How to wear a fly plaid?

[kilty]

OK, I know it goes over the left shoulder through the shoulder strap.

Mine has stitching near the top of the plaid to keep the folds together (I assume). Now the questions:

1- how far down the front of the shoulder do I position the plaid? Is the stitching also a marker? For example, should the stitching on the plaid be positioned under the shoulder flap?

2- where do I put the brooch in relation to the plaid? Up near the shoulder strap or further down? Do I put it over the stitching?

[ForresterModern]

1-yes the stitched section should be roughly centered under your left shoulder epaulet

2-several options; modern tradition says wear your plaid brooch as a counterweight attached a few inches up from the corner of the front of your plaid, but don't pin it to you jacket, just let the weight do the work; other folks are starting to wear the broach on the shoulder epaulet as this is showing up in numerous older photos and paintings---here I might pin through the epaulet and into the plaid, as otherwise there is nothng keeping the small front section from slipping back through the epaulet pulled by the weight of the larger back section of the plaid

wear it with pride, either way. just make sure your plaid and kilt match.

[kilty]

Hmmm... this pic would suggest that you can wear the fly plaid over either shoulder. Correct?

http://www.xmarksthescot.com/photopl...e.php?n=22&w=o

[JolyStNicholas]

As the ol saying goes "A picture is worth a thousand words"!

[Colonel MacNeal]

I see right shoulder fly plaids as well. They are the minority but I still see them once in a while. What is the standard, and where did it come from?

[cavscout]

Is this the "traditional" section?

I imagine the tradition relates back to the right arm being your sword arm so you wanted it to have free movement or some other relation to hand preference. Given that, I'd say it's very reasonable for a left handed person to wear the plaid over the right shoulder. Just my opinion, YMMV.

[wyldathart]

I have to agree with Cavscout. alot of clothing traditions are so that men could operate our sword arm. Like mens clothes buttons. They are oposite of women so that we can undo our buttons with out left while drawing a sword with our right I'm thinking the same applies to the plaids

[piperdbh]

...mens clothes buttons. They are oposite of women so that we can undo our buttons with out left while drawing a sword with our right

How often do you have to undress while fencing?

[The Barry]

How often do you have to undress while fencing?

Only after the most exciting dinner parties!

It's not how often you undress while fencing, it's that a true gentleman must be able to undress while fencing at a moment's notice.

Why, you ask? Tradition!

[David Dalglish]

Cavscout is correct if you are right handed you should wear it over you left shoulder & vice verca. It is so that the plaid does not interfear with your sword arm. Thats my opinion.