Fly plaid advice.

[Downunder Kilt]

Queen Elizabeth I's reign was 1558–1603 (The Elizabethan period) and as such belted plaids were the only highland kilt (1594 was the first documented mention of the belted plaid) There were no fly plaids as we know them today, there was no little kilt. I can't imagine that there were formal and day belted plaids at that time. I really don't think that the website you refer to, has too much in the way of documented facts, more romanticised wishing than anything

[OC Richard]

I just finished reading an interesting bit of Scottish and tartan history. It seems that before the Elizabethan Period, kilts and fly plaids were mixed with no particular attempt at matching (great kilts excepted, of course). Early portraits reportedly show Highlanders wearing whatever colors came to hand. In the Battle of Culloden...

Let's hold on a minute... you're mixing up various time periods, seperated by hundreds of years.

If by "Elizabethan period" you mean c1600, there was no such thing as a "fly plaid" and in fact we don't have any portraits or clear depictions of how Highlanders dressed at that time; we do have a woodcut from 1641 showing the various ways the Great Kilt or Belted Plaid was worn.

The Great Kilt wasn't seperated into two seperate garments until sometime during the 18th century; experts have gone back and forth, but in any case by 1800 the Highland regiments were wearing Little Kilts and "belted plaids" to simulate the look of the old Great Kilt.

I must emphasize that the "belted plaid" was a nonfunctional thing the sole purpose of which was to simulate the appearance of the old Great Kilt, therefore it was always in the same tartan as the kilt. On the other hand the long plaid, wrapped around the body, was a seperate garment and was often of a different tartan.

In any case, if you're seriously interested in the history of Highland Dress, that wedding planning site is of no use.

Rather you should read books on the subject which contain genuine research and give all their sources. My go-to books are

Old Irish & Highland Dress by HF McClintock (for traditional Irish dress, and it's the best overview of the original sources for early Highland Dress)

The Uniforms & History of the Scottish Regiments by Major R Money Barnes (great information about the evolution of Scottish military dress)

[David Thorpe]

"This guy" has some problems of inaccuracy. The plaid "simply folded and... ...worn hanging straight down over either shoulder" is a day plaid, sometimes called a laird's plaid, but most definitely not a piper's plaid, which by the way is usually pleated -- not folded.
It should be no surprise that he also advocates the practice of wearing different tartans together -- just one additional faux pas.

On one very unique occasion, I wore a plaid of a different tartan from my kilt. The kilt was my clan tartan and the plaid was actually a scarf of my mother's, in her clan tartan. The occasion was her funeral. The point here is that if you do choose to wear two different tartans together, it should be for a very important and meaningful reason. People who know proper THCD will wonder at best, and think you ignorant and/or foolish at worst, even if they do not ask.

THCD is very conservative by American standards, and is decidedly not about the bling, or how much costume you can hang on your body at one time. Whatever you do with it, do it with as much class as you can muster, with respect for a very proud and worthy tradition, or kindly don't do it at all.

[Sir Didymous]

"This guy" has some problems of inaccuracy. The plaid "simply folded and... ...worn hanging straight down over either shoulder" is a day plaid, sometimes called a laird's plaid, but most definitely not a piper's plaid, which by the way is usually pleated -- not folded.
It should be no surprise that he also advocates the practice of wearing different tartans together -- just one additional faux pas.

On one very unique occasion, I wore a plaid of a different tartan from my kilt. The kilt was my clan tartan and the plaid was actually a scarf of my mother's, in her clan tartan. The occasion was her funeral. The point here is that if you do choose to wear two different tartans together, it should be for a very important and meaningful reason. People who know proper THCD will wonder at best, and think you ignorant and/or foolish at worst, even if they do not ask.

THCD is very conservative by American standards, and is decidedly not about the bling, or how much costume you can hang on your body at one time. Whatever you do with it, do it with as much class as you can muster, with respect for a very proud and worthy tradition, or kindly don't do it at all.

Well, I am of close Ferguson decent and an ordained minister. The idea was to try and show both pride in my lieage, and that I take my ministry serious. I asked because I don't want to be inconsiderate of tradition. I have considered the use of a day plaid, but the tartan hasn't been decided on. But I am more concerned with formal occasions right now, hence asking about fly plaids. I had intended to wear the kilt in Ferguson ancient and the plaid in Clergy ancient so that the light blues would compliment one another. However now I am thinking more along the lines of Clergy tartan kilt and plaid with a clan crested brooch. I was planning to have a plaid and kilt set in each tartan, and I may try this mix for stricly experimental reasons and post the photos here for the rabble. I wouldn't wear it in public until I get a sense of what it looks like. Because after all, everything is a good idea to the one who thinks it up, and it always looks awsome in the mind's eye.

[Gryphon noir]

George M. Stephen.jpg

Here is an example of a plaid of a different tartan being worn with a kilt. I believe both are Gordon tartans, but they do appear to be different. The uniform could possibly be connected with the Forfar Militia, circa 1886.

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

Well, I am of close Ferguson decent and an ordained minister. The idea was to try and show both pride in my lieage, and that I take my ministry serious. I asked because I don't want to be inconsiderate of tradition. I have considered the use of a day plaid, but the tartan hasn't been decided on. But I am more concerned with formal occasions right now, hence asking about fly plaids. I had intended to wear the kilt in Ferguson ancient and the plaid in Clergy ancient so that the light blues would compliment one another. However now I am thinking more along the lines of Clergy tartan kilt and plaid with a clan crested brooch. I was planning to have a plaid and kilt set in each tartan, and I may try this mix for stricly experimental reasons and post the photos here for the rabble. I wouldn't wear it in public until I get a sense of what it looks like. Because after all, everything is a good idea to the one who thinks it up, and it always looks awsome in the mind's eye.

I honestly have to say that (at least in Scotland) I don't think I've ever seen a member of the clergy wearing anything other than their clan tartan. The only exception that comes to mind was the chaplain at Lee Castle, who usually wore a Peter of Lee tartan kilt when at the Lee, rather than his own MacDonald kilt.

[David Thorpe]

Well, I am of close Ferguson decent and an ordained minister. The idea was to try and show both pride in my lieage, and that I take my ministry serious. I asked because I don't want to be inconsiderate of tradition. I have considered the use of a day plaid, but the tartan hasn't been decided on. But I am more concerned with formal occasions right now, hence asking about fly plaids. I had intended to wear the kilt in Ferguson ancient and the plaid in Clergy ancient so that the light blues would compliment one another. However now I am thinking more along the lines of Clergy tartan kilt and plaid with a clan crested brooch. I was planning to have a plaid and kilt set in each tartan, and I may try this mix for stricly experimental reasons and post the photos here for the rabble. I wouldn't wear it in public until I get a sense of what it looks like. Because after all, everything is a good idea to the one who thinks it up, and it always looks awsome in the mind's eye.

I understand a little better now. Thank you.
If it were me, and I fully understand that it isn't, for formal occasions, I would wear the clergy tartan kilt for church-related events, or the clan tartan kilt for all others. Traditionally, fly plaids are worn only for very special occasions -- a groom at his wedding and maybe a graduate at his graduation ceremony, making the wearing of a fly plaid traditionally a very rare occasion indeed. They are, however worn far more often here in the US, tradition quite aside. I blame Hollywood.

I have made and currently own two fly plaids, one of which is now for sale with the matching kilt, and the other in my clan tartan. I have never worn either of them. I also recently sewed a long plaid but will not likely wear it except to Ren Fair -- one weekend per year.

The point is, that traditionally, the plaid is not a normal part of TCHD and should not be viewed as such, IMHO.

[Sir Didymous]

I am still rather new to kilts, April of last year was the first I ever had to deal with them. I love the style of the great kilt, I would assume that's the reenactor in me. So I pondered on the notion of trying to incorperate a great kilt into my formal attire, but that is a very complicated thing to do as is evident from the large quantity of debate here in this forum on that very subject. So in the mind of an Ameican noob, a fly plaid was the next option. I have however (still feeling the reenactor part of me scream) decided to go with a Kenmore doublet and jabot in a color suited for use with either tartan, and the kilt. I will reserve the corosponding plaids for only the occasional situation where I am being held in some specific honor (it does happen every now and then).

[David Thorpe]

A Kenmore doublet and jabot are a fine choice for full-formal evening wear (especially white tie), and too formal for nearly everything else. A Prince Charlie would be a more versatile choice for formal evening wear (except for white tie), and a tweed Argyle jacket would cover everything else down to casual, for both day and evening.
Try not to worry too much about matching a jacket (or hose, tie or shirt) to the colors of your tartan(s). That is another largely American trait, sometimes referred to here on Xmarks as "matchy-matchy". Somewhere between there and "clashy-clashy" is the sweet spot.
It would be good to develop a clear separation in your mind between reenactment costume and traditional Scottish attire. They are two entirely different things.

[TheOfficialBren]

George M. Stephen.jpg

Here is an example of a plaid of a different tartan being worn with a kilt. I believe both are Gordon tartans, but they do appear to be different. The uniform could possibly be connected with the Forfar Militia, circa 1886.

Actually, they are the same tartan. Look again. See the double lines on the fly plaid? They correspond with the kilt.
This photo is very old and photos from that period are often difficult subjects for the purpose at hand. Easily mistaken, though.

I second David's opinion regarding fly plaids and also about "matchy-matchy." He is one of the beacons of AHCD (American Highland Civilian Dress).