The fly-plaid as shown here:



seems to be a rather modern (and cheap) substitute for the belted-plaid, which is a tailored item of dress having sewn-down pleats at its base and the long twisted fringe-tails on the other three sides.



As it's name suggests, it is usually made to be fastened about the wearer's waist with a light belt, and is worn to give the impression of the old brecan-feile, so that it appears to be attached to the kilt in back, being allowed to drape down from the waist behind and then pulled up and worn fastened over the left shoulder with a plaid-brooch. This is an attractive item of dress that should ONLY be worn with evening-wear, and NEVER with a tweed jacket or any sort of informal day dress.

If you want to wear a plaid with daywear, then all you need is 3 and a half yards of double width (54" wide) tartan fabric, fringed at either end with the long twisted fringe-tails. You can then fold it lengthwise a couple of times, then fold it width-wise in the middle and wear it draped over your left shoulder (without a brooch).



For formal occassions, if you are wearing a closed-front doublet, it can be worn folded lengthwise in pleats and passed under the right arm and pulled up over the right shoulder with one end hanging down in front and the other end hanging down in back, with a plaid-brooch fastened to it on the left shoulder, the way that pipers usually wear them.