Waistcoat advice

[David Dubh]

Hi all, haven't been here for a while, but I'm looking for some advice on a waistcoat colour.
I have a charcoal tweed day wear jacket from Hector Russell. I am considering getting a waistcoat to go with it from Hector Russel, My question is what colour should I go with matching or complimentary?
So the options are
Charcoal tweed (will it match a jacket that is 5 years old already)
Lovat Green tweed
"Denim"blue tweed
What do you suggest and as always pictures are welcome
Slainte David

[Liam]

What tartan is your kilt?

[McMurdo]

It will be lucky if it matches but probably not. I would go for one of the other colours.

[OC Richard]

It's something that's hard to describe, but sometimes you see colours that work together because they're in the same range regarding value (lightness/darkness) and saturation.

You have the advantage that grey is a shade, a non-colour, so any colour "goes with" it as long as the value and saturation don't clash, I think.

I myself wouldn't pair a charcoal grey jacket with a pale waistcoat, your Lovat or denim (but you never know sometimes, till you see the combination).

Rather my first impulse would be to stay in around the same value, say Claret, or bottle green/forest green/Archer Green, or deep blue. Then the colour would make the waistcoat stand out yet the similar value would make it coordinate.

Hard to go wrong, though, with matching the jacket. It even works if the two tweeds are slightly different, in my opinion.

Here are some pics I found fast to give a rough idea of claret, bottle green, and deep blue waistcoats worn with grey. As pointed out above, this is all in a vacuum due to not knowing the colours of the kilt.



I know this isn't charcoal grey tweed but it gets the idea of a green waistcoat across more or less

[David Dubh]

Sorry about not mentioning the tartans MacDonald clan ancient colours by HoG and MacDonald of the isles hunting ancient colours by Marton Mills
I will try and attach links to the colours
http://www.hector-russell.com/detail...arcoal_518.jpg
http://www.hector-russell.com/detail..._Green_469.jpg
http://www.hector-russell.com/detail...m_Blue_685.jpg
Hope this helps
David

[OC Richard]

Hard to know without seeing the actual fabrics and the kilts.

But both the Lovat and Denim samples look much better that what I was imagining.

Now that I see them, I think that I would go with the Denim, just because in my mind's eye it goes better with the charcoal. But without the fabrics, I could be wrong for sure.

Now that I know it's an "ancient" tartan I would probably avoid Claret because you get a clash of purpley red and orangey red.

[Andrew Breecher]

I'd suggest either a navy or a tan waistcoat. They will both go with charcoal and almost anything else, and won't look like you tried (and perhaps failed) to match the jacket.

[David Dubh]

Thanks for your opinions and input I need to ponder which way to go. Still open to other opinions
David

[Mirthlesstroll]

I think a black waistcoat would be sharp looking with charcoal grey.

[Benning Boy]

Based on limited experience so far, I'd advise getting a waistcoat that more or less matches the hose you most often wear. Indeed get more than one vest in common hose colors -- then finally get one to match your jacket to satisfy the stodgy.

As Steve Ashton often points out if you match the color of your hose and shirt for everyday wear you can wear any kilt and the combination will look well. When dressing up a bit more and you are wearing a jacket I'm of the opinion that if you match your hose and vest you can wear almost any subdued jacket and any kilt and look mighty snazzy. So, if you wear lovat green hose a lot get a lovat green waistcoat, toss on any jacket, buckle on any kilt and you will be well turned out.

Right now I'm partial to the claret hose and vest combination under a charcoal jacket. I just don't dress up enough, especially in this hot humid weather, to urgently need more waste coats, but I'm ready to take the plunge and start matching up a canary yellow shantung silk waistcoat and yellow hose. I do have a dove gray waistcoat that goes well with lighter gray hose.