The Place of the Breacan Feile

[Sir William]

I wear the breacan feile for living history purposes. I can't imagine wearing it in place of the modern kilt for a formal event or day wear.

[M. A. C. Newsome]

I would agree with those who say that the proper context for wearing the belted plaid is for living history. It's an historical garment, worn from the end of the sixteenth century through the eighteenth (there were some worn as late as the 1820s but not as regular clothing by any means). So incorporating it into modern day dress would be a bit like trying to pass off a Tricorn hat as contemporary attire.


Once, a few years ago, I decided to test out what Thompson said and see just how suitable a belted plaid may be for modern dress. I had a length of Highland Granite tartan in 16 oz Lochcarron strome. I sewed in pleats at the waist only and added belt loops. I made matching tartan cadadh. Everything else was modern Highland attire.

I gave it a go at a local Burns Supper. Here's the results.



Now, it doesn't look half bad, and I'll admit I did get compliments that evening. However, I'll also say our local Burns Supper is a fairly low-key affair. Personally, though, I found the whole thing rather cumbersome, especially for a formal sit down dinner.

That was the only time I wore that as a feilidh-mor. I remade it as a tailored kilt, and this is what the outfit looks like now (with the addition of diced hose and better shoes).


In my opinion, far more neat looking and far more comfortable to wear!

Someone mentioned the "half-plaids" I have made. I wrote about these in a blog post back in 2008.
http://kiltmaker.blogspot.com/2008/0...ats-plaid.html

In that blog post I am wearing the plaid with daywear, but yes, I have worn it with evening attire.


I think it looks fine, and more accurately reflects the look of a traditional belted plaid than the modern day flay plaid. Again, I found it rather cumbersome to wear for a formal dinner, but as far as that goes I prefer no plaid at all! But if one is going to wear a plaid, I do favor this style over and above the fly plaid.