Fly plaid with a black kilt

[The Wizard of BC]

OK, you may have been told this. And I'm not trying to be argumentative. But no Tartan weaver that I am familiar with even lists this design in their stock Tartans listings.

The date of its design is clearly listed in the official document publish by the The National Records of Scotland - "The Scottish Register of Tartan".

[Jock Scot]

this is true but, many weavers consider this an ancient tartan for one reason or another.

Forgive me if I have gone up the wrong track here, but I wonder if you have misunderstood the meaning of "ancient" in the tartan context? Ancient can mean very old of course and that is the usual meaning, but in tartan terms "ancient" means a lighter hue in the colours of the tartan and NOT, very old.

There are three main hues of tartan; "modern" which is the darker more bold colouring, "ancient" is the same tartan but with lighter colours and then there is "weathered" tartan where the colours can change a little from the more easily identifiable "modern"and "ancient" tartan. There are other descriptions of tartan hues used such as "muted" too, but "modern" "ancient" and "weathered" are the most common terms used.

Interestingly and somewhat confusingly in tartan terms, or probably more correctly, in tartan weaving terms , "modern" tartan hues are older in time scale than the "ancient' and "weathered" tartans which are fairly new to the scene. Basically it is a way of selling more tartan by giving the customer more choice. Does that all make sense? I hope so!

[mm42]

I bought a fly plaid for my wedding but don't expect to get any more wear out of it other than for my wife to wear with a dark coloured dress when I'm kilted.

I'd not worry too much about spending a lot on one.

[McMurdo]

The Stephenson tartan is available through Scotweb. It does not appear to be all that rare. I will second what Jock says about Ancient vs Modern tartans.


https://www.scotweb.co.uk/tartan/Ste...erm=Stephenson

I also must agree with the others, a fly plaid and kilt in different tartans, or one in black is something I've never seen before. Perhaps you could go to someone like USA Kilts here is the page on the USA Kilts site for Stephenson Ancient

https://www.usakilts.com/gallery/13-...n-ancient/view

[WalesLax]

To pile on, I don't wear a fly-plaid as a piper, but our color guard does, as do some of the other bands. The color guard likes having the extra layer when it's cold, but the positives stop there. Everyone I've spoken to in a band that wears them seem not to like them.

I have a fly plaid that matches a really nice kilt I own, and it mostly sits on a shelf or gets worn as a wrap to match me when I wear the kilt it matches.

I will also say that you could end up with a cool look - just one I haven't seen before.

Rob

[ctbuchanan]

Here in the northeast USA - particularly in NYC - I have seen Irish bands with a saffron kilt and a fly plaid in tartan, and with a black fly as well.
I have also seen Irish bands with a tartan kilt and a saffron fly.

When I say Irish bands I am really referring to the many police and fire department bands that were started by the Irish members which dominated those departments in years gone by, nothing more. That's what we call them in these parts, correctly or not.

I'm thinking if you put it together the right way it might look ok.

That said I wore a fly plaid once to a formal event, found it cumbersome and a bit of an affectation, have never worn it since. Others I'm sure feel differently.

CTB

[Taskr]

I would love to get one but my family tartan is not very common and as such takes an already expensive kilt and makes it even more so. The Kilt is something I am saving up for but will take me a couple years to save up for with the little amount of money that I make. So I figured it would be easier to start with the fly plaid first.

I get what you're saying. Been there. However, there isn't really a "start with the fly plaid" since this is an item specific to a higher level of dress and is rarely worn. It is not as if the FP can somehow be used later to fabricate the kilt. A FP is not inexpensive either - and still has to be produced in your preferred tartan. Perhaps you might want to take that amount you'd spend on a FP and make that your seed money for saving for a kilt, which might not be as difficult or expensive as you imagine. Research a bit.

[dcommini]

It is not as if the FP can somehow be used later to fabricate the kilt.

No, but it can be used as an earasaid for a wee lass, depending on the size of said lass and the Fly Plaid

Ryv-Pix.jpg

This is my oldest wearing my Sport Kilt FP as an earasaid to the TN Ren Faire about 2 years ago. I've also used it as a small GK for my middle child just goofing around.

[McKerrell]

It has always been taught around me that the fly can be any tartan you wish. Certainly it need not match your kilt.

[Jock Scot]

Well yes and no. The plaid, if you must wear one, does not have to exactly match the tartan of the kilt, i.e. Taken from the same bolt of cloth. A good example of this is the Atholl Highlanders who wear several hues of tartan of the same Clan.

Where what you are saying, if I understand you correctly, is that any tartan -------plaid and kilt---- can be worn together and that is at odds with normal convention. Mixing MacKarrot tartan with MacOnion tartan for example, is an absolute no-no in any circle that I am aware of. Even these days where inter-Clan feuds no longer exist the mixing of tartan from different Clans can cause upset on occasion. I have to be honest here, but I think it would be unwise for you to continue thinking as you do on this matter if you come to Scotland.

In this case all tartans are, very much, not the the same cloth.