Fly Plaid

[Farmer Jones]

I do not own a fly plaid, have never worn one, and probably never will. However I have seen lots of questions about them, and recent browsing has brought them to my attention. I cannot see how the weight of one, worn over the shoulder and pinned to the front of the jacket, does not cause the left side of the jacket to rise up and pull in an unsightly manner.

[Nathan]

That is a key problem with them. They do just that, especially with a Prince Charlie. It's not as bad with a closed doublet like a Montrose, Balmoral or Kenmore but with an open jacket they are prone to causing the left side of the jacket to ride up.

Not a fan of fly plaids. As you know, I do occasionally enjoy day plaids and I like pipe bands in full plaids but fly plaids are impractical and not that smart looking for all the trouble, in my opinion.

N

[Farmer Jones]

Thanks Nathan, that is my take on them too. I think I would find it cumbersome and unsightly with a PC. I have been busily designing some sort of brace to hold the jacket down to compensate for the weight.

[bikercelt1]

I've only used a fly plaid a couple of times myself but I did learn a trick that might help if you just have to use one for some reason. One thing that helps is to use the brooch as a counter weight rather than a fastner. Instead of pinning the brooch to the jacket pin it only to the fly plaid itself and pass it through the epaulettes. Don't pin the plaid to the jacket at all or just use a small pin through the hidden folds of the plaid well above the brooch.

[Liam]

I've only used a fly plaid a couple of times myself but I did learn a trick that might help if you just have to use one for some reason. One thing that helps is to use the brooch as a counter weight rather than a fastner. Instead of pinning the brooch to the jacket pin it only to the fly plaid itself and pass it through the epaulettes. Don't pin the plaid to the jacket at all or just use a small pin through the hidden folds of the plaid well above the brooch.

This is very similar to the technique I have used. I use a small pin to attach the fly plaid to the epaulette. Although to be honest I find very few occasions which I choose to wear the fly plaid.
Slainte

[Tarheel]

Thanks for that tip bikercelt1. I probably won't ever have a fly plaid but those who have them will use this tid-bit. I remember another tip from my sister's beauty pageant days that was as unique but useful in wardrobe preparation. She would spray a bit of adhesive around her buttocks to keep the bathing suit from "riding up" while she walked. This has nothing to do with kilts of course, but led me to observe how clothes behave when a person is in motion.

[OC Richard]

Yes they do pull the jacket up there, it's annoying.

I do what people have said, put the brooch a bit lower in front as a counter-weight. Still, the brooch will migrate upwards unless it or the plaid is pinned to the jacket in front.

One thing I tried was to pin the bottom of the plaid up under the back of the jacket, supporting some of the weight, and making the plaid look a bit like a belted plaid. Belted plaids (I don't mean the feilidh-mor) are heavy complex garments but somehow stay in place better than fly plaids do, probably because most of the weight is supported by the cloth belt around the waist.