Evening plaid questions

[Owl of Oban]

Greetings all,

I'm attempting to put together some of the more formal accoutrements that attend a kilt worn in the evening to a ceremonial occasion.
My questions this time center on the so-called 'fly or evening' plaid. To eliminate confusion caused by semantics, what I am referring to is the separate length of tartan typically worn over the shoulder of a doublet or Prince Charlie, fastened with a broach of some kind and either tucked into the belt or left to hang freely over one's back.

J.C. Thompson's fine little book mentions in some detail how to properly 'fringe' such an item, but doesn't actually give dimensions for it.

Any guidance as to size, sewing necessary and/or real-life experience in wearing such an item would be greatly appreciated!

[davedove]

Check out this page from Alexis Malcolm Kilts:

http://www.alexismalcolmkilts.bigste...generic23.html

It gives information on the wearing of the plaid and some pictures.

[Hamish]

Greetings all,

I'm attempting to put together some of the more formal accoutrements that attend a kilt worn in the evening to a ceremonial occasion.
My questions this time center on the so-called 'fly or evening' plaid. To eliminate confusion caused by semantics, what I am referring to is the separate length of tartan typically worn over the shoulder of a doublet or Prince Charlie, fastened with a broach of some kind and either tucked into the belt or left to hang freely over one's back.

J.C. Thompson's fine little book mentions in some detail how to properly 'fringe' such an item, but doesn't actually give dimensions for it.

Any guidance as to size, sewing necessary and/or real-life experience in wearing such an item would be greatly appreciated!

Iain,

Please be advised that J.C. Thompson's "fine little book", whilst still a work of some interest, is now seen as presenting a somewhat dated view of things. Also, he freely admits he wrote the book with the North American market in mind - you would never have seen in Scotland much of what he proposed in those pages!

Our own Matt Newsome has written a much more helpful and up-to-date publication. His "Patented Advice for First Time Kilt Wearers" ( www.albanach.org ) is more than worth the $8.95 he asks for it and is highly recommended.

Having got that off my chest: I am afraid I cannot help you with your query concerning the fly or evening plaid. Although a kilt wearer of over 55 years standing, I cannot abide those things any more than I can the ghastly ghillie shoes, and I will not wear one - no matter how formal the event I might be attending. Were I a member of a pipe band or some other uniformed group, I might think differently, but as an individual I prefer not to wear uniforms.

Of course, I mean no disrespect to anyone who does like to wear these particular accessories. It is just that not all of them are for me.

[James]

Between us Hamish and I manage to tot up something like 120 years of kilt wearing, and I agree with him.

Steering clear of uniforms and bands: a part of the dramatic effect of the highland dress is it's simplicity. Now that seems a contradiction, but it's not.

Start cluttering up the whole ensemble with laces running up the legs-stray bits of tartan cloth flapping around-weaponry even: and it is all too much.

In fact it moves from highland dress to something best seen on a box of Edinburgh rock.

Think instead of the simplicity of the doublet-broken by the lace jabot & cuffs, the very masculine effect of the bare knees: the contrast between the dress tartan and the dark doublet. Then you start to get the very maccho effect of the kilt.

James

[Owl of Oban]

Thanks Gents, for your responses.
This is exactly the sort of information and opinion I was looking for.
The Prince Charlie does look better, to my eye anyway, kept simple. Although I've worn the kilt for nearly 20 years, my experience with 'formal' attire is sorely lacking I'm afraid.

Cheers

[Bob C]

Follow your own heart. Don't let anyone chase you off of the fly plaid if you like it.

There are a lot of garments in Hamish's gallery that I would not be caught dead in. That does not mean I oppose his wearing them.

[M. A. C. Newsome]

I don't wear fly plaids myself, but I do think they look nice for a very formal outfit. I wouldjust reserve it for special occasions only. What I don't like is when I see formal fly plaids being worn casually. They really do require some kind of jacket or doublet to look right.

To answer your specific question, there are a few different ways to make a fly plaid. Here is one simple, typical method. The deminsions are roughly 54" square. Most tartan cloth now comes 54" wide. Get a yard and a half of it, and that's 54" x 54". Fringe all four sides. How long of a fringe is up to your own personal taste. You don't want it to be very short, but if it's too long it will just tangle. I say a couple of inches is fine. If you want the fringe to be four or five inches, you might want to purle it.

Then take one corner and sew in some pleats running several inches down, and press them. This is the part that will get pinned at the shoulder. The rest hangs free at the back.

There are fly plaids that have little clasps and/or belts at the waist to secure it in place. But thr 54" square measurement is pretty standard.

[Graham]

I've never seen one worn really. Even at very formal events they are not seen here.
Maybe if one was getting married, but I think it's a bit over the top (no pun intended)

Hamish, I agree with you about gillies too. I hate laces at the best of times, but THOSE laces...no way.

[macwilkin]

I wore one at my wedding, but that was a very special function. ;)

Regards,

Todd

[davedove]

I don't wear fly plaids myself, but I do think they look nice for a very formal outfit. I would just reserve it for special occasions only. What I don't like is when I see formal fly plaids being worn casually. They really do require some kind of jacket or doublet to look right.

I would agree with Matt here. The fly plaids can look very sharp in some occasions. However, at other times they are a bit much. And of course, only with a jacket. I would only wear one when I wanted to make that extra bit of a statement with my wardrobe.

And I agree about the ghillies as well. The laces just don't look right to me. A nice set of formal dress shoes work just fine, and if you want to go really formal, get a set of the buckled Culloden shoes.