How Do I Choose a Brooch That Complements My Fly Plaid and Outfit?

One of the striking items of traditional Highland dress is a fly plaid. It adds some history, elegance and a formality to a kilt suit. However, the fly plaid is not complete without the right brooch. People often believe that a brooch is merely to secure plaid, but it offers so much more.

The right brooch not only catches it and has all the plaid done up tight, but it also makes your appearance more interesting! It can accentuate your tartan, compliment your accessories and tie in all of your Highland attire. However, for an outfit to feel complete and cohesive, a poorly made brooch might draw the eye or proportion attention to itself.

First-time buyers of fly plaid brooch or old ones sportsmen may need to replace will be able to make a better selection if they find out what they must look for. Here we are going to tell you how to select a suitable brooch so that it will fit, be appropriate for the event and fit in with the rest of your Highland get-up.

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Understanding the Role of a Fly Plaid Brooch

Function and Tradition in Highland Dress

Highland plaid has long been a feature of Highland dress. Worn over one shoulder, it is worn at weddings, formal dinners, at Burns Night dinners, and at other ceremonies. The fabric hangs over the shoulder, and should be fastened with a brooch.

The brooch is not attached to a jacket, it is attached to a fly plaid. This assists keeping plaid in place and to fall naturally. An ideal brooch should not damage the fabric nor let it fall out.

This appears to be used for practical purposes, but it has also become a very important decorative addition. Highland patterns and Scottish emblems such as Celtic knotwork, Scottish thistles, clan symbols are featured in many traditional designs, all of which are symbolic of the Scottish heritage.

How It Influences the Overall Look

A Kirk Tartan Kilt Fly Plaid  is placed high on the shoulder and the brooch is among a person’s first choices of accessories. As a result, it can significantly affect the look of your clothes.

Look out for a matching brooch with your tartan to complete the overall design for a balanced and sleek appearance. It demonstrates a level of detail. If the size, color or print doesn’t match, the outfit can become unbalanced, despite all of the other components being in perfect harmony.

The brooch can be likened to the perfect finishing touch to a Highland dress.

Choosing the Right Brooch for Your Outfit

Match the Brooch with Your Fly Plaid and Tartan

Your fly plaid and kilt will generally be the same tartan, therefore the brooch shouldn’t clash with the plaid or with the kilt.

A Fly Plaid Kilt Brooch  will help if the colours are strong in your tartan and there is a lot of pattern, as it won’t distract from the fabric. If the tartan is really dark or has just a plain design, then you will be able to select a brooch that has more elaborate engraving that is Scottish with or without Celtic designs.

The overall aim is to achieve “balance”. The main thing is that the brooch should accentuate the design of the tartan, and not be the only part that people notice.

Coordinate with Your Jacket, Sporran, and Other Metal Accessories

One of the easiest ways to make sure especially that your outfit is well planned is to take the time to coordinate colors, especially in your accessories and ensure that the metal is the same.

If your belt buckle or kilt pin, sporran cantle, cuff links or sgian dubh fittings are white (silver or pewter), choose a brooch of the same colour. Should any accessories be in antique style, then style the brooch accordingly.

Maintaining uniformity in the metalwork allows a tidy and professional look. When putting together a variety of different finishes or shades, it is easy for the outfit to appear untidy.

Selecting the Right Size, Shape, and Finish

Design is not the only factor, size matters too.

A small-sized brooch may not secure the Scott Green Ancient Tartan Fly Plaid  effectively and could come across as disproportionate. If it is too big it could become bulky and weigh the person down.

For more formal highland attire, a medium sized brooch is the opting choice since they provide ample help without being too eye-catching.

Traditionally, round brooches are used and almost any tartan can be paired with them. Numbers in the shape of Celtic knot designs, thistles and patterns inspired by the clan are still favourite designs and will never go out of fashion.

Pick a tone, and design, that you will wear for many years to come and will pair with other accessories that you have.

Choosing a Brooch for Different Occasions

Weddings, Formal Events, and Ceremonial Wear

More standard choices of wedding, black tie dinner, Highland Ball or ceremonial uses for the symbols on the brooches will usually feature Celtic or Scottish symbols. Prince Charlie jackets, Argyll jackets and formal tartan kilts are perfectly paired with these looks.

The beautifully crafted silver or pewter brooch is an ideal accessory for a formal style dress and suit, adding a sophisticated touch.

Highland Games, Gatherings, and Special Celebrations

It is still traditional practice to have games in the Highlands, as well as cultural festivals and gatherings of clans, but there may be some grace period.

A piece which represents your clan, family and/or personal preferences may be chosen, but must be in line with tradition and celebrated with Highland undertones. Any of these patterns decorate well for such uses: Celtic patterns, thistles, engraved designs.

It’s important that they blend in with the rest of your accessories and aren’t a completely different look on your body.

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Choosing a Fly Plaid Brooch

Oversized Designs, Clashing Metals, and Poor Placement

When making the selection of a fly plaid brooch, there are certain things you should steer clear of. These are known as oversized designs, clashing metals, and poor placement.These are just known as oversized designs, clashing metals or poor placement.

The biggest faux pas is purchasing the biggest brooch that you can come across. Not all things are big things. A large large brooch can cause the fabric to tug in the wrong way and detract from the scarlet.

Another error is using various metal hues together. For instance, if wearing the silver brooch with the gold belt buckle and black metal kilt pin does make any of the ensemble seem inconsistent.

Some people even fail to put on the brooch at the proper place. A fly plaid bow should just attach the plaid on the shoulder without exerting excessive pressure on the jacket. This will help to ensure proper and natural hang and will tap the bust, keeping it contained.

A little extra care in selecting the right size, finish and placement will make a difference to consider.

Why Buy Your Fly Plaid Brooch from The Utility Kilt?

An authentic brooch is designed to endure the passage of many years and one that has been purchased from a specialist retailer from the Highlands is always a wise choice.

The Utility Kilt has an array of classic plaid brooches in a variety of sizes, styles and Celtic motifs. You’ll find something that you can wear on a simple Highland dress, or on a more traditional outfit, depending on the level to which you wish to go.

If you choose a trusted retailer you will have the ease of getting some matching accessories like kilt pins, sporrans, belts, buckles and jackets and make a coordinated outfit to fall back on.

Conclusion

The fly plaid brooch may be a simple detail, but is still an integral part of Highland dress attire both outward and inward. It helps the straight fly plaid stay in place and allows for style, tradition and personality when putting the plaid together.

A good brooch will similarly come into harmony with your tartan, your other attire and the occasion. So when it comes to the sizing, completion and design, give consideration to this and one can create a perfect equilibrium that looks well-balanced but it’s not overpowering.

Sure you’re preparing for a wedding, a formal dinner or just stopping by your ranch for a Highland celebration, the right brooch will make your fly plaid look best and will add a special flair to your ensemble.