Fly Plaid Query

[Gr8ham]

Question about fly plaids. I want to get one to match my Red Ross kilt but am curious about how they are supposed to look. The ones seen on eBay and other supply websites seem to be a square of tartan cloth, fringed and bunched at one corner to take a brooch on the shoulder.

However, in Thompson's book, "So You're Going to Wear the Kilt," he describes a plaid (evening plaid) as " a rectangle of tartan, pleated at one end, that attaches to the waist with a belt or tape. The other three sides are fringed like the ends of a piper's [drummer's] plaid, and there is a knot of fringe midway of the end opposite the pleated end [for the shoulder brooch]." 3rd ed., p. 81

Can someone please explain why I have never seen this design advertised and why the people at such a reputed Highland source as Kinloch Anderson have never heard of it?

Thoughts?

[Caradoc]

Can someone please explain why I have never seen this design advertised and why the people at such a reputed Highland source as Kinloch Anderson have never heard of it?

Thoughts?

I think the "evening plaid" has fallen into disuse for the most part, and what I see most of the time now is the "fly plaid," consisting of a piece of tartan dangling down the back from the brooch on the shoulder.

I've seen vendors carry "evening plaids" that look an awful lot like a "piper's plaid," but I think they're shorter in length such that the tapes fasten around the waist, then the plaid comes up to the shoulder, fastened with the brooch, and left to dangle down the back.

The "piper's plaid" wraps around the torso before being allowed to fall from the shoulder.

[Bob C]

I think the "evening plaid" has fallen into disuse for the most part, and what I see most of the time now is the "fly plaid," consisting of a piece of tartan dangling down the back from the brooch on the shoulder.

I've seen vendors carry "evening plaids" that look an awful lot like a "piper's plaid," but I think they're shorter in length such that the tapes fasten around the waist, then the plaid comes up to the shoulder, fastened with the brooch, and left to dangle down the back.

The "piper's plaid" wraps around the torso before being allowed to fall from the shoulder.

Caradoc explained it well. The fly plaid is gathered at one corner, run through the left epaulet and pinned at the breast with a brooch. It hangs loose sown the back.

[KiltedKnight]

According to the article; WEARING HIGHLAND ATTIRE

by

THOMAS GORDON MUNGALL,III, M.Ed.


Plaid & Brooch


The plaid worn either in the fly style or half-belted style with a silver brooch is correctly worn only with Highland evening attire. A folded pipers plaid worn over the left or right shoulder is perfectly correct with daywear. This type of plaid is simply folded and is worn hanging straight down over either shoulder. The plaid is a colorful piece of Highland attire that is not worn as often these days. It would be nice to see a revival of wearing the plaid, especially the daywear style. This also affords a man or woman the chance to show off another tartan, such as his mother's tartan or her husband's tartan, etc.
(end)


None of my flyplaids are sewn bunched at one corner, they are all about 4' square and I fold the corner to slip through the epalet to be attached. That way if my wife gets a chill I can remove it, fold it on the bias and she uses it as a shawl.

Chris.

[Bob C]

Mine is sewn on one corner. It's not actually bunched. It's more like a pleat that goes about six inches back from the corner.