Fly Plaid Question!!!????

**David Dalglish** · 14th February 08, 08:12 AM

Flyplaids in Scotland are as rare as hens teeth. I would not wear one even at the most formal of events--They are too Brigadoonish for my liking & to wear one without a jacket, looks stupid in my opinion.

**Bob C** · 14th February 08, 10:30 AM

I wouldn't wear it for daywear, but I wear it whenever I wear my Prince Charlie.

I LIKE it.

**McClef** · 14th February 08, 03:05 PM

Like many other things it does boil down to individual preference and taste and alas David I cannot agree about the "Brigadoonish" bit.

It's a charming musical with a crap plot and the clothing used in the film version is anachronistic and if anything more Victorian than anything else. The fly plaids only really come into play in the wedding scene (surely a formal event) where they add movement and elegance to the dancing.

One takes it for what it is - an MGM 1950s spectacular, not intended to show Scotland in either 1750s or the 1950s; a dream sequence which was never intended to be a fashion setter - I mean who would dream of wearing trews and a sporran?

**macwilkin** · 14th February 08, 03:12 PM

Originally Posted by McClef

I mean who would dream of wearing trews and a sporran?

Not so fast there, Trefor:

T.

**Chef** · 14th February 08, 08:55 PM

I got my first plaid when...oddly enough...I was getting married. I have never worn a fly plaid with a PC. First the jacket wasn't designed for a plaid and second it isn't formal enough. Because of the many events I do, I am at times in the same situation as PiobBear, I'm expected to be all tricked out. So I get a great deal of use from my doublet and plaid. Other than that I would probably only use it every couple of years, as few events call for that level of formality. If that was the case I'm not sure I would even own one.

To me the plaid looks silly for anything but truly formal wear. The analogy I would use is it is like wearing a tail coat. A tailcoat is part of a very formal outfit and it looks good with that outfit. You could wear it to the office with a button-down shirt and a your Father's Day tie but it wouldn't look right to anyone. To those of us who grew up with kilts that is what a plaid looks like when worn incorrectly.

**McClef** · 15th February 08, 04:06 AM

Originally Posted by cajunscot

Not so fast there, Trefor:

T.

OK so at least one did - but I will guess this is a rare example!

Originally Posted by Chef

I got my first plaid when...oddly enough...I was getting married. I have never worn a fly plaid with a PC. First the jacket wasn't designed for a plaid and second it isn't formal enough.

I am amazed that you think that a PC isn't formal enough! I see many more PCs than doublets at formal events and the epaulette on the shoulder certainly allows for the positioning of a fly plaid. I personally don't think the pictures of me with plaid at a Ceilidh and also at the Burns supper look bad or informal in the least.

Clearly how one sees it is a matter of personal preference when it comes to plaids in the first place and whether one prefers a doublet over a PC or not.

**Phil** · 15th February 08, 04:42 AM

It is a shame really that fly plaids are regarded as an oddity nowadays but that is no reason not to wear one. What goes around comes around they say and in a few years maybe everybody will be wearing them again. I don't think they were ever really worn much other than to really formal do's and weddings though - apart from pipe bands that is.

**Panache** · 15th February 08, 07:46 AM

I have two fly plaids and understand that they truly should be worn only on the most formal of times. Though I find that I just can't stop myself from wanting to wear one to at least our yearly formal Burns Night Suppers because they look so dashing.

Perhaps they would be fitting for a formal Victorian Ball? We have several of those those in the Bay Area? Hmmmm...

Cheers

Jamie

**Chef** · 15th February 08, 08:22 AM

Originally Posted by McClef

I am amazed that you think that a PC isn't formal enough! I see many more PCs than doublets at formal events and the epaulette on the shoulder certainly allows for the positioning of a fly plaid. I personally don't think the pictures of me with plaid at a Ceilidh and also at the Burns supper look bad or informal in the least.

Clearly how one sees it is a matter of personal preference when it comes to plaids in the first place and whether one prefers a doublet over a PC or not.

I wear a PC quite often, but I don't wear plaid with it. Your right you do see more PC's than doublets at events and that is because there are relatively few events that call for that level of formality. I understand the desire to wear a plaid but you wouldn't wear white tie and tails to an event that calls for a dinner jacket just because you don't get the chance to wear your tails very often. Obviously you can but it looks out of place.

As to whether the PC is designed for a plaid, the fact that a it has epaulettes is somewhat irrelevant. While the epaulettte does help with a plaid on a doublet it is not there specifically for the plaid. It is a design feature that is common to most kilt jackets.

**Jock Scot** · 15th February 08, 09:45 AM

Originally Posted by Chef

I wear a PC quite often, but I don't wear plaid with it. Your right you do see more PC's than doublets at events and that is because there are relatively few events that call for that level of formality. I understand the desire to wear a plaid but you wouldn't wear white tie and tails to an event that calls for a dinner jacket just because you don't get the chance to wear your tails very often. Obviously you can but it looks out of place.

As to whether the PC is designed for a plaid, the fact that a it has epaulettes is somewhat irrelevant. While the epaulettte does help with a plaid on a doublet it is not there specifically for the plaid. It is a design feature that is common to most kilt jackets.

Looks as though a lemon has been spotted.

Sorry I could not resist it.