Fly plaid question

[prattw]

Assuming that we're talking about a piece that is the full width of the bolt, from selvedge to selvedge and roughly square, the simplest treatment is to fringe the cut edges about 1 inch deep. You wear the plaid over your left shoulder. Set it up so that one of the selvedge edges will lie next to your neck. Fold the corner that will be the end over your shoulder into deep pleats, decreasing in width from bottom (against your jacket) to top. Secure the pleats with very small safety pins hidden in the folds. If your jacket has epaulets, the pleated end of your plaid goes under the left one. The end should be about level with your jacket's upper (or only) button. Fasten the plaid to your jacket (carefully!) with safety pins. The brooch is a decorative accent. You don't HAVE to have one,and in a pinch a clan badge will work nicely. Just fasten the brooch to the material of the plaid, the hidden pins will hold the plaid in place. There are much more complicated things you can do to make a permanent fly plaid but this is the quick and dirty way to convert a square of tartan quickly into a very passable fly plaid.

[Oops. Reread and noticed the bit about no jacket. You see the fly plaid worn with just a shirt more and more often. However, be aware that the fly plaid is an element of black tie or above in formality, and you may encounter some critics. Depends upon whether the Tartan Police have an officer observing the wedding you're going to.]

Will Pratt