Coloured Waistcoats

[SlackerDrummer]

I have a question (for you and the rabble), when one wears a an 'open' doublet, say for example, a Sheriffmuir or Regulation, or perhaps a coatee of some sort, done entirely in velvet, and one wishes to wear a different coloured waistcoat with the velvet doublet or coatee, should the waistcoat be made of velvet as well, or would it be okay (would it look smart) if the waistcoat was made out of a different material...let's say, barathea wool?

I understand that most 'open' velvet doublets and coatees will come with a matching velvet waistcoat, but I am curious about wearing a non-velvet, solid coloured waistcoat with it's velvet doublet or coatee. Does my question make sense?

Personal preference would be for either matching (or contrasting) velvet or tartan, but not some other material.

[creagdhubh]

Personal preference would be for either matching (or contrasting) velvet or tartan, but not some other material.

Thanks, Kenneth.

[Dram]

Thanks, Kenneth.

Kyle, I've always thought "matching" same material was more important than matching colors (as we know matching colors isn't of great importance) but of course I may be completely wrong.

[JSFMACLJR]

Kyle, it really doesn't matter what the waistcoat is made of, actually. Velvet doublets can be worn with wool, silk, cotton waistcoats without any problem whatsoever. You can add tapestry and needlepoint to that list, if you like. I don't own a velvet waistcoat... enough said!

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

Cheers David!

I have a question (for you and the rabble), when one wears a an 'open' doublet, say for example, a Sheriffmuir or Regulation, or perhaps a coatee of some sort, done entirely in velvet, and one wishes to wear a different coloured waistcoat with the velvet doublet or coatee, should the waistcoat be made of velvet as well, or would it be okay (would it look smart) if the waistcoat was made out of a different material...let's say, barathea wool?

I understand that most 'open' velvet doublets and coatees will come with a matching velvet waistcoat, but I am curious about wearing a non-velvet, solid coloured waistcoat with it's velvet doublet or coatee. Does my question make sense?

Cheers,

With a Sheriffmuir I always wore a black grosgrain silk waistcoat or a very Georgian-looking colourfully embroidered creme coloured silk waistcoat. (As an aside the cuffs on my Sheriffmuir were grosgrain silk and the collar velvet. I thought a barathea waistcoat would make the Sheriffmuir ensemble look a trifle too "Presbyterian" for my 'Pisky tastes!)

With my regulation doublet my waistcoats are white (white tie), black barathea (black tie), and on order is a deep red barathea waistcoat, also for black tie. If I can find a suitable bit of black silk-- something with a lot of texture-- I'll have another waistcoat run up. Finally, I have a waistcoat in Macmillan Hunting, cut on the bias and with black velvet lapels, now sadly outgrown, but still hanging in the closet against the day I become anorexic!

[Lyle1]

I've never thought that it was necessary that a vest and coat had to be made from the same fabric, but a coat and vest that do match is not too matchy matchy for me. I am partial to silk vests for evening wear (Saxon or highland).

[MacLowlife]

M o R, I have been casting around for interesting tartan options for ladies' evening wear. I am betting your waistcoat, worn as the only garment above the waist, would look quite fetching on a lass. Could you take a picture showing it worn that way?

[creagdhubh]

Thanks for the advice, gents!

[Zardoz]

Well, I've been wanting some colored waistcoats for a while now, I saw a piper a couple years ago wearing a black argyll and red waistcoat, and the idea has been kicking around in my head ever since.

A few months ago, I ordered up a red and a green "Service & Career Vest" from uniformalwearhouse.com for about 21 bucks each. They are pretty nice vests but as they are cut for wear with trousers, and I'm a bit short-waisted, they were way too long to work with the kilt. But using my good fitting tweed waistcoat as a guide, my wife and I shortened the bottom edge, and also took in the top of the shoulders a bit to further shorten and raise the gorge a bit, put on some horn buttons and they came out pretty good.

all this took place a bit at a time over a few weeks, so I didn't get any 'in process' photos, but here's some I took of the green one with the timer after coming home from a dressy lunchen today;




Don't have any shots of the red one, but I'm sure I'll be getting plenty of use out of them during the holidays, so you'll see it sooner or later!

[Grizzly]

For anyone in the Uk looking for a made to measure waistcoat from either stock fabric or from your own supplied material check out this website www.janetsteward.co.uk , made to measure waistcoats for less than £30 / $47 . Now thats what I call a bargain.

Chas - if you read this she is in your neck of the woods in Norfolk. She will make you one in silk with no problem