Lookin for a "do all" tweed jacket

**JSFMACLJR** · 27th May 13, 04:13 PM

Originally Posted by knotty

Im looking at my kilts & trying to decide what tweed jacket & waistcoat I should be looking at.
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My heart says I should get a charcoal because it will go with everything & nothing looks better than a 3 piece.
Would there be a better looking option to go with 3 kilts?

sanx
Knotty

I would give a pass on the charcoal and go with that delightful tweed in the photos. It works perfectly with any MacLean tartan. Why have the same as everyone else?

**davidlpope** · 27th May 13, 06:48 PM

I agree with Sandy. Buy a very unique, very well-made tweed jacket and waistcoat. Wear it for every daytime event. You'll be amazed at how many compliments you'll get simply because it doesn't look like every other black/charcoal/lovat green jacket...

**Downunder Kilt** · 27th May 13, 07:11 PM

Totally agree with David and Sandy. I have a number of tweed jackets, lovat green, highland green, charcoal, poachers tweed, but the one I get the most admiring comments for is the brown check one, not disimilar to your selection.

**CMcG** · 27th May 13, 08:12 PM

Originally Posted by knotty

My heart says I should get a charcoal because it will go with everything & nothing looks better than a 3 piece.
Would there be a better looking option to go with 3 kilts?

I'd say follow your heart and get the charcoal. The caveat is that if you want a true 3 piece, it would need to be literally cut from the same cloth. If that is not possible, then it would be better to follow your head and get a contrasting jacket, because it will look better than an "almost" 3 piece.

**ThistleDown** · 27th May 13, 11:54 PM

Knotty, if you decide on the charcoal decide also on Argyll cuffs and find either horn buttons, have round ones self-covered or choose a matt black knot. I have a charcoal jacket with horn buttons that have darkened with age (and probably misuse) and I love it still, even after 25 or 30 years

**Wil** · 28th May 13, 10:08 AM

Just keep in mind what your climate is like (year around). I have a beautiful jacket and waistcoat that is heavy wool. It is too much for my climate. I still wear it but I get more use out of a lighter weight jacket.

**thescot** · 28th May 13, 10:31 AM

I live near Wil and can attest that my heavy wool jacket is a bit too warm for much of the year. You can get lighter weight if you order it or find a nice jacket you can have tailored.

As to charcoal, it's a great do-all and very dressy. I wear one for dressy outings and when wearing a clerical collar because it's so . . . plain.

But overall, I concur with Sandy. A multi-colored tweed tends to change its look with a change in the light and the other colors you have on. I own a tweed jacket for cooler weather that works with grays, browns, or just about anything else, and you'd swear it was mostly one or the other depending on my trouser color.

**OC Richard** · 29th May 13, 07:01 PM

I normally wear a black Argyll, the standard jacket for pipers nowadays, for funerals and weddings and what not:

A while back I picked up a charcoal tweed on Ebay:

After wearing it a few times I decided that it wasn't different enough from the black jacket, and I picked up a lovely green tweed jacket (again on Ebay):

Most pipers own a black Argyll only and it's their do-all jacket. However if I wasn't a piper and I could only own one jacket it would probably be the charcoal one.

**Tobus** · 30th May 13, 05:54 AM

Dale, I love love love that jacket and waistcoat! IMHO, that's a perfect example of the versatility of tweed. The multi-coloured pattern really can develop a different look in different lights. Up close, people can see the complexity of the colours, while far away it comes off as a plain colour. It's surprising how even indoor lighting differences can really change the 'mood' of the tweed. Fluorescent lights give it one hue, while incandescent lights give it another. I really do think of a good tweed jacket as a 'mood' jacket (kinda like a mood ring). You just never really know what colour jacket it's going to be until you get to your destination!

I've a jacket in similar hues, albeit not as vibrant as yours. As you can see below, when this tweed is viewed up close, it consists of white, brown and green colours. From a distance, it can look like anywhere from a light grey to a greenish or brownish hue ...depending on the lighting.

So yeah, if I had to choose a "do all" tweed jacket, it would definitely be something in this range. Any tweed with a nice mixture of browns, greens, and blues in it will be a lovely choice for any occasion where tweed would be acceptable. I would stay away from a boring plain-coloured charcoal jacket, but that's just me.

**Dale Seago** · 30th May 13, 10:07 AM

Originally Posted by Tobus

. . .The multi-coloured pattern really can develop a different look in different lights. Up close, people can see the complexity of the colours, while far away it comes off as a plain colour. It's surprising how even indoor lighting differences can really change the 'mood' of the tweed. Fluorescent lights give it one hue, while incandescent lights give it another. I really do think of a good tweed jacket as a 'mood' jacket (kinda like a mood ring). You just never really know what colour jacket it's going to be until you get to your destination!

Good description, and yours is another beautiful example!!!