Kilt jacket tailor

[Scotty55]

I have a great looking light wool sports jacket I would like to cutdown as a dayware kilt jacket.

Does anyone know of a tailor who can do this type of work in the New England area?

Scotty55

[MacMillans son]

Welcome aboard Scotty 55.

Most competent alteration shops can do the work for you. Of course, it will help if you have a jacket to take to them as an example, or at least some detailed photos, If not, take the time to do some pre work on the length, the curvature of the front cut away and the location of the pockets relative to the hem of the jacket. It may be of help you to start with a less perfect jacket as a training excercise for both you and the person doing the work. You can get a jacket at the local second hand store fairly cheap ($5-$10) and work out the details on it with chalk prior to applying them to your chosen jacket.

For what it's worth, the things that really stand out are cutaways that are either angular vs. rounded, or those that are too exaggerated (the jacket will likely be worn open so a dramatic cutaway is not necessary) The other is having the pocket flaps too low relative to the hem of the jacket, and or too large of flaps relative to the perceived pocket size. Another for me is having the radius of the cutaway bisect the visually implied line of the pockets. In other words, have the radius of the cutaway go level before getting to the edge of the pocket. Conversions are always a game of tradeoffs but if time is taken with them they can turn out as inexpensive and attractive alternatives to original jackets.

More info than you asked for, but at least the price was right!

Best of luck!

[Baldybrown]

The other is having the pocket flaps too low relative to the hem of the jacket, and or too large of flaps relative to the perceived pocket size. Another for me is having the radius of the cutaway bisect the visually implied line of the pockets. In other words, have the radius of the cutaway go level before getting to the edge of the pocket. Conversions are always a game of tradeoffs but if time is taken with them they can turn out as inexpensive and attractive alternatives to original jackets.

Very good point. Having the pocket flaps too low on the conversions has always bothered me.

[sydnie7]

Very good point. Having the pocket flaps too low on the conversions has always bothered me.

But then you look at jackets such as the 1939 photo from this post, check the pocket flap size and placement. . . different lapel line, of course, but if that jacket were posted here out of context what would you say?

[Baldybrown]

Another good point, but I'm referring to the contemporary day jackets converted from a modern lapel and pocket placement. I should mention that I'm keeping an eye out for a tweed 'patch-pocket' that I can convert and move the whole thing. I think that an inch or even a little less would make it more pleasing to the eye.

[David Thorpe]

...I'm keeping an eye out for a tweed 'patch-pocket' that I can convert and move the whole thing...

Good luck with that. I eliminate over 90% of conversion candidates because of unsuitable (sorry) slash pocket placement. Be aware that even patch pocket jackets can have seams, darts and other problems hidden under the patches.

[madmacs]

Working on the premise that a normal suit coats pockets are about the hips, you may want to look for a shorter fitting (ie if you're a 40L try a 40R etc) this will mean the pockets are higher to start off with.

The sleeves will probably be an inch too short, but that is easy to fix in most cases (as long as their is enough fabric at the sleeve hem to let out).

There are curve templates taken from my argyll jacket in my gallert which might give you a starting point.

[Tartan Tess]

Where are you in New England?

[RAF]

Being creatures of habit, myself included, I take all of my tailoring to a guy here in town (Newbury Tailoring, Boston.) He's reliable and I've been happy with most projects, and he's reasonably priced (by Newbury Street standards.) Although I have to say, I haven't yet found the right jacket on which to attempt a conversion.
For other relevant information, MacMillan's Son covered everything nicely.