What are the different ways to style a fly plaid for formal and semi-formal events
One of the most traditional and popular accessories worn with Highland dress is the fly plaid. It enhances an outfit when wearing a kilt, and brings elegance, history and personality to a kilt outfit. Although it’s not always worn it tends to be on the tie worn at weddings, formal dinners, clan gatherings and for other special events.
The proper wear of the Highland plaid is essential to assembling a smart and balanced Highland outfit. You’ll discover the definition of a fly plaid and how and when to wear it, from a formal or casual perspective, as well as get some tips on how to go about pairing it with the rest of your outfit.
Understanding the Fly Plaid
What Is a Fly Plaid?
A fly plaid is a square or rectangle of tartan with similar or complementary colours to your kilt. It goes over your left shoulder and is fastened with an ornamental plaid brooch. The fly plaid, which would be smaller than a full plaid, was traditionally wrapped around the body or just as an accessory. It’s traditional Highland attire with a comfortable fit.
People like to wear a fly plaid at weddings, formal photography sessions, scottish events and others because it is an additional layer of formality besides the kilt wear without altering the look of the basic kilt outfit.
When Is a Fly Plaid Traditionally Worn?
The fly plaid is most often worn during formal Highland occasions. It is used for Scottish marriage ceremonies, Burns Night dinners, graduation, military ceremonies and clan events. It’s also encouraged during formal Highland competitions and for cultural activities.
Normally, casual wear or daily outings will not warrant a fly plaid. Mostly for special occasions when traditional Highland dress is anticipated.
Styling a Fly Plaid for Formal Events
Wearing It with a Prince Charlie Jacket
For wearing a fly plaid the Prince Charlie jacket would be one of the most formal Highland jackets to wear. This is all the time used for afternoon weddings, black tie occasions, and formal dinners. The fly plaid accent lends a touch of refinement and evokes a classic feel.
A Prince Charlie outfit looks great with a dress sporran, Ghillie brogues, kilt hose, flashes and a Sgian Dubh. Complementing these accessories, the entire appearance is an elegant Highland appearance for special events.
Choosing the Right Brooch and Tartan
If you’re in a certain style, pick a brooch to match it. These include traditional plaid and Celtic knot designs, clan crest brooches, and everything in between such as Fly Plaid Kilt Brooch
. It may just be the tartan of your kilt or it may be a different plaid altogether. Wearing the same tartan will give you the balance and traditional look. If you select another tarant, be sure that the colours merge nicely with your kilt and don’t clash with it.
The best size is a medium sized brooch large enough to support the neck and not so big as to be a burden.
Styling a Fly Plaid for Semi-Formal Occasions
Pairing It with an Argyll Jacket
In Highland dress an Argyll jacket is very popular for semi-formal wear. A fly plaid is not as popular when paired with an Argyll jacket as it is with a Prince Charlie jacket but can be worn on special occasions, including a wedding, family gathering or festival, during the day.
This mix comes together for a good appearance while providing a slightly less formality than evening Highland attire.
Keeping the Outfit Smart Without Being Overdressed
On a semi-formal event, give some thought to the amount of adornment on the fly plaid. In most cases, just a simple sporran (sleeve) tied on the waist, a polished belt buckle, good footwear and a matching brooch in the form of a plaid are sufficient. Crucially, it’s essential to ensure that the ensemble feels balanced, so you look chic while not appearing too dressed-up for the event.
Sometimes it’s better to use simple accessories to dress up a look than to wear all the bits of Highland dress.
Matching Your Fly Plaid with the Rest of Your Outfit
Coordinating Colours, Tartans, and Accessories
The simplest way to achieve a well-coordinated attire is to select a plaid for your skort that matches your fly plaid. Alternatively, if you have a family/tartan for your kilt, then you can use it for the fly plaid, which makes the kilt look traditional and polished. Matching types of metal finishes should also be used for your brooch, kilt pin, cufflinks/belt buckle and sporran fittings. Silver accessories go together and gold colours accessories go together.
Being consistent in the colour co-ordinated way, helps your outfit to look neat and very professional.
Choosing the Right Shoes, Sporran, and Belt
Also, your leather accessories and shoes should look appropriate to your fly plaid. Brogs in Black leather Ghillie are the most popular and fashionable shoes to wear when it comes to formal Highland attire. Match with a black leather belt and a dress or semi-dress sporran for the occasion. Alternatively, semi dress sporran pairs nicely with an Argyll jacket and fly plaid.
A neutral and balanced look is achieved when you match the leather hues.
Wearing a Fly Plaid Correctly
Proper Placement and How to Secure It
The fly plaid should go over the left shoulder. Neatly arrange the plaid, then fasten with a brooch around the shoulder at the top. The size of the brooch should be such as not to be too tight with the fabric. Fly plaid should fall off naturally behind your shoulder and not interfere with ease of movement during the event.
A few extra minutes spent positioning the plaid right to make it look good will make all the difference in the world.
Getting the Right Length and Drape
The fly plaid should not be too big, it should be natural. It should hang free on a shoulder without dragging on the ground and won’t, of course, tangle with the feet. Do not fold too closely or let too many folds of fabric around the shoulder.
The correct location of the fly plaid usually produces a neat and elegant finish covering the remaining Highland outfit.
Why Should You Purchase from The Utility Kilt?
The Utility Kilt has a large range of high quality fly plaids, plaid brooches and several Highland accessories to fit in both formal and semi-formal kilt pieces to complete kilt-outfits. In this way, it can be found appropriate items that reflect your personalized and tartan preferences whether you’re preparing for your wedding reception, Burns Night Celebration, graduation or some other Scottish function.
Crafted with high-quality materials and traditional Scottish techniques, each fly plaid is created with care. These customers can also pair them with matching Highland ‘sporrans’ and brooches, belts, jackets and other attire, to complete their Highland look.
The Utility Kilt promises trustworthy web shopping, reliable client support and an exceptionally broad offering of authentic Highland outfits, which could make it a secure choice for any individual who wishes to make a stylish, traditional Highland outfit.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Can I wear a fly plaid to a semi-formal event?
Yes. For events like daytime weddings, family gatherings, and Scottish events, a fly plaid outfit can be used with an Argyll jacket to add a touch of great style.
2. Does the fly plaid have to match my kilt?
For a traditional and coordinated look, a fly plaid in the same kilt as your kilt is suggested.
3. Which jacket is best with a fly plaid?
The Prince Charlie jacket is the most traditional to wear for a formal occasion and for semi formal situations a good option is to wear an Argyll jacket.
4. How should a fly plaid be fastened?
A fly plaid is simply a plaid that is folded and fastened to the left shoulder with a plaid brooch near the top of the shoulder.
5. Is a fly plaid necessary for every formal kilt outfit?
No. A fly plaid is nonessential but presents a traditional and elegant appearance to weddings, ceremonies and other occasions when wearing plaids is a traditional Highland style.
