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.