HERE'S a TREAT

**Jock Scot** · 1st March 13, 02:50 PM

Just an observation, that we might wish to consider and you can take it how you will, but many a THCD Scot would probably consider the kilt jacket in the ebay picture on the first post as a step too far on the pattern front. Just a tad too loud for a kilt jacket, fine as a shooting suit out on the hill in some places, but not with a tartan kilt. Patterns are absolutely great for a kilt jacket, but there are limits I suggest.

**OC Richard** · 7th March 13, 08:52 PM

Yes Jock maybe it's getting a bit too tartanlike perhaps?

I don't know... I really like this photo

He's the well-known piper Archie MacPhedran, born 1885.

**Jock Scot** · 8th March 13, 02:35 AM

Yes OCR that is a nice tweed that goes well with the tartan. I am pleased that you are beginning to see that some tweed patterns are just too much on occasion with kilt jackets. The bookies runner, or worse still, the clown look are quite easily achieved if one is not careful with patterned tweed kilt day jackets.

**M. A. C. Newsome** · 8th March 13, 05:17 AM

I, personally, like to see a contrast in size of pattern. So for a kilt with an average-to-large sett size, a jacket with a nice, tight checked pattern would look splendid. But in the above photo posted by OCR, the kilt is in a very small sett tartan, and so the lager pattern on the jacket setts it off quite nicely.

I think Jock is correct, mixing patterns can be overdone. However, in my experience most Americans suffer from the opposite malady and are hesitant to mix any patterns at all. It has been an uphill battle for me to convince many of my co-patriots that it is ok to wear a tattersal shirt with their tartan kilt, or that the windowpane tweed might add a bit more character to their daywear ensemble than the plain colored tweed jacket they were contemplating. I'm happy to risk "overdoing it" a bit if it means getting people to branch out and experiment with more patterns in their Highland attire. Sure there will be a few missteps along the way, but that always happens when one is learning to walk! :-)

**CMcG** · 8th March 13, 07:57 AM

I think the jacket MacLowlife posted is gorgeous, but that it wouldn't go with just any old tartan kilt. It would be great with a solid colour kilt, a tweed kilt with a subtle pattern, or maybe even a low contrast tartan like Black Watch, especially if it were a small sett as Matt has suggested. OCR's picture of Archie MacPhedran (above) appears to be a shepherd's check kilt and a bold patterned jacket also looks good there.

A "Loud" MacLeod kilt and the jacket MacLowlife posted? Not so much

**Jock Scot** · 8th March 13, 08:05 AM

Everybody sees things differently Colin and that is as it should be, but personally I would not put that "eBay jacket" on a scarecrow!

**CMcG** · 8th March 13, 08:12 AM

Originally Posted by Jock Scot

Everybody sees things differently Colin and that is as it should be, but personally I would not put that "eBay jacket" on a scarecrow!

Oh, I don't know Jock... it could look smashing on the right scarecrow

Don't get me wrong, though. Despite my appreciation for that eBay jacket and my musings about what tartan it may or may not go with, I don't think I would ever wear it...

**creagdhubh** · 12th March 13, 05:24 AM

Originally Posted by M. A. C. Newsome

I, personally, like to see a contrast in size of pattern. So for a kilt with an average-to-large sett size, a jacket with a nice, tight checked pattern would look splendid. But in the above photo posted by OCR, the kilt is in a very small sett tartan, and so the lager pattern on the jacket setts it off quite nicely.

I think Jock is correct, mixing patterns can be overdone. However, in my experience most Americans suffer from the opposite malady and are hesitant to mix any patterns at all. It has been an uphill battle for me to convince many of my co-patriots that it is ok to wear a tattersal shirt with their tartan kilt, or that the windowpane tweed might add a bit more character to their daywear ensemble than the plain colored tweed jacket they were contemplating. I'm happy to risk "overdoing it" a bit if it means getting people to branch out and experiment with more patterns in their Highland attire. Sure there will be a few missteps along the way, but that always happens when one is learning to walk! :-)

Well stated, Matt!