I happened to look up and notice that my post-ometer is about to turn over the 1,000 mark. I'd like to thank the many generous people, especially those here in the Traditional forum, who have given me good advice and humored me when I wandered astray.

A while ago, with CMcG's help, I scored a Black Watch dinner jacket with generous black satin lapels. Looking at Robert's beautiful coat, I am inspired to to revisit the topic of tartan top and bottom for a minute.

Therefore I ask the assembled company for suggestions.

The jacket has notched lapels, which are not my favorite- tartan collar and black satin below. There are side vents and a single button- it is slightly below the midpoint (top to bottom) as the jacket now stands and slightly above the navel. The lapels do not seem to be able to accommodate an extra button above, that is, you can't re-press them. There are tartan pocket flaps.

The fastest and easiest conversion would be to shorten the jacket and maybe recut the bottom opening. ( a standard Argyll conversion) Next up might be some modification of the cuffs and/or monkeying with the pocket flaps. It strikes me just now that one could make the flaps themselves slightly less wide ( top to bottom) and reduce the "chopped off" look a little bit. Or scallop them, maybe.

But the big decision might be to make some kind of coatee from the thing. Chop the whole front at the tops of the pockets and convert the rear to tails or tashes? I think it would be fairly simple and some black facings might be worked, for the tails and maybe for cuffs.

Or leave it as is and wear it with black trousers?

Thanks all and sundry...
M'll