Tips to Match and Choose the Right Tartan Sash

A tartan sash is a superb addition to Scotland’s traditional dress that originated centuries ago. It is a piece of fabric draped over the shoulder and more prominent for women compared to the opposite gender. Males wear it on the right side while women drape it over their left shoulder and secure it with a pin, known as a fly plaid brooch. Many people new to kilts are unfamiliar with the tips for choosing and matching a sash with attire. Likewise, they also don’t know what mistakes to avoid. This discussion is the perfect place for them, as it discusses all of the mentioned points.

Types of Tartan Sashes Available

Before diving into the tips to choose and match the right tartan sashes, we find it beneficial to highlight their different variants. Knowing these variants helps to decide which one suits you on different occasions.

Traditional Shoulder Sashes

There are different types of sashes but the most common ones are traditional shoulder sashes. Not specific to a single gender, they are worn over one shoulder and represent the rank of wearers.

Fly Plaids vs. Sashes

Many with limited information about Scottish dress assume fly plaids and sashes the same things. It’s a misconception, as sashes are specific to women while only men wear fly plaids. A tartan sash is a narrow stripe of plaid fabric while a fly plaid is a square piece having the same length and width.

Stoles and Fashion Variants

A stole is a comfortable fabric that looks like fly plaid but it is smaller in size even than a standard sash or fly plaid. Moreover, fashion variants of sashes are gaining a continuous popularity with patterns and designs beyond the tartan fabrics.

Choosing the Right Tartan Sash

Some may find it challenging to choose the perfect tartan sash, especially first-time users. There is nothing to worry about, as this guide will help you make a selection decision like a pro. They need to follow a few easy yet important tips.

Define the Purpose of the Sash

Landing on this page means you also want to choose a tartan sash. Start by knowing the purpose of wearing a tartan sash. Two points are important to take into account. The first point is to confirm the formality of the setting where you are to wear it. Second, prioritize your personal styling choice as well.

Know Your Clan or Heritage Tartan

Another point you must not ignore while choosing the right tartan sash is going with clan tartan. The patterns of the sash should match your tartan kilt. If you have a Scottish bloodline, you have no options other than using your clan tartan. Otherwise, a plain-colored tartan sash can be useful if the event’s theme is less formal.

Decide on Fabric and Quality

Those who want to appraise their culture with traditional attire must wear high-quality attire. The same is true for Scottish Highland dress. All kilt accessories including tartan require a specific level of care. So, confirm spending money on the sash that does not lower the overall worth of your attire.

Pick the Right Style and Size of Sash

The style and size of tartan sash matter a lot when buying one. The size of the sash must be priority and a standard sash is 90 inches long and 12 inches wide. However, the same size is not for everyone. Consider your body height first and buy a sash accordingly. Regarding style, sashes also have several designs that depend on their width, weight, and appearance sometimes. The style and your body shape must match each other.

Matching Your Tartan Sash

Now when you have chosen a tartan sash, make sure it matches your overall attire as well. Carefully matching your tartan sash to the kilt is a must-to-do thing that impacts your overall appearance. Similar to choosing tartan, matching is also not so difficult.

Match with Your Outfit’s Color Scheme: Consider wearing the same patterns of your kilt. If the event’s formality allows you to wear a different one, make sure that the sash’s dye complements the kilt.

Coordinate with Family or Group Attire: Regardless of the event’s formality, where you will wear a kilt outfit, the accessories should perfectly coordinate with the attire of other participants. It clearly means that following the dress code is important, particularly in formal settings.

Select Based on Occasion Formality: Matching the color is insufficient, pairing the ideal style is also important. As previously stated sashes are available in various styles, which means they can be worn on different occasions. That’s why you should also focus on the formality of the occasion.

Align with Accessories and Brooches: Some people consider it enough to match their tartan sash with a kilt, which is not a good idea. Every embellishment of Scottish attire must align with each other. This rule also applies to the sash.

How to Wear a Tartan Sash

Every style of tartan sash has a unique way to attach it to the outfit. Therefore, wearing a sash at formal events is easy and surprisingly it does not require much effort. Women wear a sash by draping it over the right shoulder and securing it with a brooch or a pin. Therefore, the wife of a clan chief often wears it on the right shoulder. Men, on the other hand, also wear a sash on the left shoulder in the same manner. Wearing a tartan sash is not a common practice in men, as they attach a fly plaid on their shoulders.

Tartan Sashes in Cultural and Ceremonial Contexts

Modern sashes may not be that important that Highland traditional accessories have, especially in cultural and ceremonial context. Scottish formal dresses are usually incomplete without this particular piece of fabric.

Weddings and Bridal Outfits: The Bridal outfits in Scottish weddings have tartan sashes as an essentiality. Brides wear the groom’s tartan on this day as an acceptance of him.

Highland Games and Clan Gatherings: Every event where formal Scottish dress is worn, plaid sashes are must-to-attach parts. No matter whether a woman participates in Highland games and a clan gathering, she wears sash as an important part of her dress. Similarly, national holidays, music events, and ceilidh are also incomplete without this particular piece of fabric.

Common Mistakes to Avoid when Wear Tartan Sash

There is no space to make mistakes when dressing up in Scottish traditional attire. Being a bit careless here means disrespecting the attire which is not bearable at all and Scots can mind it. We are highlighting some mistakes here that you must be careful about.

• Individuals who do not wear Scottish dress often, leave their sashes twisted which is a significant mistake.
• Tying a sash on the correct shoulder is a basic necessity and personal style preference is unacceptable here.
• People insert a pin to the sash inaccurately in a way that affects the shirt or even the jacket.
• Wearing your clan tartan is the most respectful way to maintain the charm of attire while opposing this rule is a common practice.
• Knots should be tightened snugly since there is no room for too tight or loose knots.
• Ignoring the event’s theme is also a major mistake while attaching a kilt sash.

Where to Buy a Tartan Sash

Undoubtedly, all of the above-mentioned aspects are essential when choosing or matching a tartan sash. However, there is more important than all and it is not to choose a fabric with compromised quality. The brand you are buying plays a vital role in developing or ruining aesthetic appeal. So, prioritize the brands that have no complaints about their quality. We recommend you explore The Utility Kilt if you also want premium-quality sashes. We can arrange plaid according to every clan. Out top selling products are Women’s Royal Stewart Tartan Sash and Womens Hulme Tartan Sash.

FAQ About Tartan Sashes