To plaid or not to plaid.....thats the question??

[ForresterModern]

Wending our way back to the topic of the OP....

I have worn fly plaids with a couple of my kilts for what were announced to be "black tie" events, thus expecting all to be pretty much dressed to the nines, tuxedoes and evening gowns. It adds a nice tough to the often otherwise boring upper half of one's outfit, definitely something that is not part of the typical tuxedo look.

As a piece of advice, if you do wear one with a nice fly plaid brooch, what I have found works best is taking the (in my case at least) pre-pleated corner of the fly plaid (remember it is pronounced Played) and advancing it back to front under the epaulet of the left shoulder of your jacket at least down over the upper left breast. Pin your plaid brooch through the lower half to third of the pleated portion that is now over or just above your left breast pocket , but do not pin it to the fabric of the jacket itself. In this way it dangles free and acts like a counter weight to the excess fabric of the plaid behind your shoulder. You can tug it back and forth until its look suits your need and feels balanced. In this way you will not have as much tugging of the plaid on the jacket shoulder, and if you should sit on it wrong or it gets tangled with something unexpectedly it will not tear or distort the fabric of the jacket breast or jerk you backwards over your own shoulder----well, at least not so much.

If you wear it do so with comfort, and your comfort will show as confidence in the highland attire you have chosen to wear to the event. Be prepared to be gracious as you may be the center of discussions and questions both in front of you and behind your back. If you are not comfortable you will not wear it with confidence, and if you do not wear it with confidence you will not carry off the "look" as intended. And have some fun---I am sure you deserve to have a good time.