Vest

[pinkpickle]

Looking for a good place to buy a vest or two to go with tweed jackets...I think navy or dark blue would be the best choice of colour for me

[Mikilt]

Hi there Pinpickle!

Since you are in B.C., why not start at Freedom Kilts in Victoria? Talk to Steve. He might be able to get you what you are looking for. See the banner at the top of this page.

Happy Hunting!

~M

Edited: Oops, I didn't realize how far Kamloops is from Victoria. Not exactly local. Still, give Steve a call. He is great to work with.

[Nathan]

Welcome, Pinkpickle!

If you want new, freedom kilts is a great option. You may also get lucky at your local thrift shops or on ebay.

[sydnie7]

And if you have a sewing machine, or know somebody who does, vests are dead simple to make.

[MacCathail]

This fellow specializes in the waistcoat:
http://www.newjerseypiper.com/vests.html

Now, I've never dealt with him and I only know what I see
on the website so I can't personally recommend.

But it might be worth a try for something
different.

Cheers,

-John-

[Aussie_Don]

This mob may be worth a look:

http://www.gentlemansemporium.com/gentlemans.php

Wide variety of colours and styles.


-Don

[TheOfficialBren]

And if you have a sewing machine, or know somebody who does, vests are dead simple to make.

I would love to learn more if it's not a bother.

[cck]

Please keep in mind that conventional vests may be too long to wear with a kilt and may hang below a kilt jacket or interfere with a sporran.

[HippieLee]

Please keep in mind that conventional vests may be too long to wear with a kilt and may hang below a kilt jacket or interfere with a sporran.

with that in mind, how would one tell? Say I'm in a thrift shop and there's a rack of tasty vests just waiting to complete my kilty adventures, what should I look for to make sure I'm getting a vest that works? This is assuming, of course, I didn't wear my kilt out shopping that day.

I've already gotten good advice here on jackets - mainly, check the sleeve length and see if they are longer than the coat OR decide id I'm up for alterations - but vests are maddeningly sleeveless in this regard.

I've never paid much attention to vests - My mom always bought me 3 piece suits from JC Penney for Sunday-go-to-meetin' clothes so I wore what was given to me. I couldn't tell you if they were 2, 3 or 10 button, any pockets or linings or anything. I just knew it was "shirt, then tie, then vest, then jacket" and "hurry up or we'll be late!" and, frankly, with apologies to all the good reverends and deacons and laity that post here, being late for church was never high on my list of things to be concerned over.

But now that I'm finally kilted I want to have vests to go with jackets and vests to go without jackets and I want to look as good as all the finely turned-out gentlemen I see here on a daily basis. I'm just not observant enough to look at the photos and determine what makes a good kilt vest. Colors I think I can handle but the cut, fit and finish is what I'm not sure about.

[Nathan]

with that in mind, how would one tell? Say I'm in a thrift shop and there's a rack of tasty vests just waiting to complete my kilty adventures, what should I look for to make sure I'm getting a vest that works? This is assuming, of course, I didn't wear my kilt out shopping that day.

I've already gotten good advice here on jackets - mainly, check the sleeve length and see if they are longer than the coat OR decide id I'm up for alterations - but vests are maddeningly sleeveless in this regard.

I've never paid much attention to vests - My mom always bought me 3 piece suits from JC Penney for Sunday-go-to-meetin' clothes so I wore what was given to me. I couldn't tell you if they were 2, 3 or 10 button, any pockets or linings or anything. I just knew it was "shirt, then tie, then vest, then jacket" and "hurry up or we'll be late!" and, frankly, with apologies to all the good reverends and deacons and laity that post here, being late for church was never high on my list of things to be concerned over.

But now that I'm finally kilted I want to have vests to go with jackets and vests to go without jackets and I want to look as good as all the finely turned-out gentlemen I see here on a daily basis. I'm just not observant enough to look at the photos and determine what makes a good kilt vest. Colors I think I can handle but the cut, fit and finish is what I'm not sure about.

I usually just eyeball a nice looking vest in my size. If it's made for a man of shorter stature, it usually works well for the kilt as I'm average height. If it's too long to go with my sporran, I wear it with trousers. Given the fact that they usually cost $10 or so, it's worth a try if I really like the cloth. I've been lucky, most have worked great with the kilt.