Advice on wearing the fly plaid

**Mark Stephenson** · 8th November 10, 04:48 PM

I recently wore my fly plaid for the first time.
I will be going to another formal dinner this weekend, and wish to wear it again. However, I had a lot of trouble with it pulling open my Prince Charlie jacket. Does anyone have any suggestions on wearing the fly plaid?

**JSFMACLJR** · 8th November 10, 05:49 PM

I do not like fly plaids.

That being said, might I ask where you are pinning the plaid? All too often the plaid is worn pinned to the front of the jacket front, rather than at the shoulder. That could cause the jacket to open.

My suggestion would be to skip the fly plaid.

**Jock Scot** · 8th November 10, 11:05 PM

I would not bother with it, if I were you.

**Woot22** · 8th November 10, 11:14 PM

I agree with the advice already given, just skip it all together. You're already in a kilt, why wear something that draws attention away from that and makes it look like a costume.

**figheadair** · 9th November 10, 01:36 AM

I've never seen one worn at a formal dinner in Scotland.

I know you've bought it and so natuarally want to wear it but have to agree with others on this thread. Don't bother with it.

**ForresterModern** · 9th November 10, 04:03 AM

IMHO, three options work best with the fly plaid:

First, don't bother as there are fewer situations where it really is appropriate than most folks think.

Second, as Sandy above suggested, put your plaid through the epaulet of your jacket and pin through the epaulet and the fly plaid together at the shoulder.

Third, put the fly plaid pleated corner through the epaulet and pull it down tit it reaches your breast pocket, then attach your brooch only to the fly plaid itself, not through the plaid and jacket together. Attaching the brooch to the corner of the plaid alone will act as a bit of a counterweight to the weight of the plaid over your shoulder and back, but not pull up on the jacket itself.

**Chas** · 9th November 10, 05:02 AM

Originally Posted by ForresterModern

Third, put the fly plaid pleated corner through the epaulet and pull it down tit it reaches your breast pocket, then attach your brooch only to the fly plaid itself, not through the plaid and jacket together. Attaching the brooch to the corner of the plaid alone will act as a bit of a counterweight to the weight of the plaid over your shoulder and back, but not pull up on the jacket itself.

I would agree with Jeff on this, but go one step further.

Round the back, get your assistant to slightly lift the weight, so there is a small amount of slack and pin the plaid to waist of the jacket. Any pulling is then from the waist and not from the shoulder. You will need to experiment before hand, to get the right amount of slack, too much and it looks like a Great Kilt on a bad day, too little and you are back to square one. I would recommend good quality, chrome, heavy duty safety pins - about 2" long. You might need more than one at the waist to spread the load and take the weight.

OR

The other method is to ensure that you are born with the right shape of shoulders. The flatter or straighter the shoulder the better. Too much slope leads to fly plaid hell. This is also seen when men wear a Laird's or day plaid over one shoulder. On some it will sit there and others spend the whole day holding the plaid in place.

Good luck with what you choose.

Regards

Chas

**davidlpope** · 9th November 10, 06:33 AM

I think it's a clever marketing ploy designed to bilk Americans out of their money by overcharging them for a yard of tartan cloth.

Ditch the fly plaid and turn it into a bias-cut tartan waistcoat!

David

**artificer** · 9th November 10, 07:05 AM

Originally Posted by davidlpope

I think it's a clever marketing ploy designed to bilk Americans out of their money by overcharging them for a yard of tartan cloth.

Ditch the fly plaid and turn it into a bias-cut tartan waistcoat!

David

This may be the best suggestion yet! I think ANY board member would be hard pressed to throw stones at a beautifully crafted bias-cut waistcoat.

ith:

**Mark Stephenson** · 9th November 10, 07:47 AM

Thanks for the comments.
I should have mentioned that my wonderful wife has told me she loves the way I look in a kilt. She has requested I wear my fly plaid as she also likes how it looks with my Prince Charlie. As an officer and a gentleman (USAF, Ret), I can't turn down a request from my charming wife. So, I will figure out the best way to wear it with my Prince Charlie. So far, it sounds like adding a pin or two to strategic locations may be the ticket. Also, while sitting, once it's adjusted, it doesn't seem to pull on the jacket that much.