Fly Plaid - Which Shoulder??

[thescot]

If you like a fly plaid, for God's sake, wear one . . . on the left shoulder. I don't care for them and don't wear them, but the vitriol expressed of late in re the plaids is hard to understand. I fear that it is often adopted based on someone else's opinion.

[Chirs]

Who would have ever thought that Fly Plaids and White Hose would create such debate

EVERYTHING in here creates a debate. I think that may be the real reason I joined!

[Cygnus]

I'm not one to criticize somebody that chooses to wear a fly plaid; they are traditional Highland dress, after all. I probably won't ever wear one - all that wool hanging down seems like a snag and a ripped plaid (or jacket) just waiting to happen.

I have to admit that should a circumstance in which I could justify wearing a plaid ever arise, I would be sorely tempted by the half-belted plaid; though I doubt I'd spring for it if it was only going to be worn once.

[Spartan Tartan]

EVERYTHING in here creates a debate. I think that may be the real reason I joined!

Oh I certainly agree. It's one reason I keep returning

[Downunder Kilt]

I'm not one to criticize somebody that chooses to wear a fly plaid; they are traditional Highland dress, after all.

From reading articles on the web i would suggest that the fly plaid is a rather modern invention, not much older than 30 years. I would therefore be hesitant in calling it tradtional. I conceed that the belted plaid and shepherds plaid are traditional as photos of such can be found going back 50years plus.

I personally don't like fly plaids, others do, but I don't think we can really refer to them as tradtional.

[Cygnus]

From reading articles on the web i would suggest that the fly plaid is a rather modern invention, not much older than 30 years. I would therefore be hesitant in calling it tradtional. I conceed that the belted plaid and shepherds plaid are traditional as photos of such can be found going back 50years plus.

I personally don't like fly plaids, others do, but I don't think we can really refer to them as tradtional.

The illustrations from the 1960 edition of "Scottish Tartans and Highland Dress" all show fly plaids (though I admit the author refers exclusively to half-belted plaids). The fact that the illustrator had knowledge of fly plaids as early as 1960 means that this form of plaid is at least 50 years old.

Now, I know many people dislike the MacLeay portraits, but take a look at the fellow in the middle of this one:


He appears to be wearing a fly plaid prior to 1870.

If that's not enough to say they're "traditional", I don't know what is.

[Downunder Kilt]

I shall not go into the merits of MacLeay's portraits and what was and wasn't artistic licence and the fact that we can't see the back of the gentleman that you have cited neither proves or disproves the facts. I have found 50 photos of gents wearing highland plaids in the late 19th century and early 20th and 2 have, what could be referred to as, fly plaids. As for your interpretation of a described half belted plaid as a fly plaid, I'll leave those jumps in description to you. I refer you to Matt Newsomes New Highland House site for excellent description and photos of a half belted plaid

[figheadair]

I'm surprised that no-one has made the connection with the 'rule' for wearing a sgian dubh.

The rule to which I refer is of course an invention based on standardised military rules that exist to ensure uniformity. I don't wear either sgian dubh or fly plaid but when I used to wear the former I wore it on my left b because I'm left handed.

Fly plaids are of course a pseudo relic of the upper portion of a belted plaid which was generally fastened to the left shoulder in order to leave the sword arm unencumbered. The left-handed swordsman would naturally have fastened his plaid to his right shoulder.

Bottom line, unless one is in the military or some other group that insists on standardisation then there is no hard and fast rule so if one wishes to wear either a sgian dubh or fly plaid then where t on the side that is most practice.

[Cygnus]

I shall not go into the merits of MacLeay's portraits and what was and wasn't artistic licence and the fact that we can't see the back of the gentleman that you have cited neither proves or disproves the facts.

You may not be able to see his back, but if you look closely at his left side (just above the hose on his left foot), you can see the fringe from the plaid hanging down. Unless the fellow on the right has a bit of fringed tartan tucked into the back of his kilt, the only explanation for that is that the chap in the middle is wearing what is essentially a fly plaid.

I highly doubt that MacLeay would have added that had the plaid been belted, though I suppose it's a possibility.

As for your interpretation of a described half belted plaid as a fly plaid, I'll leave those jumps in description to you. I refer you to Matt Newsomes New Highland House site for excellent description and photos of a half belted plaid

I didn't realize I had interpreted the half-belted plaid as a fly plaid - my intention was to recommend it as a less-cumbersome alternative.

[Fitzy]

You may not be able to see his back, but if you look closely at his left side (just above the hose on his left foot), you can see the fringe from the plaid hanging down. Unless the fellow on the right has a bit of fringed tartan tucked into the back of his kilt, the only explanation for that is that the chap in the middle is wearing what is essentially a fly plaid.
..............

Good catch, I noticed that too. I right-click saved the pic to my screen so I could enlarge it.

If you follow down the edges of the kilts on the left hand side of the middle Gent, and right hand side of the right hand Gent, you'll see that fringed corner is behind the middle Gent.

Taking the angle of view into account, if the right side Gent has something with fringe hanging from his right side, it somehow is hanging out far enough to be slightly behind the middle Gent,... who is clearly standing further back in the picture than the right hand Gent.

Based on the location of the fringe, and no evidance of it being belted, I think it safe to say that the middle Gent is wearing what today would be called a Fly Plaid.

If so, to date Fly plaids at least as far back as this picture, then all that remains is the artist's accuracy of said picture. While I'm far from an expert on Highland dress, considering how highly detailed this series of pictures are, it's not a stretch to assume that the artist did not 'invent' the fly plaid just for this picture knowing that someday it'd drive us nuts !!!!

Paul