Today I am featuring a few popular styles of wearing the tartan sash or scarf in honor of my husband’s Irish ancestry. The tartan plaid is a huge part of the celtic tradition. With St. Patrick’s Day being tomorrow, this is an easy fashionable, fun way to wear a touch of green and avoid the pinch! Styles for wearing the tartan sash are as varied as your imagination. The most popular style for wearing the tartan sash is to drape the tartan sash over the shoulder, across the breast, and either secured by a brooch at the hip (as shown to the left), or right shoulder.
First off, there is no official style of wearing the scarf sash for women. Many different authorities have said different things but there is no agreed upon method. With that said the Royal Scottish Dance Society states that ladies should wear the tartan sash pinned at the left shoulder. The following three pictures are approved by The Lord Lyon King of Arms:
How to tie a tartan rosette:
Step 1: Fold th
e tartan scarf in half.
Step 2: Take the top of the folded end and fold back about 6″. Now fasten a rubber band in the middle of this new fold, making the sash look like a bow with a long tail.
Step 3: Fluff the folds so that the bow looks like a rosette, then use pins to fasten the rosette’s half circle together. Pin your brooch in the middle of the rosette to hide the rubber band.
Step 4: Pin the rosette to the shoulder of your dress with the end of the sash hanging diagonally across your breast, and the other end of the sash hanging diagonally across your back.
Step 5: Arrange the two ends of the sash diagonally across your torso so that they reach your hip, then fasten the two ends to your hip with safety pins, making sure that the pins are not visible.
The manner of wearing tartan sashes or light scarves had customary significance even two centuries ago, and whilst the wearing of sashes in any particular manner has so far no legal significance, a due respect for tradition suggests that uniform practice, and implication consistent with custom, is desirable. The difference methods undermentioned to wearing such are appropriate for ladies in different circumstances. All these suggestions are based on a careful study of old portraits, prints and traditional practice, and bear the authoritative approval of the Lord Lyon King of Arms.
Styles worn by Clan Women:
The sash is worn over the right shoulder across the breast and is secured by a pin or small brooch on the right shoulder.
Style worn by the wives of clan chiefs and by the wives of colonels of the scottish regiments:
The sash is fuller in size and is worn over the left shoulder and secured with a brooch.
Style worn by ladies who have married out of their clans but who still wish to use their original clan tartan:
The sash is usually longer than style 1, is worn over the right shoulder secured there with a pin and fastened in a large bow on the left hip.
Style worn by country dancers or where any lady desires to keep the front of the dress clear of the sash:
Commonly seen made with a rosette secured with a brooch or clan badge. The style is similar to the belted plaid and is really a small arisaid. It can be buttoned on at the back of the waist or held by a small belt and is secured at the right shoulder by a pin or small brooch so that the ends fall backwards from the right shoulder and swing at the back of the right shoulder.
Have fun tomorrow showing your green in a trendy, fashionable yet time honored way!
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