Opinions Wanted: New Kilt Jacket (PIC)

[craigclan]

I figured it was a kilt jacket when I saw it . I thought it looked sharp . And I also skip by the slim fit stuff on my way to the well padded section lol

[Cygnus]

As a jacket that's not designed for wear with a kilt, I think it looks great!

There is something that didn't seem quite right from the picture of the front, and I couldn't put my finger on it until I saw the rear view. From the back, it looks just right. The curves toward the bottom of the front opening are more gentle/gradual than on most kilt jackets, which actually (to me) makes the jacket look longer than it really is.

But that's only a minor quibble - a cotton jacket sounds great for the summer heat, so I hope you are able to take full advantage of a cool look (in more ways than one)!

[CMcG]

For anyone who is thinking of trying something similar, I'd recommend first figuring out how much room you have to work with. Put on your kilt and a kilt jacket, then have someone measure from the bottom of your collar to the bottom of the fell. Bring a measuring tape shopping with you and you can quickly determine if any given jacket will cover your pleats or not by measuring the back length! Of course you also have to find one that is open enough to not cover the sporran, but a lot of jackets seem to be cut like the one I bought. I also brought my kilt and a sporran with me for a final test in the dressing room

As previously mentioned, I got mine at Forever21, but not all of their stores carry menswear and they have a fairly limited selection of sizes. Quite a few other stores are carrying this style of blazer, however, so it might be worth it to shop around.

[BCAC]

Excellent! Thanks for uploading the photo so quickly, Colin. I'll be honsest with you, it appears that the jacket may be just a wee bit on the long side as far as typical kilt jackets are concerned. However, it doesn't seem to be interfering with the pleats in any way. I must say that I really like the look of it on you, especially when paired with the green-based tartan you are wearing.

Well done,

That's very diplomatic of you, Kyle.

Let me be a bit less than diplomatic (everyone here knows that I like to call a spade a spade!).

Colin, I'm sorry, but your new jacket looks exactly like what it is. A saxon jacket worn with a kilt. A kilt jacket would look so much better. Taking into account a students budget (or a poor man's budget, like mine) it is possible to get exactly the right items for exactly the right price but it takes a lot of time and energy (also a bit of fortitude/courage to resist the many compromises possible). Unfortunately, you gave in to a compomise and a compromise is rarely the right solution. Sorry, again.

[McMurdo]

That's very diplomatic of you, Kyle.

Let me be a bit less than diplomatic (everyone here knows that I like to call a spade a spade!).

Colin, I'm sorry, but your new jacket looks exactly like what it is. A saxon jacket worn with a kilt. A kilt jacket would look so much better. Taking into account a students budget (or a poor man's budget, like mine) it is possible to get exactly the right items for exactly the right price but it takes a lot of time and energy (also a bit of fortitude/courage to resist the many compromises possible). Unfortunately, you gave in to a compomise and a compromise is rarely the right solution. Sorry, again.

It looks as if you are the odd man out on this one, at least one of the few detractors. As for me I have seen the jacket in person and while the styling is modern and a bit different from any argyll jacket I wear, I was under the impression that what I was seeing was a simply a modern kilt jacket. I say this as someone who has worn kilts for quite some time now. If you look at this photo it shows Nathan and myself wearing traditional kilt jackets and Colin wearing his jacket, notice the line of the opening for the sporran looks very similar with all 3 jackets. I will grant that there are styling differences I have Gauntlet cuffs, Nathan is wearing a jacket with the same cuffs you find on a Prince Charlie and Colin's jacket has a cuff detail you might find on a Crail style jacket, and no epaulette. However to me at any rate there is nothing wrong with the jacket Colin is wearing, it may be a bit modern for some of us but as a modern take on the kilt jacket goes I think it is perfect for summer wear as it is no doubt thinner thah even the thinnest tweed.



Another thought is that everyone who saw the jacket in person thought nothing of it and when this photo first appeared nobody on the forum or elsewhere questioned it all. This all tells me that the it is indeed successful in the role as either kilt wear or with trousers. Lets face it, if the jacket was that far off I am sure Colin would not have had to point out the provenance of the jacket.

[CMcG]

That's very diplomatic of you, Kyle.

Let me be a bit less than diplomatic (everyone here knows that I like to call a spade a spade!).

Colin, I'm sorry, but your new jacket looks exactly like what it is. A saxon jacket worn with a kilt. A kilt jacket would look so much better. Taking into account a students budget (or a poor man's budget, like mine) it is possible to get exactly the right items for exactly the right price but it takes a lot of time and energy (also a bit of fortitude/courage to resist the many compromises possible). Unfortunately, you gave in to a compomise and a compromise is rarely the right solution. Sorry, again.

I appreciate your candour, BCAC.

The funny thing is that when I first saw guys wearing this cut of jacket with p@nts, I thought they were wearing kilt jackets I wonder how people would have responded differently to this thread if I hadn't indicated the provenance of my jacket

I have a nice Harris tweed Argyll , but when the temperatures rise it just isn't suitable. There are lighter tweeds out there, but for a true summer weight kilt jacket the options are few, especially in the sub $100 price range.

You say that "A kilt jacket would look so much better," which raises the question: what is a kilt jacket? Do you mean a tweed Argyll with fancy cuffs and epaulettes? As Glen said, the style of my jacket is certainly more contemporary, as with the other photos I posted in the OP. Nonetheless, the short length and (gently) curved bottom are what we expect from a kilt jacket. If that isn't enough, then what are the defining features?

[Tobus]

Colin, I think you're absolutely right. If you hadn't told us where this jacket came from, I'd have just assumed it was a modern-cut streamlined kilt jacket. With the length being about the same as the sleeves, I'd have never guessed that this was not intended for kilt wear.

The single vent in the back is a bit different, of course. And I admit I don't like it as much as a double vented jacket, but I think it still works OK. It does a fine job for what it is.

[BCAC]

I appreciate your candour, BCAC.

The funny thing is that when I first saw guys wearing this cut of jacket with p@nts, I thought they were wearing kilt jackets I wonder how people would have responded differently to this thread if I hadn't indicated the provenance of my jacket

I have a nice Harris tweed Argyll , but when the temperatures rise it just isn't suitable. There are lighter tweeds out there, but for a true summer weight kilt jacket the options are few, especially in the sub $100 price range.

You say that "A kilt jacket would look so much better," which raises the question: what is a kilt jacket? Do you mean a tweed Argyll with fancy cuffs and epaulettes? As Glen said, the style of my jacket is certainly more contemporary, as with the other photos I posted in the OP. Nonetheless, the short length and (gently) curved bottom are what we expect from a kilt jacket. If that isn't enough, then what are the defining features?

Looking at the group photo, the differences are not flagrant. For me your jacket is a little too long, does not curve enough in the front for the sporran, has lapels which are too narrow and I'm not keen on the one vent at the back. If you can live with that, great.

To be honest, I did exactly the same thing as you last summer (except that I had my jacket tailored to lose 4 cm off the bottom). Therefore I have practically the same jacket hanging in my wardrobe that has never been worn except for the trying on after the tailoring, as I just don't like the look of it; Luckily it only cost me 20€.

It is an ongoing quest to find a lightweight kilt jacket that has all the features one would wish to find in a traditional kilt jacket but is comfortable to be worn when the weather heats up, doesn't cost an arm and a leg and does not get "crumpled" easily like a lot of lightweight tissus do.

[Grae]

I agree that is very hard to find a summer kilt jacket i have been looking for one for some time, I think you have done very well in this. I am still hopeful someone will offer a brushed cotton short jacket to wear in summer with the kilt.

[CMcG]

Looking at the group photo, the differences are not flagrant. For me your jacket is a little too long, does not curve enough in the front for the sporran, has lapels which are too narrow and I'm not keen on the one vent at the back. If you can live with that, great.

To be honest, I did exactly the same thing as you last summer (except that I had my jacket tailored to lose 4 cm off the bottom). Therefore I have practically the same jacket hanging in my wardrobe that has never been worn except for the trying on after the tailoring, as I just don't like the look of it; Luckily it only cost me 20€.

It is an ongoing quest to find a lightweight kilt jacket that has all the features one would wish to find in a traditional kilt jacket but is comfortable to be worn when the weather heats up, doesn't cost an arm and a leg and does not get "crumpled" easily like a lot of lightweight tissus do.

Ah, so you would prefer a more traditional looking jacket.

Not only can I "live with" the one I bought, I really like it! Being able to wear my jacket with both kilts and p@nts is an added, frugal bonus, but wasn't the sole arbiter of my choice. My tastes run towards the more contemporary end of THCD, though I was very cautious about not covering my pleats or sporran with the jacket. Things like single vs. double vent or lapel width are merely a question of aesthetics to me and I like the variety my new jacket offers.

As I mentioned in the OP, I like the Duke of Rothesay's stripped down kilt jackets. I also like some of the styling from 21stcenturykilts, though I still prefer tartan kilts and sporrans. In fact, my jacket has more of a sporran opening than Howie Nicholsby's kilt jackets, as you can see from the pics below:







The STM used to offer a linen kilt jacket for about $300, but I'm not seeing it on their website anymore. Linen also happens to rumple quite easily. Thus far, I'm pleased with the cotton twill on mine because it is light, but resists wrinkles a bit better than linen. Does anyone still make a summer kilt jacket?

Here's Matt Newsome modeling the STM linen kilt jacket. It had double vents, for those who prefer that: