The Great Plaid was a large piece of cloth, which by the 16th century measured up to  in length, half of which was pleated and belted about the waist, while the upper half was draped over the left shoulder, was then gathered in front and could be used as a cloak and hood during inclement weather.
In the 16th century, The Great Plaid was a versatile piece of fabric that could be worn as a cloak or hood during harsh weather conditions. It consisted of two parts: one pleated and secured around the waist, while the other was draped over the shoulder and gathered in front.