Burns Night is coming. Formal on the cheap.

**usonian** · 30th November 12, 09:21 AM

My formal jacket at the moment is a spencer jacket - I got mine third hand with silver celtic buttons already sewn on, and I'm quite happy with it until such time as I decide to invest in a PC.

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I believe it originally came from here -100% wool spencer jacket for $59.00.

I haven't worn it to a black tie event with lots of other kilted folks yet, so I can't speak to how many eyebrows it might raise... but at an event where most people aren't kilted you'll probably be hard-pressed to find anyone who knows the difference between a PC, spencer jacket, argyle, etc.

**Zardoz** · 30th November 12, 11:29 AM

I did exactly what Allen suggests for years, although I prefer nicer shirts that you can get at Uniformal.
I recently 'upgraded' to a nice wool tailcoat that I got from a tux re-seller for like 40 bucks and had a local tailor modify into my version of a PC style jacket;

Total cost for the coat, tailoring and buttons was under 80 bucks, and is plenty good for the 2 or 3 black tie events I might attend every year

**Alan H** · 30th November 12, 12:26 PM

Originally Posted by usonian

I believe it originally came from here -100% wool spencer jacket for $59.00.

I haven't worn it to a black tie event with lots of other kilted folks yet, so I can't speak to how many eyebrows it might raise... but at an event where most people aren't kilted you'll probably be hard-pressed to find anyone who knows the difference between a PC, spencer jacket, argyle, etc.

That Spencer jacket looks like a good deal, actually. $59? Can't beat it. If I was going to be attending a black tie event, I'd be tempted...well... if they had a size that would fit me, but they only go up to 48 and I need a 50 or 52.

Yeah, the Uniformalwearhouse stuff is polyester. EEeeeeewww. ---> But so is your poly-viscose kilt, eh? Anyway, they don't claim to be the same stuff as wool, and if you've got a "wool budget" then absolutely, purchase a wool jacket. But if you don't have the budget, you're not completely stuck.

**Alan H** · 30th November 12, 12:30 PM

Originally Posted by CMcG

I absolutely ADORE what you've written here

My only objection is that the Uniformalwearhouse jacket is polyester, which tends not to breath and looks extra "waiter-ish". For the same price, one can find a (used?) wool Spencer or Eton jacket, which IMHO would look and feel better.

I dunno, Colin. monkey@arms ... who doesn't post here much any more, had one of these Eton jackets and from 6 feet away I sure couldn't tell. I thought he looked great. He did say that it was only partially lined... but hey, that's why it's $39.

I have to say though, if the Spencer Jacket that usonian gave us the link to is A.) wool and B.) only $20 more than the Uniformalwearhouse jacket, I'd be hard pressed to justify the polyester jacket.

**CMcG** · 30th November 12, 01:08 PM

Originally Posted by Alan H

I dunno, Colin. monkey@arms ... who doesn't post here much any more, had one of these Eton jackets and from 6 feet away I sure couldn't tell. I thought he looked great. He did say that it was only partially lined... but hey, that's why it's $39.

I have to say though, if the Spencer Jacket that usonian gave us the link to is A.) wool and B.) only $20 more than the Uniformalwearhouse jacket, I'd be hard pressed to justify the polyester jacket.

I'm sure monkey@arms looked smashing and I'm not saying that polyester is categorically wrong or bad. My point is merely that one can get a short-waisted formal jacket, in wool, for LESS money than the Uniformalwearhouse jacket. Friday's link showed just one example, for $35. I'd agree that even for an extra $20 at the link usonian provided, it would still be worth it.

I've also seen Spencer/Eton jackets on eBay and my local thrift shops for $25-$40, assuming a typical bargain hunter doesn't have a problem with used clothing...

**Alan H** · 30th November 12, 01:36 PM

Originally Posted by CMcG

I'm sure monkey@arms looked smashing and I'm not saying that polyester is categorically wrong or bad. My point is merely that one can get a short-waisted formal jacket, in wool, for LESS money than the Uniformalwearhouse jacket. Friday's link showed just one example, for $35. I'd agree that even for an extra $20 at the link usonian provided, it would still be worth it.

I've also seen Spencer/Eton jackets on eBay and my local thrift shops for $25-$40, assuming a typical bargain hunter doesn't have a problem with used clothing...

Wow...I've scanned our local Goodwill shops for years and never found anything! You're lucky! I wish I WOULD find something!

**CMcG** · 30th November 12, 01:45 PM

Originally Posted by Alan H

Wow...I've scanned our local Goodwill shops for years and never found anything! You're lucky! I wish I WOULD find something!

I guess we are lucky in Toronto

If you're ever in the neighbourhood, you should check out Kensington Market. There are a ton of vintage/consignment/thrift shops with all kinds of goodies, sometimes even including kilts! I'm pretty sure the people that run these shops comb the Goodwills and get everything good before we ever find them

Granted, you would pay $25-$40 for a short tux jacket in Kensington Market, rather than $7-14 at the Goodwill

but they have a pretty good, curated selection, which means less garbage to sift through than the donation-stocked Goodwill or Salvation Army.

**Tobus** · 30th November 12, 02:11 PM

Alan, those are great options for those looking to dress up on a budget.

I'd also recommend looking on eBay for "mess jackets" or "mess dress". I just did a quick check, and there are tons of them on there, in lots of sizes, at prices from $10 to $50. A simple removal of accents that make them look military would clean them up for civilian use without having to do any real tailor-style alterations.

**tundramanq** · 31st January 13, 05:06 PM

XMarks evil influence strikes again. I just bought a black Spenser Jacket from worldwidetuxedos.com - $69 including shipping. They had my size and price. Like the little birdy - Cheep, cheep, cheep.

I love the look of the PC but choke on the price for an item I may never use as full formal.

Will this jacket work in less formal mode sans waistcoat (vest)?

Also am not a jewelry person so I will be swapping the buttons to probably smaller less flashy Celtic ( I did see a neat Viking set) pewter buttons. Possibly leaving the sleeves and "tail" buttonless. Are there rules on size, design, material and color of the buttons.

When I get it I will model it as is as am unsure of the tail designs PC-ness.

I want this jacket usable by me without, bending any noses.

**CMcG** · 31st January 13, 05:57 PM

Originally Posted by tundramanq

...
Will this jacket work in less formal mode sans waistcoat (vest)?

Also am not a jewelry person so I will be swapping the buttons to probably smaller less flashy Celtic ( I did see a neat Viking set) pewter buttons. Possibly leaving the sleeves and "tail" buttonless. Are there rules on size, design, material and color of the buttons.

...

You can definitely wear it without a waistcoat and replace it with a waist plate belt or go with neither. I don't think, however, that does much to reduce the formality... it is basically a short tuxedo jacket.

As far as I know, Spencer jackets don't have tails, so you needn't worry about what to do with them. Nor does it have fancy cuffs (gauntlet, mariner, etc), so you would only need to think about the buttons on the front and the regular cuff. Traditionally, formal buttons are silver and tend to be diamond shaped, like the ones seen on a typical PC, but pewter would definitely tone down the bling.