[Gaisgeil]

I know there are few concrete answers to these kinds of questions, but I'm curious of everyone's opinion on this. I'm not a fan of the fly plaid (to those of you who are, more power to you, just not my thing) but a piper's plaid or a drummer's plaid is more my style (especially the latter since I'm a drummer!) is it considered improper to wear one of these with an Argyll jacket? I know it's not something I'd do very often, maybe just for very formal occasions. I've seen someone with this before and it looked great! I've read it's sort of against the rules though, as it were.

[Livingston]

I, too, would be interested in this answer. I would think it would be fine but since the Argyll is not as formal as the PC and the fly plaid (of any variety) is definitely formal, I do wonder.

[cavscout]

When I first read the question, my first thought was isn't that style of plaid more for military attire? But...

Check out a few of these pics, specifically the Campbell pics.

http://www.tartansauthority.com/Web/...troduction.asp

I think it looks pretty rugged and appropriate.

[Gaisgeil]

Really what I was thinking was something along the lines of what the bloke on the far right is wearing, just with an Argyll instead of a PC. Though I think that's a fly plaid, hard to tell.

[cavscout]

I mis-understood. I thought you were wnating to wear the plaid inthe fashion that a piper would.

You can get away with a fly-plaid and an argyle though the plaid is so formal looking you may come off as over dressed. I'd only suggest that you don't go over the top with too many accessories and "bling". That might help dilute the formal appearance a bit.

That being said, the occasion and the location should dictate your wardrobe. If everyone else will be in business casual I'd opt for a more low-key outfit. Because the situation dictates so many things with Scottish wear we may need more detailed information to be a real help.

[Prester John]

I have to say 'no.'

The fly plaid should be the height of formality - groom at a wedding, that sort of thing.

With an Argyll jacket, to me (and I stress that it is "to me"), it would look the same as with a tshirt or a "Ghillie" highlander shirt. Out of place, and overdone.

Less is more, when it comes to the fly plaid, I think.

[Planopiper]

I think I see what you're talking about in some of those water colors - Day jackets with plaids wrapped around the chest. There were enough different gentlemen wearing plaids that way to make me think that that was probably not too unusual at that time. But remember, those are all historical documents, not modern fashion guides. I've never seen a plaid worn that way over a day jacket or anything similar, like an argyll jacket. The plaids were worn differently then, too. Modern pipers plaids are carefully folded and the pleats are sewn in. In the old paintings and photos, even of military pipers, the plaids are always much less carefully folded and seem to be almost spread out to cover most of the chest.

You could always try it. See how you like it and what other people think. I'd save it for cool weather, though. A wool blanket wrapped around a wool jacket may be more than you need most of the time.

[Gaisgeil]

Basically the reason I was asking was because I was wondering if there was a way to wear a plaid of some type and avoid a Prince Charlie jacket for a formal/wedding type enviroment. I doubt I'd wear it very often, just to dress up an Argyll jacket. Basically just wanting my cake and to eat it too as it were. Love plaids, hate PCs, love Argylls.

[M. A. C. Newsome]

I say why not. I see no reason that a fly plaid couldn't be worn to dress up an Argylle any less than a Prince Charlie.

I've seen people wearing fly plaids with tweed Argyles for day wear and it looks quite nice. Why not with a black Argyle for formal wear?

If you like plaids, and like Argyles, then by all means combine the two and make no apologies!

M

[gilmore]

Originally Posted by cavscout

When I first read the question, my first thought was isn't that style of plaid more for military attire? But...

Check out a few of these pics, specifically the Campbell pics.

http://www.tartansauthority.com/Web/...troduction.asp

I think it looks pretty rugged and appropriate.

What an interesting set of paintings. There certainly was more variety in what was thought of as proper Scots dress 150 years ago than there is today. Box pleats all the way around the waist, tartan vests made on the bias and even with lapels, one is either cut horizontal at the waist or tucked into the kilt. More than half the men seem to be wearing horse hair sporrans, quite a few hanging well below the bottom edge of the kilt. Most of them wear hose of the same tartan as the kilt, cut on the bias, but some wear hose of a different tartan. Sherrifmuir doublets in tartan--- all with the kilt belt outside the doublet. Most of the plaids are wrapped around the chest. I saw only 2 or 3 wore as modern fly plaids. And I would guess that most of these are what we would call daywear, unless it was the custom in Victorian times to take one's rifle to balls.