Ah, and Mr. Allison also sells them in the Royal Stewart tartan I selected -

 

It's not Alex Begg & co., but STP does offer a well-regarded Johnston's of Elgin 100% cashmere Royal Stewart scarf for $80 (or $60 if you use the right promo code.) And this way you aren't forced to deal with that annoying unhelpful man.

 

It's expensive, but Kabbaz () has the Begg cashmere scarves in a long size. They are really nice!

 

Seeing this thread reminds me that my late husband and I were in London in October of 1984, and March of 1985, when the dollar was particularly strong against the pound sterling. We both bought any number of cashmere scarves from a variety of sources, from Burberry, to Westaway & Westaway, a discounter (long since gone) located just opposite the British Museum. My late husband made a point of collecting as many different clan tartans as he could, and I enjoy the fruits of his shopping to this day (including a scarf in the Royal Stewart pattern shown above).

 

I'm going to ask a stupid question but please understand that I live in the Southeastern US and rarely wear a scarf before chastising me. Are labels on scarves treated like labels on the outside of suit jackets (i.e. they are removed immediately)?

 

a psychological problemwith tartan

I entirely agree with your that they look great and feel great, but I am reluctant to wear a tartan outside my clan. I don't know why, but that's how I feel. This is not rational. I frequently wear an Argyle & Sutherland bow tie, but I have no connection to the regiment. I just love the colors. Of course, I would never wear my A&S tie in Britain.

 

Beautiful stuff.

 

Seeing this thread reminds me that my late husband and I were in London in October of 1984, and March of 1985, when the dollar was particularly strong against the pound sterling. We both bought any number of cashmere scarves from a variety of sources, from Burberry, to Westaway & Westaway, a discounter (long since gone) located just opposite the British Museum. My late husband made a point of collecting as many different clan tartans as he could, and I enjoy the fruits of his shopping to this day (including a scarf in the Royal Stewart pattern shown above).

Those are very nice remembrances to have.

I'm going to ask a stupid question but please understand that I live in the Southeastern US and rarely wear a scarf before chastising me. Are labels on scarves treated like labels on the outside of suit jackets (i.e. they are removed immediately)?

I've always preferred to wear my scarves folded in half length-wise and simply assured the label was inside, so it's never been an issue. But if it is for you, there's no reason I know that you can't snip it out.

I entirely agree with your that they look great and feel great, but I am reluctant to wear a tartan outside my clan. I don't know why, but that's how I feel. This is not rational. I frequently wear an Argyle & Sutherland bow tie, but I have no connection to the regiment. I just love the colors. Of course, I would never wear my A&S tie in Britain.

There's no reason you should feel any differently about the issue than you do, and you should do as you prefer. But without trying to extract all the details from my failing memory, my general understanding is that the modern tartans are simply attractive patterns designed in the last 100 years, or so, to promote their sale, and as such make no claim of historical affiliation. And that in Scotland a specific tartan is generally worn by anyone who enjoys it.

It's unlike British school or regimental striped ties which do make a claim to affiliation. (But only when worn in Britain.)

 

I entirely agree with your that they look great and feel great, but I am reluctant to wear a tartan outside my clan. I don't know why, but that's how I feel. This is not rational.

Quite; not rational at all. Clan tartans are an early Victorian fiction and are quite meaningless.

I frequently wear an Argyle & Sutherland bow tie, but I have no connection to the regiment. I just love the colors. Of course, I would never wear my A&S tie in Britain.

Nobody would care. As the Sutherlands no longer exist, as such, almost nobody would know in any case. On the other hand, wearing a tartan bow tie would almost certainly identify you as an American, which may, or may not, be a bad thing, depending upon the circumstances.

 

Much as I love scarves all they would do in the PNW is become sodden. Admittedly, both wool and cashmere, being hollow fibers, would still be warm but they would be wet. So since the only time I'm likely to wear one is on the odd European winter vacation, I will happily leave my share to the rest of you. :cool2:

 

Much as I love scarves all they would do in the PNW is become sodden.

Really depends on exactly where you are in the Pacific Northwest.

Seattle, WA, for example, sees fewer days per year with wet weather (137) and fewer inches of rain per year (37.7), than do Pittsburgh, PA (151 days, 38.2 inches), Buffalo, NY (167 days, 50.5 inches), or Cleveland, OH (155 days, 39.1 inches).

Figures are from data collected by the NOAA National Climatic Data Center. https://www.currentresults.com/Weather/US/average-annual-precipitation-by-city.php

Seattle's not the wettest place in the PNW, of course. Not even close. But neither is it the driest.

Most parts of the PNW are ridiculously wet by the standards of most parts of the southwestern US (a lot of which is desert) or by those of the high plains states. But compared to the eastern United States, meh, nothing terribly unusual.

'Course, Pittsburgh, Buffalo, and Cleveland, while not typically thought of as remarkably rainy places, are widely recognized as wintry places. Lots of cold and snow. So one might well get more use out of a cashmere scarf in those cities than in various places in the PNW.

 

It's not Alex Begg & co., but STP does offer a well-regarded Johnston's of Elgin 100% cashmere Royal Stewart scarf for $80 (or $60 if you use the right promo code.) And this way you aren't forced to deal with that annoying unhelpful man.

Which annoying, unhelpful man do you have in mind? (There are so many of us! )

 

Which annoying, unhelpful man do you have in mind? (There are so many of us! )

Kirby Allison. In the few emails I exchanged with him, he was the most haughty, condescending, and unhelpful businessman I have met.

 

Really depends on exactly where you are in the Pacific Northwest.

Seattle, WA, for example, sees fewer days per year with wet weather (137) and fewer inches of rain per year (37.7), than do Pittsburgh, PA (151 days, 38.2 inches), Buffalo, NY (167 days, 50.5 inches), or Cleveland, OH (155 days, 39.1 inches).

Figures are from data collected by the NOAA National Climatic Data Center. https://www.currentresults.com/Weather/US/average-annual-precipitation-by-city.php

Seattle's not the wettest place in the PNW, of course. Not even close. But neither is it the driest.

Most parts of the PNW are ridiculously wet by the standards of most parts of the southwestern US (a lot of which is desert) or by those of the high plains states. But compared to the eastern United States, meh, nothing terribly unusual.

'Course, Pittsburgh, Buffalo, and Cleveland, while not typically thought of as remarkably rainy places, are widely recognized as wintry places. Lots of cold and snow. So one might well get more use out of a cashmere scarf in those cities than in various places in the PNW.

I'm across the Willamette from Portland and right now it's raining--again. This is not a complaint. After a lifetime in SoCal I moved here for the rain, not despite it. Now if I lived in Spokane, I'd wear lots of scarves.

 

Kirby Allison. In the few emails I exchanged with him, he was the most haughty, condescending, and unhelpful businessman I have met.

Thanks!

Sorry to hear that. Doesn't sound like a good way to promote a business.

 

Thanks!

Sorry to hear that. Doesn't sound like a good way to promote a business.

Opposite experience for me. His service was spectacular.