To plaid or not to plaid.....thats the question??

**creagdhubh** · 12th February 14, 06:51 AM

The 1920s and 30s are much more my speed!

**Nathan** · 12th February 14, 06:46 PM

Originally Posted by creagdhubh

The 1920s and 30s are much more my speed!

I love the look of the Victorian era stuff but I understand the century in which I live.

**creagdhubh** · 13th February 14, 06:05 AM

Originally Posted by Nathan

I love the look of the Victorian era stuff but I understand the century in which I live.

Same here.

**MacCathmhaoil** · 13th February 14, 07:50 AM

There is a photo that has appeared here before of Lord David Douglas-Hamilton and his brother Lord George Douglas-Hamilton, 10th Earl of Selkirk, both wearing full plaids, not fly plaids. I doubt you'd see this or anything close to it today! Not terribly practical attire but quite a striking look none the less.
http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/f...16/index3.html

**OC Richard** · 15th February 14, 06:32 AM

What I see all the time here in the USA is an odd mixing of the classic 20th century Highland evening attire with High Victorian gaudiness, with some 18th century Colonial-like Cullodenness thrown in for good measure. I guess it's the freedom of borrowing from any time-period whatever and throwing it all together.

What I find really interesting is the current wearing of Utilikilts with Renaissance clothing.

**David Thorpe** · 15th February 14, 08:22 AM

The majority of questions posed here are from people unfamiliar with TCHD, mostly in the US, about what they should or should not wear. In many cases, objection is taken to some aspect of proper TCHD, whether due to pure and innocent ignorance or an apparent grating on American sensibilities. There are predominant inclinations toward costumery, mixing Highland wear with more familiar American dress, packing on the maximum bling possible and impatience - wanting the whole ball of wax right now at a rock-bottom price.
I have no solution to offer - just an observation.

**artificer** · 15th February 14, 08:49 AM

Originally Posted by OC Richard

What I see all the time here in the USA is an odd mixing of the classic 20th century Highland evening attire with High Victorian gaudiness, with some 18th century Colonial-like Cullodenness thrown in for good measure. I guess it's the freedom of borrowing from any time-period whatever and throwing it all together.

What I find really interesting is the current wearing of Utilikilts with Renaissance clothing.

You missed the Faux-Braveheart woad face paint and Claymore worn with all the above.

**MacLowlife** · 15th February 14, 04:34 PM

Originally Posted by MacCathmhaoil

There is a photo that has appeared here before of Lord David Douglas-Hamilton and his brother Lord George Douglas-Hamilton, 10th Earl of Selkirk, both wearing full plaids, not fly plaids. I doubt you'd see this or anything close to it today! Not terribly practical attire but quite a striking look none the less.
http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/f...16/index3.html

They are heading to his wedding ( to a "fitness instructor" no less). Other than the good advice about not outdoing the bride, I think one's own wedding is the perfect time to Get Very Dressed Up.

The story of that marriage and the Fitness Instructor's later life is moving, to say the least: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obit...lla-Stack.html
'

**AFS1970** · 15th February 14, 04:49 PM

I have a belted plaid, and since it ties around my waist then drops down before coming back up to my shoulder, I have really never noticed it pulling backwards. The only time it was a factor, was when I was with a color guard and I wore it with a uniform sweater (jumper), that being a more flexible and stretchable garment did tend to allow for more pull. That was solved by keeping a little more of the plaid pulled down int he front.

There is one other plaid factor that I have not seen addressed in this thread yet. It is one I sadly have experience in. I did not follow the advice of some when I ordered my first kilt and that was to order my plaid at the same time. My kilt was ordered from Scotland and my plaid was made here. While they are the same tartan and the thread colors match well enough, there is a slight difference in the pattern, showing that the different mills interpreted the tartan slightly differently. If you saw me wearing the plaid with my kilt, you would probably not notice it without an impolite inspection, but I notice it.

So I will say this, while it adds to the expense, and there may be better things to spend that part of the budget on, if you think you might wear it sometimes with your kilt, get them at the same time so they are a complete match.

**ForresterModern** · 15th February 14, 07:42 PM

Wending our way back to the topic of the OP....

I have worn fly plaids with a couple of my kilts for what were announced to be "black tie" events, thus expecting all to be pretty much dressed to the nines, tuxedoes and evening gowns. It adds a nice tough to the often otherwise boring upper half of one's outfit, definitely something that is not part of the typical tuxedo look.

As a piece of advice, if you do wear one with a nice fly plaid brooch, what I have found works best is taking the (in my case at least) pre-pleated corner of the fly plaid (remember it is pronounced Played) and advancing it back to front under the epaulet of the left shoulder of your jacket at least down over the upper left breast. Pin your plaid brooch through the lower half to third of the pleated portion that is now over or just above your left breast pocket , but do not pin it to the fabric of the jacket itself. In this way it dangles free and acts like a counter weight to the excess fabric of the plaid behind your shoulder. You can tug it back and forth until its look suits your need and feels balanced. In this way you will not have as much tugging of the plaid on the jacket shoulder, and if you should sit on it wrong or it gets tangled with something unexpectedly it will not tear or distort the fabric of the jacket breast or jerk you backwards over your own shoulder----well, at least not so much.

If you wear it do so with comfort, and your comfort will show as confidence in the highland attire you have chosen to wear to the event. Be prepared to be gracious as you may be the center of discussions and questions both in front of you and behind your back. If you are not comfortable you will not wear it with confidence, and if you do not wear it with confidence you will not carry off the "look" as intended. And have some fun---I am sure you deserve to have a good time.