Plaids and Baldricks

[Mr. MacDougall]

Remember that your kilt is clothing, not a uniform or a costume. If your plaid, drawn up on the left, is uncomfortable or unwieldy, draw it up on the right! Problem solved!

[Barry]

Remember that your kilt is clothing, not a uniform or a costume. If your plaid, drawn up on the left, is uncomfortable or unwieldy, draw it up on the right! Problem solved!

Well said that man!


Welcome Buckskin to the best kilt site on the Interweb!

[katmills2005]

Wear what fits you best. With that in mind remember that there are those few individuals that most refer to as "Garb Police" (among a few other not so nice phrases that can't be posted here) who will point out that you are wearing it wrong. Just smile and nod and say you know. That usually confuses them enough that they let it drop without further explanation.

[davedove]

Remember that your kilt is clothing, not a uniform or a costume. If your plaid, drawn up on the left, is uncomfortable or unwieldy, draw it up on the right! Problem solved!

You know, other than saying that's the way you always see it, I can't see why the great kilt would have to be fastened over the left shoulder all the time.

The only thing I can think of is that most people are right handed and it was fastened to the left to keep the right arm, or the weapon arm, free of the garment. It would seem to me if a person was left handed, he could fasten it to the right.

[Finn]

Welcome from West Virginia!

[James MacMillan]

from Sunny Southern California, just outside the back gate of Camp Pendleton!

Easy, simply reverse everything so that your power hand can be useful.

[Nighthawk]

Bare with me, I just joined and this is my first post.
Here's the question: A plaid is worn from the left shoulder,across the back, under the right arm, across to and over the left shoulder, and off the back. This seams to be true whether you are right or left handed.
A baldrick is worn across the right shoulder to the left hip for a right handed draw. The baldrick crosses over the plaid and under the waist belt. That's great, if your right handed! What about us lefties? A few companies make left draw (right hip) baldricks, but that puts the baldrick and the plaid running the same line. Won't look good and woud be rather bunched up. A back draw still has to be worn across the same way. Any suggestions.

Hey there! Welcome to the board!

I actually am a Rennaisance reenactor myself. My research has shown me that the plaid was worn on whichever side leaves the sword arm uninhibited. If you're a lefty, wear the plaid from the right shoulder. Baldrics can be worn on either side, so if you're a lefty, wear it accordingly.

[Donnie]

Wear the plaid and baldric where ever is comfortable. They would have in the past! Protect yourself!

[Nighthawk]

Hey there! Welcome to the board!

I actually am a Rennaisance reenactor myself. My research has shown me that the plaid was worn on whichever side leaves the sword arm uninhibited. If you're a lefty, wear the plaid from the right shoulder. Baldrics can be worn on either side, so if you're a lefty, wear it accordingly.

Having chatted with the wife of our clan chief, I have found that this was only true for men. Women wearing arisaid were generally to wear it either as a shawl, meaning across both shoulders and pinned at the breast bone with a small broach, or over the left shoulder, unless you are a noble, in which case, the arisaid was worn on the right shoulder or over both shoulders (again with a broach in the middle.) There is some debate as to weather or not there is historical prescedent for this, but it's how our clan has decided to do it.

[Nighthawk]

And one more thing--

For those belts and baldrics at a good price, check these guys out:

http://www.ravenswoodleather.com/

There is some great stuff on that site.