Tart in a Tartan: Taste and Tact - What's socially acceptable in the US?

In My Humble Opinion
1

Next month, I might attend a local fancy shindig celebrating Robert Burns’ birthday. I am considering wearing a silk sari in a tartan pattern. (I wear saris to most events that call for dressing up.)
[ul]
[li]IYHO, would it be tacky to wear a sari in tartan? More or less so than wearing a tartan skirt?[/li].
[li]Would it make any difference if I made sure it was the tartan assigned to mr emilyforce’s ancestors’ clan? (His tartan is aesthetically pleasing but not available in inexpensive yardage, whereas e.g. Black Watch is.)[/li][/ul]I’d especially love to hear from anyone who tartans matter to, socially. I expect many of the Burns’ Night attendees will be hardcore self-identified Scottish Americans. Yes, I am aware that tartans are a late invention romantically retro-assigned to the ancient clans that were dissolved by that time already yada yada and that no one really should get their knickers in a twist* about who wears what. I’m asking whether anyone is *likely *to twist their knickers about it.

*Not that they’d necessarily have any to twist, if they’re wearing kilts.

2

Can’t say for America, but if you got the right tartan and everything, you’d steal the show at most Scottish weddings. And whatever the tartan, you’d still go down a storm. (Bloody kilts, they’re for the tourists, etc.)

3

Erm. Would that be good, or bad?

4

Good!

5

I’d stump up for Mr. Emily’s tartan.

It’s like good grammar, the people who know really care.

It would also be the perfect alternative to the little black dress, and rather like a man’s formal wear.

(That I don’t particularly like the Black Watch has nothing to do with my opinion.)

6

I can’t imagine even the most hardcore Scots I know getting offended. If anything, they’d love your innovation. Also, it sounds like it’ll look hot, very Comme des Garçons.

7

So, ‘No True Scotsman’ would have a problem with it?

8

Go for it. I’ve been the emcee of our local Rabbie Burns night for about six years now, drawing about 70-100 people, and I can’t think of a single person that would be bothered by it.

I think it would look good. Post a picture after you do it.

9

Bravo for wearing a sari. They are beautiful and it’s sad that most American women are terrified of color.

10

My friends and I go to our Scottish society’s Burns night every year, and we’re always looking for creative ways to wear our tartans. I think a sari in a tartan pattern would be lovely.

I hear you on the expensive fabric. Down both my parents’ family trees, I have 11 tartans (2 Highland clans, 1 lowland family) that I could wear. Naturally, the one I like the best seems to be available only in silk, and only from the UK.

The most knicker-twisting I’ve seen is over the posers who show up for the Highland Games in flannel pajama bottoms and tinfoil “torqs.” No, that doesn’t make you a “Celt!” And “women don’t wear kilts!” Well, true, we wear “kilted skirts” that are made differently than a man’s kilt, but jeez, if I say something about my kilt, you know jolly well what I mean!