Fly Plaid Question!!!????

[Caradoc]

Hi,

Oh, the one I have is definitely a fly plaid, NOT the smaller one you describe. So, I'll give it a try. I've a nice clan-crest brooch to secure it with.

Sandy

No... You don't want to do that.

Quoting from Thompson's "So You're Going to Wear the Kilt":

"This is one of the commonest mistakes made by American wearers of Scottish attire. One sees pictures of Americans at Highland Games accompanying visiting chiefs from Scotland. If the Scot has any tartan above the waist, it is the folded plaid laid over the shoulder. The American will have an evening plaid fastened at the shoulder by a "poached-egg" brooch. The contrast is appalling."

He continues:

"In my personal opinion (which anyone is free to disagree with) the evening plaid is even too dressy to go well with the Prince Charlie coatee."

Further:

"The evening plaid is a rectangle of tartan pleated at one end, that attaches to the waist with a belt or tape. The other three sides are fringed like the ends of a piper's plaid, and there is a knot of fringe midway of the end opposite the pleated end."

To reiterate - if you're going to wear the plaid with daywear, NO BROOCH. Fold it and lay it over your shoulder. And anything with a waist fastener is too formal to go with daywear.

[bikercelt1]

Not to say that it's right, but in the Portland area I frequently see people wearing a fly plaid with day wear or even pinned to a Jacobite shirt. The trailing end is always left hanging. (The only people who tuck their fly paid in are the Renfaire visitors who are trying to look like their wearing a great kilt.) Not to say it's correct, but it is common practice here.

Jamie

[Robin]

I think the fly plaid (the dirk also btw) can be worn with a Montrose Doublet or a SherrifMuir Doublet..."white tie" events...Think royalty...Ascot...extremely rare high society stuff only.

Not sure about the Regulation Doublet...it's a white tie outfit and you can wear (miniature) medals on it.

Normal "dress" (Argyll Jacket) and "black tie" (Prince Charlie Jacket) events...no fly plaid, no medals and no dirk. We often see fly plaids worn with PC Jackets, but I guess that's because sellers want to sell us stuff.

It's a bit like the off white hose and the Ghillie Brogues I guess.

Okey...I know...I must run for my life now

[macwilkin]

I think the fly plaid (the dirk also btw) can be worn with a Montrose Doublet or a SherrifMuir Doublet..."white tie" events...Think royalty...Ascot...extremely rare high society stuff only.

Not sure about the Regulation Doublet...it's a white tie outfit and you can wear (miniature) medals on it.

Normal "dress" (Argyll Jacket) and "black tie" (Prince Charlie Jacket) events...no fly plaid, no medals and no dirk. We often see fly plaids worn with PC Jackets, but I guess that's because sellers want to sell us stuff.

It's a bit like the off white hose and the Ghillie Brogues I guess.

Okey...I know...I must run for my life now

Robin,

Respectfully have to disagree with you regarding miniature medals and the Prince Charlie. The Prince Charlie is "black tie", and medals and decorations, if requested by the invitation to an event are appropriate.

Cheers,

Todd

[GlassMan]

I know that normally I'm one of those who likes to follow tradition as much as possible, but in this case I have to admit that this is something that I don't quite agree with.

For Argyles & daywear tweeds I have been known to fold a fly plaid and lay it across my shoulder. I find that it is both comfortable yet elegant. Although I do tend to still use a pin of some kind to keep it from falling off. When I wear a plaid this is by far the most common way.

As for evening wear, personally I have no problem with someone wearing a fly plaid with their formal wear in any situation where a tuxedo or better would be appropriate. In America formal events are few and far between so we might as well enjoy the opportunities that present themselves.

And to my eyes, a plaid with a Prince Charlie looks quite nice. I find the Sheriff Muir & Montrose Doublets to be a bit too fanciful for my tastes.

But those comments refer only to the evening plaids (big squares of cloth with fringed edges). I personally would never wear a piper's or drummer's plaid unless I happened to be in a pipe band.

However, as I stated, this is one situation where I diverge from the more traditional "rules" of attire. And let's be honest, there are no tartan police that will issue a citation if you diverge a little from absolute adherence to custom.

[Robin]

Robin,

Respectfully have to disagree with you regarding miniature medals and the Prince Charlie. The Prince Charlie is "black tie", and medals and decorations, if requested by the invitation to an event, such as a Burns Supper, are appropriate.

Cheers,

Todd

You're right, in the USA this is a dress code.

I guess different countries have different rules regarding medals.
Wearing a kilt, the appropriate jacket and outfit does not overrule national dress code.

Vive la difference!

[macwilkin]

You're right, in the USA this is a dress code.

I guess different countries have different rules regarding medals.
Wearing a kilt, the appropriate jacket and outfit does not overrule national dress code.

Vive la difference!

Actually, my source for this comes from a Canadian brochure for the proper wear of medals and decorations. :mrgreen:

Here's what the Royal Canadian Mounted Police has to say about it, for example:

When wearing Mess Kit or black tie, miniature orders, decorations and medals are worn.

-- http://www.rcmp-learning.org/docs/ecdd1272.htm#drress

Cheers,

Todd