love to go to Scotland one day .

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  7. And Scotsmen wear nothing under their kilts!

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  8. wonderful info. my david is scottish and plays the bag pipes and has several kilts. rahr! i love them!
    (i hate haggis though).
    love love love your kilt.
    xo terri

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  9. I actually thought it looked familiar, but didn't realize it was authentic. I am from the Malcolm clan! cindi cdsmith322@aol.com

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  10. Excellent.

    I love all the nice blog readers, I just loathe the horrible ones that leave hate comments.

    Janet for the millionth time I wish you lived here.

    xxx

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    1. i'm so sick of the horrible commentors too. i've begun deleting them.
      and for the millionth time i wish i did too.

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  11. How cool is that? Thanks for the history.I went through all of my e mails yesterday and unsubscribed from so many blogs because my inbox was too cluttered...but I kept your blog because you are awesome!

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    Replies
    1. that's about the nicest thing i've heard in a while. thanks so much. xo

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  12. I am not at all surprised that you have so many fabulous fans.
    I am disheartened to hear that you get negative comments.
    Deleting them seems like the right thing to do.

    My husband hails from the MacDonald and Campbell clans...
    Mac Donald on his father's mother;s side and Campbell on his mother's side...
    he's always wondered which tartan he should wear.

    Alan sounds like a really interesting fellow.

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  13. it is v disheartening and yet the majority are so amazing.

    that is interesting re what tartan to wear. perhaps alan or ross would know.

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  14. I am Scottish on both sides of my family....the Campbell family. My parents and grandparents were very devout on Scottish traditions. When I graduated from high school, the gift from my paternal grandparents (the Campbells) was a traditional Campbell tartan plaid robe from Scotland. It's very worn out now but I keep it wrapped in a trunk now.

    I love this post Janet...it's amazing what you learn everyday and I'm constantly amazed at what a small world it is.

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    1. how wonderful sarah! maybe you can have the robe made into a pillow so you can see it everyday. it is a small world. look at me and you...friends, and we've never met face to face. so sweet.

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  15. Love the kilt (because it is what finally got me to comment on how much I love your blog - been following and read back many months worth recently) and it did look authentic yesterday. It's the two leather straps that tie down the front that made me think it was really a kilt.
    My family is Clan Farquarson. Grandfather hailed from Dundee and Cupar Fife area. He came to US in the 20's and spoke Gaelic and played his pipes every so often. I would love to visit someday as we still have family there.
    I hope to see your inspiring words and fashions (who knew Redlands had such great thrifts??) for many months to come. Chris in Berkeley

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    1. thank you for reading and sharing your fantastic story!

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  16. Loved reading this about your kilt and great find from the yard sale . . . I wondered if it was a kilt when I read your previous post. I would enjoy hearing information on how and where you go about finding your treasures. Consignment vintage shops, yard sales, Goodwill . . . daily, weekly, certain days, times . . . what is your secret?

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    1. hi lynne. i don't have any secrets. yard sales and junk stores. no particular day or time. usually when i'm out running other errands.

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  17. How lovely of Alan to get in touch and share his knowledge! Blogging is brilliant! x

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  18. Oh my goodness! I need an Alan in my life!
    My father's side is from Aberdeen Scotland and although our last name never seemed "Scottish" and rumor had it that it was shortened from the MacDonald clan, I found out years ago that my maiden name is actually the same as a river that runs through Aberdeen!Strange!
    I need Alan or sweet Tabitha to share their knowledge and help me solve my mystery.... ;)
    As for you, I enjoy seeing this outfit one more time and the interesting facts about it. Second hand really is best.

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  19. Sweetness! How nice to see so much kindness in the world--Wish we could just delete every single bit of cruelty with the click of a button.
    -Suzanne in Illinois

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  20. Hi Janet,
    I've had a couple of kilts over the years and they always came with a large, decorative safety pin to hold the lower edges together. Did yours? Love your blog and I'm so glad you have kept at it!
    Suzie xxx

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  21. Janet, one thing I love about your blog is that you're posting more often--thank you!!! I check in every day to see what you're doing. Your outfits inspire me, though I already have the thrifting bug. It's so fun to get compliments and see peoples' faces when I tell them where I got it. Happy Sunday! Allegra ps--we just went on a 10 day trip and I hit thrift stores on our way. I always thought the wealthier areas would be better for thrifting, but not necessarily so. Some of the best stores are in Coos Bay, OR--just 25 miles up the coast from us and not affluent. Travel really teaches something about view and perspective.

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  22. Janet,
    I love your kilt and the story behind it as well. Isn't it so fun and yes amazing to connect with people all over the world through your blog? I think the blog community is the most generous and kind group of people...for the most part. I had a kilt much like this in college (1980) that I wore with Bass penny loafers and knee socks. Gosh I wish I had it. My wardrobe was very preppy and I think my daughter would love it now. I guess I'll just have to keep searching through piles of clothing at yard sales and thrift shops. You look fabulous by the way...as always!
    xo
    annie

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    1. Thanks to Janet and Alan and Ross, so many have come out to celebrate the beauty of the tartan.

      Here are two fashion spreads using the tartan in a variety of ways:

      Linda Evangelista by Arthur Elgort in "A Shot of Scotch" for Vogue US, September 1991

      http://www.fashion-spreads.com/2010/10/vogue-us-september-1991-a-shot-of-scotch-linda-evangelista-arthur-elgort.html

      Romancing the Plaid
      http://vignettedesign.blogspot.com/2011/01/romancing-plaid.html

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  23. How cool is this! I want to be Scottish too, if only to be able to list my clan and my own tartan, ha!
    ;)

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  24. Oh I like this so much! Really pretty and just my style)

    >'.'<

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  25. Great to know the back story. Does this make you an honorary member of the clan?

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  26. Wish the'd get it right in Vogue - it's SCOTS. 'Scotch' is a drink.

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kindness is never out of style.

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