Formal dress accesories

[AFS1970]

I will put myself in the minority here about the fly plaid, however they are of limited use. Because of when I first got my formal wear, and how my family was involved with my local St. Andrew's society, there was a lot of information and a lot of misinformation. I regret not getting my fly plaid when I got my kilt. Since I bought them separately they are from different kiltmakers, different mills and it shows up close.

However I really only wore it once a year, there just were not the opportunity that I thought there would be. To my mind it ads a sort of intermediate level between black tie and white tie and does not fit into every event.

So I would say, if you can buy it now, and you think you will have some use for it, do so. Think about where and how often you will be kilted in a formal setting and decide accordingly. I can't say that this will ever be an always or never answer.

[Jock Scot]

I will put myself in the minority here about the fly plaid, however they are of limited use. Because of when I first got my formal wear, and how my family was involved with my local St. Andrew's society, there was a lot of information and a lot of misinformation. I regret not getting my fly plaid when I got my kilt. Since I bought them separately they are from different kiltmakers, different mills and it shows up close.

However I really only wore it once a year, there just were not the opportunity that I thought there would be. To my mind it ads a sort of intermediate level between black tie and white tie and does not fit into every event.

So I would say, if you can buy it now, and you think you will have some use for it, do so. Think about where and how often you will be kilted in a formal setting and decide accordingly. I can't say that this will ever be an always or never answer.

I would not worry about the tartans differing in shade of colours. The Atholl Highlanders are not in the least bothered about it and the last time I watched them at a parade there were at least four very different versions of plaid colours for the Murray tartan.

[Troglodyte]

I will put myself in the minority here about the fly plaid, however they are of limited use. Because of when I first got my formal wear, and how my family was involved with my local St. Andrew's society, there was a lot of information and a lot of misinformation. I regret not getting my fly plaid when I got my kilt. Since I bought them separately they are from different kiltmakers, different mills and it shows up close.

However I really only wore it once a year, there just were not the opportunity that I thought there would be. To my mind it ads a sort of intermediate level between black tie and white tie and does not fit into every event.

So I would say, if you can buy it now, and you think you will have some use for it, do so. Think about where and how often you will be kilted in a formal setting and decide accordingly. I can't say that this will ever be an always or never answer.

I would agree...

Having been left with two and a half yards of cloth when I had my last kilt made (I had bought the end of a 'piece' and it was more than enough for the kilt) the kiltmaker suggested a plaid should be made from the remainder. A 'belted-plaid' was the choice, being fuller and heavier than a fly-plaid.

Whilst essentially decorative, it is also a practical garment - long enough to cover my shoulders, and wrap up those of my lady-love who clings close as we scamper through the sleet after having danced the night away.

[figheadair]

I would agree...

Having been left with two and a half yards of cloth when I had my last kilt made (I had bought the end of a 'piece' and it was more than enough for the kilt) the kiltmaker suggested a plaid should be made from the remainder. A 'belted-plaid' was the choice, being fuller and heavier than a fly-plaid.

Whilst essentially decorative, it is also a practical garment - long enough to cover my shoulders, and wrap up those of my lady-love who clings close as we scamper through the sleet after having danced the night away.

Do you mean a Half Plaid? A Belted Plaid is the term usually used to refer to the Feileadh Mor or Breacan an Fheileadh.

[Troglodyte]

It may well be known as a half-plaid, but I have always known it as a belted-plaid (quite distinct from its historic name-sake that it emulates) as it is attached with a belt.

Mine is a bit like the top half of a breacan feile, that has been sewn up into pleats like the back of the kilt, and with a belt that holds it in place at the waist. The sewn-in pleats give the impression that it is a continuation of the pleated secton of the kilt, and not quite that wide. It is fringed along the top and both ends, and needs to be held at the shoulder with a brooch.

Positioning of the brooch allows the plaid to open fully, across the shoulders and arms, and the amount of material means that it can be drawn up into folds and drapes in a decorative way if desired. It's actually not much shorter in length than a normal plaid, and is quite pratical in a cape-like way.

Apart from being more than decoration, I think it looks much better than a fly-plaid - but having said that all that, I have to admit mine has only seen action a couple of times, and is by no means part of the regular outfit..!

[Troglodyte]

The splendid fellow on the far left of this picture seems to be wearing what I am talking about, only mine might have more material as it is long enough to easily cover cuff-to-cuff while going around the shoulders when opened.

Kilt23.jpg

[Nemuragh]

The splendid fellow on the far left of this picture seems to be wearing what I am talking about, only mine might have more material as it is long enough to easily cover cuff-to-cuff while going around the shoulders when opened.

Kilt23.jpg

This type was described in some detail by Matthew Newsome: https://albanach.org/now-thats-a-plaid-b4003e2da1f8 .

[Troglodyte]

Something like this

images.jpg

but the pleats don't extend quite far forward.

[12stones]

This type was described in some detail by Matthew Newsome: https://albanach.org/now-thats-a-plaid-b4003e2da1f8 .

Great article by Matt regarding the plaid. I'll never have the occasion to wear one, but do like the look of this over that of the fly plaid.