Piper's plaid/Full plaid with an Argyll jacket?

[kypnkilt]

A pipers plaid is for...pipers....(but not all the time) and usually in full regalia. Granted, they do look nice, but cumbersome and definitely overkill in a formal situation. I reserve wearing a fly plaid for formal occasions which isn't very often. When I am piping I rarely wear a pipers plaid...as a matter of fact I can think of only 2 occasion I have done so. Hated them both times....They have their place, but for formal occasion, I would say "no".

[piperdbh]

From what I understand the piper's plaid is more "uniform" than "vintage".
I prefer the look of a fly plaid, especially if you'll be outside where the breeze can tug at it. Even inside, it adds a touch of color and (to me) completes the formal look. I know many don't like them, and of course "to each his own."
I hope you enjoy the event, however you dress.

[Nanook]

A pipers plaid is for...pipers....(but not all the time)

And not just for pipers.. What is typically called a piper's plaid is really a full plaid, in contrast, to the smaller half plaid which is often called a "drummer's plaid" because they get worn by drummers. Pipers when they wear a plaid tend to wear a full plaid. Drummers tend to wear the half plaid since they need the movement. Both are pleated. Fly plaids are pretty much poor man's half plaids (an piece of cloth with fringes but lacking pleats). Both full and half plaids are, however, not exclusive to bandsmen just as Inverness capes, Glengarry bonnets and kilts are not exclusive to pipers---- even if one is often asked where the bagpipes are.

and usually in full regalia.

Within the No.1 regimental dress. This, however, does not mean that a civilian needs to wear a No.1 dress jacket to wear a plaid.

Granted, they do look nice,

They can look nice.. or look overdone.. I don't think it would work well with a day jacket but a black Argyll might work with non matching plaids--- as once tradition. With a doublet, given our expectations, I think they need match the kilt and with matching plaid and kilt, given our expectations, I think one would need to wear a doublet... The style of wearing a full plaid with No.1 dress, however, and the style of wearing one with a civilian jacket should be different. A coatee with a plaid? Why not? A half plaid is probably more fitting to party but they do, in my opinion, look fine and I might say better than the current fashion of fly plaids..