Black or Charcoal Argyll

[marwine]

Good way too late evening or ungodly early morning to you all! I am looking at purchasing an Argyll as I am not fancy enough to ever need a Prince Charlie. I was curious of your thoughts on black vs charcoal. I am looking at getting it either from J. Higgins or possibly William Glenn and Son’s (I am leaning towards them because I have worked with them in the past and they are really helpful). It would be worn on rare occasions like burns night and whatnot. I am currently leaning towards charcoal, and due to boarding school trauma from youth the navy is absolutely out of the question!

Just looking to hear your thoughts and impressions on color.

[Jock Scot]

Are you thinking of the jacket being made of tweed or barathea? Why I ask is actually fairly important.

Tweed is worn for day attire and smart(not black tie) but informal evening events. On the other hand an argyll barathea jacket( usually in black) is either the kilt equivalent of formal morning dress(with a drop down tie), or for minor black tie events in the evening.

[Steve Ashton]

As someone who wore suits for quite a few years I look at this question much the same as I did then.

I will always choose a charcol tweed over a black barathea for any event short of Buisness attire.

If I were in a boardroom, then yes black. With black buttons.
For everyday wear a solid black jacket is too stark for me.

Today I attend very few 'coat and tie' events. The occasional funeral, an annual Burns dinner and about 10-15 annual speaking engagments to small informal groups.

If I were in trousers attending the same events, Charcoal Tweed 3 piece or Tweed jacket without vest would be considered correct.

[marwine]

Are you thinking of the jacket being made of tweed or barathea?

Charcoal would be tweed and black would be Barathea. I don’t dress up that often, once in a kilt thus far and it was my wedding so a prince Charlie was rented. I just want something that will work for non black tie, but dressy occasions. I think the charcoal appeals to me because it is not black, and “something different.” I might have to end up getting both!!

[Jock Scot]

Charcoal would be tweed and black would be Barathea. I don’t dress up that often, once in a kilt thus far and it was my wedding so a prince Charlie was rented. I just want something that will work for non black tie, but dressy occasions. I think the charcoal appeals to me because it is not black, and “something different.” I might have to end up getting both!!

Well alright, we have the priority sorted, good. So as Steve has suggested we are on the lines of the kilt equivalent of a suit. Just a wee something for you to consider, tweed comes in so many wonderful colour combinations, many of which could----- and are---- happily be worn with the kilt, so perhaps they might be a consideration rather than charcoal?

[Taskr]

I've more formal kilt jackets in both and one lovat green tweed, but my charcoal Argyll tweed is the go-to for most occasions. I find the full accessories chosen help place it within the level of dress I'm trying to emulate.

[Steve Ashton]

If you compare this Black Barathea Argyle with almost the same photo that I show above you can see that the fabric changes the total look of the outfit. It raises it a notch in formality.

[Steve Ashton]

One thing that you can do with a less formal jacket that is not usually seen with the Argyle is to change up the vest for different looks.



You can wear a less formal jacket without a vest.



Or even with an open collar shirt like you would wear a sport coat.

[McMurdo]

It sounds like the tweed will win out. As Jock says there are many different tweeds to choose from. When I started wearing the kilt I purchased a charcoal grey tweed jacket. As the years go by I find that one sits while I wear another tweed.

[kingandrew]

I think that a tweed kilt jacket is one of those "can't go wrong" sort of things. There are very few tweeds that don't look pretty good with a kilt. So explore the options and see what you like. It is possible that something will be even more appealing than charcoal, but it's also possible that charcoal will win out.

Either way, you will stand out in a kilt, regardless of what color jacket you're wearing.

Andrew