Laird's/Day Plaid

**McMurdo** · 12th February 09, 06:38 PM

There has been some talk of late about Laird's/Day Plaids, a look I find very interesting though I'd never tried it before. So here are the photos that served as inspiration for my outfits over the past few days.

Now this is not a look that I would try out everyday though it was fun to try it out. For myself I found essentially wearing a blanket on your shoulder can be rather cumbersome. Though I can see the utilitarian nature of them, I think I prefer wearing my Inverness Cape for the soggy days we've been having here. Anyway here is my take on a Laird's/Day Plaid.

**Ozman1944** · 12th February 09, 06:57 PM

Well, it certainly looks cosy on a cold, drizzly day. But also looks a bit cumbersome. I'd end up dropping mine in a mud puddle, or trip on it.

duchessofnc · 12th February 09, 07:53 PM

OMG!!!! I love it! It's awesome!

**English Bloke** · 12th February 09, 08:23 PM

Originally Posted by McMurdo

... Anyway here is my take on a Laird's/Day Plaid.

Errr... I Like the outfits generally. Can I be blunt? This looks as though you've left your picnic basket on the back seat of the car.

If I were you I'd take it home and throw it back over the sofa.

And another minor critique. Might I suggest you tip you bonnet a bit higher onto the back of your head. Gives it a more jaunty angle in my opinion.

Sorry, don't worry about it Glen, it's the soldier in me talking. Too many years of trying to look dashing in a beret.

**McMurdo** · 12th February 09, 08:33 PM

Originally Posted by English Bloke

Errr... I Like the outfits generally. Can I be blunt? This looks as though you've left your picnic basket on the back seat of the car.

If I were you I'd take it home and throw it back over the sofa.

And another minor critique. Might I suggest you tip you bonnet a bit higher onto the back of your head. Gives it a more jaunty angle in my opinion.

Sorry, don't worry about it Glen, it's the soldier in me talking. Too many years of trying to look dashing in a beret.

Funny you should say that it is on the back of the sofa.

**Panache** · 12th February 09, 09:09 PM

Originally Posted by English Bloke

... This looks as though you've left your picnic basket on the back seat of the car.

You are on the right track with your thoughts.

The day plaid / lairds plaid is for comfort against the cold and rain,

it is for spreading on the ground for a dry place to sit (and perhaps have lunch),

it is for wrapping children and the ladies in who need shelter from the elements.

It is a utilitarian accessory.

Glen,

You did your homework! Well done

Cheers

Jamie

**English Bloke** · 12th February 09, 10:14 PM

Originally Posted by Panache

... The day plaid / lairds plaid is for comfort against the cold and rain, it is for spreading on the ground for a dry place to sit (and perhaps have lunch), it is for wrapping children and the ladies in who need shelter from the elements. It is a utilitarian accessory...

Agreed but; Is? or was?

Isn't that what the boots (trunks) of cars are for nowadays?

Your obvious chivalry is without question and if you like the look, go ahead Jamie. For me it's a bit err... too much. In this day and age, I can protect my women and children from the elements without lugging around a horse blanket on my shoulder. If it really is raining on our parade I'd be urging my family back to the shelter of our 7 seater, horseless carriage. (yeah, that's another thing about having a family... The motorbike and two seater sportscar are the first things to go).

Don't misunderstand me. I appreciate the sentiment and the efforts to emulate our forebears but in all honesty what would contemporary women and children prefer, a prudent view of the weather forecast followed by a cautionary and deftly erected Gazebo or a sofa blanket carried on the off chance?

Smacks of costume to me. Just my thoughts mind.

Bit like flat caps and white socks I suppose... each to their own.

**English Bloke** · 12th February 09, 10:24 PM

Post withdrawn by English Bloke lest I cause offence

**Highlander31** · 16th February 09, 05:05 PM

Glen,

My compliments on trying the day plaid.

My wife likes the look and thinks it would be a good reason for me to use the matching 2' X 5' 16oz material I ordered with my tank back in 2005. Her line of thinking, is the look would fit well when attending a garden party where a tweed jacket is more appropriate than an Argyle or PC. Since we live on the coast here in the PNW, it can be cool even during the Summer, so the extra warmth would not be a consideration. She makes a good argument for trying the look (I can always hang the plaid on the back of a chair if it becomes cumbersome.) Of course if I wear the plaid for her, she'll wear something for me. Now,...where did she put those lovely mini skirts?

**McMurdo** · 12th February 09, 10:35 PM

Originally Posted by English Bloke

Agreed but; Is? or was?

Isn't that what the boots (trunks) of cars are for nowadays?

Your obvious chivalry is without question and if you like the look, go ahead Jamie. For me it's a bit err... too much. In this day and age, I can protect my women and children from the elements without lugging around a horse blanket on my shoulder. If it really is raining on our parade I'd be urging my family back to the shelter of our 7 seater, horseless carriage. (yeah, that's another thing about having a family... The motorbike and two seater sportscar are the first things to go).

Don't misunderstand me. I appreciate the sentiment and the efforts to emulate our forebears but in all honesty what would contemporary women and children prefer, a prudent view of the weather forecast followed by a cautionary and deftly erected Gazebo or a sofa blanket carried on the off chance?

Smacks of costume to me. Just my thoughts mind.

Bit like flat caps and white socks I suppose... each to their own.

John
I thought as we have been discussing the Lairds Plaid over the past few weeks, with photographic examples by Puffer, that I would try the look myself. Will I wear this on a daily or even monthly basis? No, as you, I find the look just a bit theatrical. However I'm glad I tried it as it is, to my eye a good look albeit somewhat old fashioned and a bit over the top so to speak as you say in this day and age.

I may try something like this again if my Inverness Cape was missing and all I had was a tartan blanket. This is simply an attempt by me to try my hand at a particular style of Highland Dress, it may not have it's place in everyday wear but that as I see it is not the point nor was it ever. If you look at the vintage photos you will notice that many of them are taken at Highland Games in Scotland, so no this really is not daily wear at all. I must say though that this look is no more out of place than the kilted re-enactors that you see at various Highland Games from Jacobite garb and Great Kilts with Claymores to the uniform of the Fraser Highlanders or the Black Watch re-enactors. This look while not everyones cuppa certainly has it's place as evidenced by the vintage photos cited above.