Your opinions on these jackets?

[carlb]

I've got four sport coats that are essentially tweed-ish. I haven't worn them in years, but it occurred to me that they might be turned into nice kilt jackets. Having never done such a thing before, I'd like y'all's opinions on these. I've shown them with my MacLeod Hunting kilt as it's the only one I have at the moment. I'm considering getting another in the German Heritage tartan that USAKilts has (it's predominantly red), so any opinions as to which of these might work with that tartan as well would be welcome.

The pictures I took of the entire jacket/kilt combo didn't turn out well because of the flash. I'll put one below so you can see the whole jacket (they're all styled the same), but after that I just have close-ups; they're a more accurate representation of the colors.

Jacket 1 and Kilt

Jacket 1 close-up

Jacket 2 close-up

Jacket 3 close-up

Jacket 4 close-up


Here's a link to my Flickr set in case anyone wants to see larger photos.

The main complication I see in terms of conversion is that the pockets are not "patch" pockets. But, my wife is a pretty talented seamstress, so I'm confident she can re-work them into something usable.

Comments? Favorites? Any of these that just don't work? I've never paired a kilt with anything other than a solid-color shirt, so I'm a complete n00b at this; any and all comments are welcome.

[HeathBar]

I think they all would make fine conversions. My question though is if the USAK casual you have fitted to be worn low or one the hips or is it worn at the natural waist? Cutting the jacket to fit a kilt that is worn low, will not look right when it is worn with a kilt with a more traditional rise.

[Tobus]

I like all of 'em with the kilt except #3. The pattern seems a little too bold, but that's just me.

[NewEnglander]

I think they all would make fine conversions. My question though is if the USAK casual you have fitted to be worn low or one the hips or is it worn at the natural waist? Cutting the jacket to fit a kilt that is worn low, will not look right when it is worn with a kilt with a more traditional rise.

What sort of differences do you need to make when making/buying a coat for a casual kilt?

[dfmacliam]

I think they would all work very nice as conversions.

[carlb]

I think they all would make fine conversions. My question though is if the USAK casual you have fitted to be worn low or one the hips or is it worn at the natural waist? Cutting the jacket to fit a kilt that is worn low, will not look right when it is worn with a kilt with a more traditional rise.

It's fitted to my natural waist. My intention would to cut the bottoms of the jackets to fit a traditionally-worn kilt, then use the cut-off material to make epaulettes, change out/add buttons, and have something like a Braemar when I'm done, like The F-H.C.A.G. did in this thread.

[HeathBar]

What sort of differences do you need to make when making/buying a coat for a casual kilt?

A kilt jacket is usually cut to fall about 3/4ths down the fell in the back. Since a casual kilt has less fell, if you wanted to stick to around 3/4ths down the fell then you would probably have to add 2 or 3 inches, because a casual kilt could sit 2 or 3 inches lower than a tradtional. But in truth, a kilt jacket would probably look odd when worn with a casual kilt. Even if it is cut to that kilt. I think it would accentuate that the kilt is sitting lower. There are probably more modern, non-kilt, short jackets that would work better with a casual kilt.

It's fitted to my natural waist. My intention would to cut the bottoms of the jackets to fit a traditionally-worn kilt, then use the cut-off material to make epaulettes, change out/add buttons, and have something like a Braemar when I'm done, like The F-H.C.A.G. did in this thread.

Sounds like you are ready to start cutting.

[NewEnglander]

There are probably more modern, non-kilt, short jackets that would work better with a casual kilt.

Any ideas on where to find such a jacket?
(sorry for the threadjack)

[HeathBar]

Any ideas on where to find such a jacket?
(sorry for the threadjack)

So as not to continue the threadjack, I'll PM you.

[Tobus]

But in truth, a kilt jacket would probably look odd when worn with a casual kilt. Even if it is cut to that kilt. I think it would accentuate that the kilt is sitting lower.

Only on casual kilts that are made to sit lower (not all casual kilts do). My casual kilt sits just exactly where a traditional kilt would. At my natural waist.

So, assuming that a casual kilt is worn at the traditional kilt placement (waist, not hips) and has the same fell length, is there any reason a jacket wouldn't look 'right' with it?