The danger of not wearing a fly plaid, because the occasion is not formal enough, is that the occasion will never be formal enough. And so the fly plaid will never be worn. Ever.

When I was very young and we were living in India, I remember my parents going out for an evenings dancing. My mother always wore a beautiful emerald green silk dress and my father wore white tie and tails. If they went out to dine, my father wore his dinner suit (black tie). They wore this because 1) that's what white people in India did and 2) they were going out dancing or dining, so they wore the right clothing.

Today, white tie is reserved for the uberformal occasions, which are becoming rarer and rarer. If the fly plaid is too formal for a Burns Night, then so to is the Montrose and the Sherrifmuir. Where will it end - the Argyle with silver buttons is too formal? Should everything be dumbed down to boots and scrunched down hose?

I am talking about a time only 50 years ago. Is that long ago enough to be traditional? I do not think it would hurt to re-claim those standards of refinement.

If we wanted to hide in the crowd, we wouldn't wear a kilt. I see nothing wrong in wearing the fly plaid to a Burns Night.

Regards

Chas