Fly Plaid - When?!

[creagdhubh]

I tend to agree with Jock and Chas. However, if you do decide to wear one with your Highland attire, please restrict its use to black tie events.

Cheers,

[Cygnus]

I tend to agree with Jock and Chas. However, if you do decide to wear one with your Highland attire, please restrict its use to black tie events.

Cheers,

I would say that it's best only with white tie or if a groom wants to stand out more from the rest of the wedding party. Even for white tie events I would probably leave the plaid at home most of the time.

[TheOfficialBren]

Personally, I'm not a fan. They get to be one of those accessories that seem a bit "costumey," with all due respect. The kilt with a smart dinner ensemble looks infinately better in my humble opinion than with everything but the kitchen sink but wear what you like.

Jock's and Tobus' advice, as usual, are spot-on.

[creagdhubh]

I would say that it's best only with white tie or if a groom wants to stand out more from the rest of the wedding party. Even for white tie events I would probably leave the plaid at home most of the time.

White or black tie events, mate. It really doesn't matter and the colour of bow tie is irrelevant. Fly plaids, in my opinion, are specifically designed for formal functions. And whether to choose to wear it or not is completely subjective.

Cheers,

[HuDonald]

Thanks for everyone that replied! I knew I could count on all of you to point me in the right direction!

That said... I guess I won't be wearing a plaid to the benefit gala. It is a "Formal" event, and black-tie is specified on the invitation, but as most suggested, it's not my event, and it's definitely not white-tie formal. Most men there will be in tuxes, and women in gowns.

Some food for thought/conversation (not to start an argument):
If the PC/coatee is considered appropriate black-tie attire, and doublets are usually more for white-tie, then why do we see so many images of fly-plaids worn with PCs?

[Chas]

Some food for thought/conversation (not to start an argument):
If the PC/coatee is considered appropriate black-tie attire, and doublets are usually more for white-tie, then why do we see so many images of fly-plaids worn with PCs?

I think the simple answer is, people just don't know. The lines between white tie and black tie are clearly defined, but often men don't have a white tie outfit so they try and stretch their black tie outfit. I have seen dirks, swords, sashes, piper's plaids and full sized medals all worn with a PC - at noon.

Knowledge is a weapon. Once a man arms himself with the knowledge he is unbeatable.

Regards

Chas

[Tobus]

Some food for thought/conversation (not to start an argument):
If the PC/coatee is considered appropriate black-tie attire, and doublets are usually more for white-tie, then why do we see so many images of fly-plaids worn with PCs?

I think it's just because people (mostly Americans) like the way it looks. They think it's what Highland black-tie attire should be. This is pushed by vendors and hire shops who can make a few extra bucks by selling fly plaids and convincing people that it completes the look. The trend is even growing with younger generations in Scotland, from what I've seen.

Honestly, I think the whole concept of fly plaids pretty much took off on its own (despite my obvious tongue-in-cheek description earlier in this thread). A few people did it, others copied them, and then more people started copying the look, and now it has become ubiquitous. In fact, the backlash against fly plaids seems to be a relatively new (and growing) thing, with only a small following of people who want to remain true to actual Highland tradition. But for the most part, fly plaids remain wildly popular amongst those who have only a passing knowledge of traditional Highland attire, or those who simply like the way a fly plaid looks whether it's 'proper' or not.

[HuDonald]

Thanks, Chaz and Tobus!

See? I didn't know it was just a "new trend" thing to have fly plaids... and I have fallen prey to the evil propaganda (pictures online) brought on by money loving companies trying make an extra sale.

Most of the time, I would rather follow tradition than trends and fads. This is certainly one of those times.

This is why you guys are so great! Empowering the minds of newcomers like me with knowledge! (woohoo!)

P.S. - thanks, Tobus, for the good laugh from your earlier post!

[Tobus]

See? I didn't know it was just a "new trend" thing to have fly plaids... and I have fallen prey to the evil propaganda (pictures online) brought on by money loving companies trying make an extra sale.

Well, I wouldn't go so far as to say that fly plaids are necessarily a new trend. They've been around for a while. Some can even be seen in the MacLeay portraits from the mid 1800s. But these were generally worn with doublets, as the PC style jacket didn't really exist at the time. And of course, all of the fly plaids seen in these portraits were worn along with dirk belts and baldrics in the military or martial style of the time. It also needs to be said that many people consider these portraits to be "play dress up" examples, and were not indicative of what Highlanders actually wore at the time.

Looking at OC Richard's examples of old Highland wear catalogs (like the Anderson catalog from 1936) shows that fly plaids were not even available at the time. Nor were they mentioned at all. I couldn't say exactly when fly plaids started popping up with PC jackets, but it would obviously have been some time after this. So it's fair to say that pairing a fly plaid with a PC is indeed a new trend, but fly plaids themselves aren't necessarily new. Which signifies that somewhere in the mid-20th century, someone decided to try mixing things for a pseudo-traditional look which became the ubiquitous trend we see today of PCs with fly plaids.

I don't know that I would blame vendors or hire shops for starting it (although it's certainly possible that they started it). At the very least, though, they have taken good advantage of the trend. But since their primary responsibility is to make money, not to staunchly defend Highland tradition, it doesn't make them evil.

[Cygnus]

There's also the fact that black bow ties are generally considered acceptable for white-tie dress codes when wearing Highland dress. I think this adds a great deal to the confusion about what is or isn't appropriate in any given situation.

It makes me wish people still used "informal evening dress" and "formal evening dress" rather than black and white tie (respectively).