Argyll? Vest? Waistcoat? what's in a name

[M. A. C. Newsome]

Helpful article:
http://giftshop.scottishtartans.org/which_jacket.htm

[meinfs]

Helpful article:
http://giftshop.scottishtartans.org/which_jacket.htm

Thanks Matt. That is very helpful -- drawings can sometime make it easier to see things.

[Cassidy]

The long tartan fabric draped over the shoulder is called a "fly plaid," or just "a plaid."

It's made to resemble the wearing of a great kilt, which is pretty much an absurdly long piece of wool that you turn into a kilt with well placed folds.

[meinfs]

Now, what's a doublet? Can anyone post a picture or an illustration?
Thanks.

[meinfs]

The long tartan fabric draped over the shoulder is called a "fly plaid," or just "a plaid."

It's made to resemble the wearing of a great kilt, which is pretty much an absurdly long piece of wool that you turn into a kilt with well placed folds.

How is the fly plaid attached to the kilt? Is it a separate piece?

[davedove]

How is the fly plaid attached to the kilt? Is it a separate piece?

It is not attached to the kilt. It is a separate piece of cloth, pinned at the shoulder and hanging down the back.

Example:

[meinfs]

It is not attached to the kilt. It is a separate piece of cloth, pinned at the shoulder and hanging down the back.

...

Nice. Sharp looking!

Thanks. Do you ever have trouble with it as for as the plaid moving left and right when you move about? Do people tuck part of it into the kilt in the back? Can you do that?

[davedove]

Nice. Sharp looking!

Thanks. Do you ever have trouble with it as for as the plaid moving left and right when you move about? Do people tuck part of it into the kilt in the back? Can you do that?

I've never had a problem with that, but then when I'm wearing the fly plaid, it's for formal wear and I'm not moving that energetically.

Some issues:

The weight of the plaid does tend to pull the jacket to the left. If you look at the picture, my right sleeve seems to be a lot shorter than the left one.

Be careful sitting down or you'll sit on the plaid, causing it to pull on the shoulder and straining where it's pinned.

[fluter]

Now, what's a doublet? Can anyone post a picture or an illustration?
Thanks.

I give you: Scotweb.co.UK, the Sears catalog of highland wear. Scroll up to the top of the page, and click on the Scotweb banner ad. By clicking through from Xmarks, you automagically have a 10 percent discount applied to your session (just in case).

Select "Men," look under "Kilt Jackets" and select Doublets for links to 3 of the common types. In a word, doublets are formal jackets.

The "regulation doublet" is a turbocharged Prince Charlie, sort of a mess jacket with Inverness flaps on the bottom, front and back. It has gauntlet cuffs, like your black Argyll jacket; and buttons on the chest, like your PC. It is worn with a black bow tie and 3-button formal vest.

The other doublets are most often worn with a lace jabot at the throat, and span black tie and white tie occasions.

The Sheriffmuir is perhaps the most versatile, worn open at the front with or without a waistcoat. Possibly the ultimate in chic is a tartan waistcoat, cut on the bias, to match the kilt. Of course, by the time you've gone this far you need matching tartan hose. Bling!

The Montrose doublet resembles a full-dress military tunic, worn buttoned up. It looks hot and humid to me, but it's sharp!

There are some other styles, and variations on all of these. If I were designing my own doublet, I think it would be like the Sheriffmuir without the Inverness flaps--perhaps a tad longer than mess jacket length. I have thoughts of bob-tailing a frock coat pattern to get something like this.

[Nick]

Nice. Sharp looking!

Thanks. Do you ever have trouble with it as for as the plaid moving left and right when you move about?

I've also never had that problem. If the plaid is tucked under an epaulette it holds it even more securley in place, right at the top of the shoulder so there's no real chance of slippage.