Plaids and Baldricks

[Nighthawk]

Bare with me, I just joined and this is my first post.
Here's the question: A plaid is worn from the left shoulder,across the back, under the right arm, across to and over the left shoulder, and off the back. This seams to be true whether you are right or left handed.
A baldrick is worn across the right shoulder to the left hip for a right handed draw. The baldrick crosses over the plaid and under the waist belt. That's great, if your right handed! What about us lefties? A few companies make left draw (right hip) baldricks, but that puts the baldrick and the plaid running the same line. Won't look good and woud be rather bunched up. A back draw still has to be worn across the same way. Any suggestions.

Hey there! Welcome to the board!

I actually am a Rennaisance reenactor myself. My research has shown me that the plaid was worn on whichever side leaves the sword arm uninhibited. If you're a lefty, wear the plaid from the right shoulder. Baldrics can be worn on either side, so if you're a lefty, wear it accordingly.

[Nighthawk]

Hey there! Welcome to the board!

I actually am a Rennaisance reenactor myself. My research has shown me that the plaid was worn on whichever side leaves the sword arm uninhibited. If you're a lefty, wear the plaid from the right shoulder. Baldrics can be worn on either side, so if you're a lefty, wear it accordingly.

Having chatted with the wife of our clan chief, I have found that this was only true for men. Women wearing arisaid were generally to wear it either as a shawl, meaning across both shoulders and pinned at the breast bone with a small broach, or over the left shoulder, unless you are a noble, in which case, the arisaid was worn on the right shoulder or over both shoulders (again with a broach in the middle.) There is some debate as to weather or not there is historical prescedent for this, but it's how our clan has decided to do it.

[Nighthawk]

And one more thing--

For those belts and baldrics at a good price, check these guys out:

http://www.ravenswoodleather.com/

There is some great stuff on that site.

[highlander_Daz]

Unless your a piper or drum major, my advice is to leave the baldrics and plaids out, just get a decent kilt, shirt, day jacket, hose and nice shoes, you dont gave to go crazy and be the "cock o the north"

[Nighthawk]

Unless your a piper or drum major, my advice is to leave the baldrics and plaids out, just get a decent kilt, shirt, day jacket, hose and nice shoes, you dont gave to go crazy and be the "cock o the north"

You could have a point. I assumed that this was a thread asking for the purpose of reenactment, which is how my thinking is geared with festival and wedding season ramping up. So this now begs the question- what kind of look are you trying o accomplish- modern formal or historical? For my own reenactment group, this is essentially the outfit I have recreated:



Baldric and long plaid are requirements for late Rennaisance/early Enlightenment period costumes. However, for modern clothing that's not a costume, then highlander_Daz is correct. So- what are we trying to get?

[Mr. MacDougall]

Women wearing a sash or plaid were to wear it either as an arisaid, meaning across both shoulders and pinned at the breast bone with a small broach, or over the left shoulder

According to a recent article by Matt Newsome that's a 20th century conceit, not a genuine historical practice.

[Nighthawk]

According to a recent article by Matt Newsome that's a 20th century conceit, not a genuine historical practice.

Yeah, I seem to have misspoken. I didn't actually mean the sash as in the modern useless strip of tartan that looks like a long scarf is only for ornamentation; I was talking about the small arisaid (which is more like a shawl actually) that is slightly larger than a fly plaid. We know that this garment isn't exactly period accurate, but I haven't gotten the cash together for a real arisaid yet! I'll go and change my post to make it a little more clear.

This is actually the look I'm talking about:

[trifin]

this has turned ou to be quite a discussion of what is concidered "ok". i will admit that when i have carried the basket hilt in formation and in my left hand(where it is most comfortable) that it looks odd with the rest of the regiment. there is all right handed and comformity gives the appearance of dicipline and single mindedness.
i had a pic to post but havent been able to figure out how to do it yet, i guess ill read the how to's
im in the back row with the rrs tartan(didnt have the baldrick even on at the time)

[Mr. MacDougall]

i will admit that when i have carried the basket hilt in formation and in my left hand(where it is most comfortable) that it looks odd with the rest of the regiment.

If I were your sergeant, I'd simply put you in the left file, so your weapon faced out. I doubt anyone would notice.

[Ancienne Alliance]

this has turned ou to be quite a discussion of what is concidered "ok". i will admit that when i have carried the basket hilt in formation and in my left hand(where it is most comfortable) that it looks odd with the rest of the regiment. there is all right handed and comformity gives the appearance of dicipline and single mindedness.
i had a pic to post but havent been able to figure out how to do it yet, i guess ill read the how to's
im in the back row with the rrs tartan(didnt have the baldrick even on at the time)

That's an impressive photo