Fly Plaid Question!!!????

[McClef]

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.

Well white tie and tails events are pretty few and far between these days and it's a style that peaked before World War II and has been in serious decline ever since. At University balls in St Andrews I only recall one student attending in such gear and he was an American!

I don't think that many today would interpret a "formal dress" invite to mean a doublet rather than a PC or believe that only a lacy jabot can sanctify the presence of a fly plaid. I simply cannot agree that a plaid looks "out of place" on a PC which is, after all, a formal garment, and makes it look, if anything, even more formal.

And I didn't state that a PC was designed for a plaid - I simply observed that "the epaulette on the shoulder certainly allows for the positioning of a fly plaid." Yes epaulettes are a feature of many kilt jackets - you might want to use one on a day jacket for holding your Balmoral etc for example.

But they give you an option which you take advantage of or do not. Just as you decide which formal jacket is your preference. The idea that one type of formal jacket is more formal than another one is totally a new one to me and based pray on what authority?

[Phil]

Well white tie and tails events are pretty few and far between these days and it's a style that peaked before World War II and has been in serious decline ever since. At University balls in St Andrews I only recall one student attending in such gear and he was an American!

I don't think that many today would interpret a "formal dress" invite to mean a doublet rather than a PC or believe that only a lacy jabot can sanctify the presence of a fly plaid. I simply cannot agree that a plaid looks "out of place" on a PC which is, after all, a formal garment, and makes it look, if anything, even more formal.

And I didn't state that a PC was designed for a plaid - I simply observed that "the epaulette on the shoulder certainly allows for the positioning of a fly plaid." Yes epaulettes are a feature of many kilt jackets - you might want to use one on a day jacket for holding your Balmoral etc for example.

But they give you an option which you take advantage of or do not. Just as you decide which formal jacket is your preference. The idea that one type of formal jacket is more formal than another one is totally a new one to me and based pray on what authority?

You are still expected to wear "white tie" for graduation at St. Andrews. I don't know where all these degrees of formality comes from. The dress or regulation doublet is THE white tie formal jacket and as McClef says there are very few events like that nowadays. The PC is very much an evening jacket, however, whereas the doublets such as Montrose, Sheriffmuir & Kenmore may be worn to the more formal day events also, such as weddings. I tend to wear a bow tie if I feel the event is a little less formal and save the jabot for the gala events. I can't imagine anyone coming in for criticism for wearing a plaidie although it is a bit OTT like Simon Cowell's pastiche in "Four weddings and a funeral" but it would not be appropriate at, say, a wedding if it was outshining the groom and best man.

[McClef]

Yes I remember having to wear a white bow tie for my graduation with a winged collar shirt from St Andrews Phil but the rest of my gear was a suit not tails.

And I think you mean Simon Callow - though no doubt many would have liked Simon Cowell to be the "funeral."

[Jack Daw]

Well, I have seen a gentleman wear a white tie, a white waistcoat, and a black PC. Is this not a white tie outfit in which a fly plaid could be included?

[Jock Scot]

Well, I have seen a gentleman wear a white tie, a white waistcoat, and a black PC. Is this not a white tie outfit in which a fly plaid could be included?

Sorry,old chap,a PC and white tie and white waistcoat should not be seen together,just won't do!

If you want to wear a fly plaid then just wear it,but it is wise to know the "conventions" that you are "infringing" before you do.

[McClef]

That combination might seem a little penguinesque

But then we used to call dinner jackets (tuxes) "penguin suits."

[Nanook]

Well white tie and tails events are pretty few and far between these days and it's a style that peaked before World War II and has been in serious decline ever since.

I've been to some formal events over the past few years where people "dressed up" in clothing many would have been embarrassed to been seen taking out the garbage or tending to their garden just a few decades ago.

And I didn't state that a PC was designed for a plaid

What's been designed for the plaid? Frankly I think a drummer's (or fly) plaid can look good or bad. I don't even think that they should match the kilt. A bit off the top? And kilt, silver fur sporran, knife in sock and all the other appurtenances of "highland dress" are not? This used to be called "grandeur".

[McClef]

I've been to some formal events over the past few years where people "dressed up" in clothing many would have been embarrassed to been seen taking out the garbage or tending to their garden just a few decades ago.

Please forgive me but I am not sure what point you are trying to make here. What one dresses in to take out the garbage or do the garden does not seem to link with what one wears on a formal occasion.

What's been designed for the plaid? Frankly I think a drummer's (or fly) plaid can look good or bad. I don't even think that they should match the kilt. A bit off the top? And kilt, silver fur sporran, knife in sock and all the other appurtenances of "highland dress" are not? This used to be called "grandeur".

Very little I would suspect has been designed for a plaid specifically. But many things not designed can go together in symbiosis. Matching and clashing can be difficult issues but with tartans different ones are more likely to clash than match.

[Nighthawk]

So what your all saying is that I should probably not wear a fly plaid with a Sport Kilt?

[Chef]

So what your all saying is that I should probably not wear a fly plaid with a Sport Kilt? :

Only if you pair it with a John Deer cap.