Budget kilt jackets

[orangehaggis]

Greetings Ladies and Gentlemen:

I remember seeing a mention of one of the casual kilters looking into offering a budget "sport coat" style jacket. I know Stillwater offered a leather jacket at one time. Are there any further developments on this front?

I used to wear a barn coat with the kilt when out on walks, or out to the shops, etc. However, I found the construction of my argyll jacket, coupled with it's heavy woollen outer shell, was much more comfortable to wear. I am growing tired of always being over dressed, as well as taking my jacket to the cleaners to get the food stains and general dirt out!

Mark - Ohio

[Panache]

Mark,

As far as I know there are no companies currently offering a budget kilt sportcoat.

It sounds like what you need is a tweed kilt jacket. Your best bet is to find is to search XMTS and read all the Jacket Conversion threads. Here is one my lovely Flame-Haired Celtic Amazon Goddess did that is pretty detailed with photographs:

http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/c...x.html?t=30726

David Dalgish and his wife have also done many excellent jacket conversions. This is a great time of the year to find sportcoats on clearance or perhaps you will get lucky and find a real bargin at a second hand store.

If you don't feel you have the skill to do the alterations yourself a taylor or seemstress should be able to do the work for around $100 (depending on what features you want in your jacket.)

Good luck

Jamie

[James MacMillan]

Mark,

As far as I know there are no companies currently offering a budget kilt sportcoat.

It sounds like what you need is a tweed kilt jacket. Your best bet is to find is to search XMTS and read all the Jacket Conversion threads. Here is one my lovely Flame-Haired Celtic Amazon Goddess did that is pretty detailed with photographs:

http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/c...x.html?t=30726

David Dalgish and his wife have also done many excellent jacket conversions. This is a great time of the year to find sportcoats on clearance or perhaps you will get lucky and find a real bargin at a second hand store.

If you don't feel you have the skill to do the alterations yourself a taylor or seemstress should be able to do the work for around $100 (depending on what features you want in your jacket.)

Good luck

Jamie

What Jamie says is dead on! I am in the process of slowly (about one a month) converting all my jackets to kilt wear. You should be able to find a tailor to do the job for about $30. Or if you are handy with the sewing machine (unlike me) the tutorials are great.

If you decide to have a tailor do it, there are many threads and photos available to print out and take along.

I also wish you good luck.

[The Wizard of BC]

Perhaps you are thinking of the Kilt Cut Sport Coat we offer at FK. Not exactly "budget" priced as they are custom made but cheaper than an Argyle from most Scottish makers.

Check the threads in the Freedom Kilts section. There are three jackets profiled. One in caramel Corduroy, one brown and one gray Donegal Tweed.

[ChromeScholar]

Stillwater does still offer a leather kilt jacket. It's $205, and at the moment is only available in L(42-44) and XL (46-48).

[orangehaggis]

I've had a tailor convert a blazer I bought on eBay for $50 plus post. It was pricey ($70, maybe more), and still doesn't lay quite right.

I find myself in the unfortunate situation of being too short and fat to have kilt jackets converted for me. I rarely find short length jackets in my size ... regulars look OK worn with trousers, but the position of the pockets is generally too low for conversion.

The blazer I mentioned above, in addition to being a short, also had patch pockets, so conversion was possible.

Mark - Ohio

[orangehaggis]

Mr. Ashton - nice looking jackets indeed!

Mark - O