Fly plaid with 4 yard box pleated kilt??

[bonnie heather]

Recently I was asked if it's okay for a man to wear a 4 yard box pleated kilt with a fly plaid for a formal occasion. I'm guessing that would be alright, but I'm not sure. So, I'm hoping to hear answers from those who know about such things.

[RockyR]

I wouldn't see any reason why someone would object, except by those who just don't like fly plaids (with an 8 yard knife pleated kilt or otherwise). Just make sure the cloth is from the same batch for color matching issues.

[Tam Piperson]

4 yard kilts are sort of a retro style, one that goes back to the earliest versions of the felidh-beg or "little kilt" before it evolved into the modern standard of the 8-yard kilts that have come to be recognized as the quintessential form of the Scottish kilt.

The so-called fly-plaid is more or less an imitation of the older belted half-plaid which itself was worn to imitate the basic look of the original brecan-felidh or "belted plaid" that was the earliest untailored form of the kilt which was worn in the 17th and early 18th centuries, being more or less just a long wrap that was gathered up into loose pleats and simply held in place with a belt around the waist, while the loose part above the waist could be arranged into a sort of cloak or mantle as occassion called for it, but was normally pinned to the left shoulder with a brooch for convenience.

So the wearing of a modern fly-plaid is a bit anachronistic coupled with a 4 yard kilt, but it is of course a matter of individual taste what one wears, although it might be regarded as touristy rather than traditional in that it isn't a conventional style.

[Thomas H]

If the kilt and Plaid are a Bonnie Heather made , it does not matter ( they can wear it anywhere at any time ) you make great kilts and it should not be an issue.

Tell them to wear it and have fun with it , if anyone says anything tell them to show the tag
that will be all they need to do , it will speck for it self .

[Tobus]

Recently I was asked if it's okay for a man to wear a 4 yard box pleated kilt with a fly plaid for a formal occasion. I'm guessing that would be alright, but I'm not sure. So, I'm hoping to hear answers from those who know about such things.

That's a pretty general question, especially with qualifiers such as "okay" or "alright". Would someone be arrested or thrown out for wearing them? Likely not. And it really depends on what the formal occasion is (or more importantly, who else is there) as to whether it would be considered acceptable. It really comes down to what the setting is. Here in America, amongst a non-kilt-wearing crowd, no one will likely know the difference. But if one were to wear a 4-yard box-pleat with fly plaid to a formal affair in the Highlands, it might draw odd looks. I dunno, it's really hard to say without more specifics on who/where/when.

Personally, I don't see 4-yard box-pleated kilts as being suited to formal occasions. Nor do I think fly plaids fit well, since they are a bit of an odd duck in Highland attire. But others may think it can be pulled off. *shrug*

[Spartan Tartan]

I'm with Rocky on this one. I don't tend to think of one style of kilt as more formal than others. In my mind, it is about quality of the kilt, not yardage or knife pleating. Given that and my first hand knowledge of what great quality a Bonnie Heather Kilt is, I'd say it comes back to the wearer. If they are comfortable wearing a fly plaid, then so be it.

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

I'd generally suggest "no", regardless of the pleating of the kilt. But then I'd also voice a "no" to belted plaid, a piper's plaid, or a lairds plaid. In my experience plaids just get in the way at formal events whether dining or dancing and tend to look a bit O.T.T.-- the exception being the groom at a wedding.

As Rocky has pointed out, it's not the pleats that make a kilt formal, but rather the style of jacket and accessories.

[piperdbh]

It would be "okay", depending on what the wearer plans to do. If he's standing still getting married, then I (as one of few fans of the fly plaid) say, "Sure. Go ahead and wear it." If the wearer plans on dancing, or being outside in the breeze, then it's probably better to leave it at home.

[cable scot]

With or at an aceptable level of formality in the venue and accessories, I'd say it's fine. I'm also a fan of the fly plaid even if I don't get to wear them much.

[Jock Scot]

I'd generally suggest "no", regardless of the pleating of the kilt. But then I'd also voice a "no" to belted plaid, a piper's plaid, or a lairds plaid. In my experience plaids just get in the way at formal events whether dining or dancing and tend to look a bit O.T.T.-- the exception being the groom at a wedding.

As Rocky has pointed out, it's not the pleats that make a kilt formal, but rather the style of jacket and accessories.

Sage quality advice here.