Top Tartan Sash Mistakes to Avoid for Appropriate Looks

A Scottish Highland dress is the collection of many accessories, and the key to get the maximum from it is to wear them all properly. To dress up everything appropriately, knowing the mistakes to avoid is important as well. Our center of attention in this article is the tartan sash and common mistakes to avoid while wearing it. Not only this, our discussion revolves around many other topics about tartan sashes. So we recommend you to accompany us till the last word to excel at the skill of wearing tartan sashes.
Table of Contents
ToggleUnderstanding the Tartan Sash

Do you know what a tartan sash actually is? It is a narrow piece of fabric that is worn by women on their shoulders with traditional Scottish dress. Let us clarify a misconception first that confuses many. According to some people, a tartan sash and a fly plaid fabric are the same items. They must correct themselves as the reality is opposite.
A fly plaid is also a piece of fabric, but it is certain to men only. A tartan sash, on the other hand, is worn by women. Their structure is different as well. Plaids are square pieces of fabric and worn as parts of kilt outfits only, while a sash is a narrow fabric and can be worn at several events. A sash is 90 inches long and 11 inches wide and held by fly plaid brooches, as the men do.
Why Wearing a Tartan Sash Correctly Matters

Women who do not have Scottish ancestry often consider tartan sashes an unimportant part of attire. Therefore, the truth is far above it, as a tartan sash is as essential as a tartan kilt. Similar to the patterns of kilts, the patterns of sashes are trustees of Scottish heritage.
The style of wearing sashes discloses the status of the ladies wearing it. Undoubtedly, ladies’ plaids have some tartan sash rules compared to men, but their versatility and the fashion statement make them wearable in modern ways as well.
Common Tartan Sash Mistakes

Can someone imagine wearing a kilt accessory inappropriately with such importance? Surely, no one will do it. However, some women still make mistakes, but these flaws are unintentional or they lack the right information about wearing them. By the way, a mistake is never acceptable with cultural entities. To help such women rectify their sash-wearing approaches, we shortlisted some tartan sash mistakes and their solutions.
Choosing the Wrong Tartan
The first thing is choosing the wrong tartan, which is the most prominent mistake. Usually there is no space for personal choice in traditional dress for formal events. That’s why every Scottish individual prefers wearing his clan tartan on such occasions. In case a woman is non-Scot, she can opt for a universal tartan, but the theme of the event should be the priority while finalizing the color combination.
Placement of the Sash at the Wrong Shoulder
Though there are many ways to attach a sash to the women’s kilt outfits, the traditional way is to drape it over the right shoulder. Some wear it on the left shoulder without realizing that only clan chief’s wives or authority holder ladies wear it on the opposite shoulder.
Wrong Length or Width
Men’s fly plaids have square shapes, while sashes are narrow and longer fabrics. The change in style means that length and width can be chosen as per requirement and body shape. Therefore, the best practice is to wear the appropriate size. Women often overlook this aspect, which negatively impacts their outfit.
Improper Fastening
Those who are unaware of the importance of tartan sashes often neglect their proper fastening. They instill the brooch at the wrong positions or pin it to all layers of other fabrics, making the sash too tight. This practice needs a correction, and they must know the exact spot to pin the brooch. Therefore, the best way is to pin it to the outermost layer of the shirt or jacket to stay relaxed.
Wearing It With the Wrong Outfit
No matter whether it is a fly plaid or a tartan sash, they are suitable for formal or semi-formal events only. Though modern adaptations are embraced, their preference is for events with proper dress codes. At the same time, many ladies wear them with casual outfits, which is a disrespect to the outfits and all kilt accessories.
Disrespecting its Cultural Significance
We just learned a way of pairing a sash, which disrespects the attire. Similarly, wearing a sash overlooking the cultural significance of fabric and patterns also encourages the element of disrespectfulness. Many incorrect approaches contempt the cultural value of attire, such as wearing a different sash pattern from other tartan parts or dressing up an unclean or damaged fabric.
Wearing the Sash at Inappropriate Events
When it comes to pairing the right accessories, their appropriateness to the events also matter. Wearing tartan sashes casually falls on the list of mistakes that traditional attire cannot bear. Every woman must know that tartan sashes are often for formal settings.
Buying Low-Quality Sashes
A reliable way to get the maximum from a traditional entity is to opt for premium-quality products. However, the ladies, unaware of their importance, consider it just a simple part of the outfits and often overlook the quality. This approach is not convenient and damages the overall look. So, they must consider investing in premium-quality fabric.
Buy Premium Quality Tartan Sashes at The Utility Kilt
In the previous section, we discussed buying premium-quality fabric, and to do so, you must opt for a brand that offers uncompromised material. Many stores claim to propose such sashes, but we recommend visiting our store. At The Utility Kilt, our quality is our identity and a tool of trust for our customers. Besides the quality, you get affordability at a level, where other brands may not compete with us. We have a range of tartan products, including sashes such as the Women’s Hulme Tartan Sash and the Women’s Royal Stewart Tartan Sash. If you want some other pattern, our team can manage every tartan and design sashes for you. Let us know about your requirements only!