Kilt-Length Blazer

[Jock Scot]

Funnily enough I had thought of the regimental badge on the blazer thing when I read the first post and wondered if anyone did it with a kilt jacket. I also think that the military/vet/civilian aspect is slightly different to the pure civilian/Clan aspect.

Well alright, let us take the three tank men as an example. I do not recognise the tartan(Rose perhaps?), my eyes are not that sharp these days, but let us assume its a Regimental tartan. So, we have a 4th Tanks tartan(?),, I assume a 4th Tanks tie and a 4th Tanks badge on their chest, overkill? For me, yes

So lets go to the Clan example that the OP was enquiring about. MacOnion tartan, MacOnion Clan badge on the chest, Overkill? I think so. We could even load the scene even more if we choose, MacOnion tartan flashes, a MacOnion tie, MacOnion hose, and a MacOnion fly plaid.Overkill?

So, it all relies on the eye of the beholder and the military/vet aspect is something that is probably going to be a slightly different tradition to pure civilian requirements, however I think the picture of those three Tank men(are they members of a pipe band, I wonder? Civilians just do not dress like that in Scotland) does illustrate perfectly the danger of overdoing things and if we go back to the OP's question, in pure civilian terms several yards of Clan tartan in the form of the kilt, is more than enough to show the world which team one is batting for!

[Bruce Scott]

I am specifically wanting a Patch Pocket Club Blazer styled jacket to have the embroidered clan crest applied to the chest pocket for clan functions.

Contemporary jackets like this one from Kinloch Anderson are available but none seem to feature patch pockets.
the_kinloch_anderson_day_kilt_jacket_in_dark_grey_tweed_full_image_2.jpg

Perhaps a local tailor could produce what you want using an argyll jacket as a guide for length and sporran cutaway.

[The Q]

As an aside to the main thread, I have more than a passing interest in the RTR as my Grandfather had been CSM in the 4th RTR but was RSM of the 7th RTR at Tobruk, I think I can say the embroiderers attempt at a Mark 1 tank on the badge is one of the worst I've seen.

[KevinKeith]

Rocky at USA Kilts made me a kilt jacket in a navy, tropical (three season) wool. I believe he also calls it the Piper Flex material. I'll spare you the details of my jacket, but since it is being made, there are several style options regarding the cuffs, pockets, buttons, epaulettes, etc.

[Benning Boy]

It takes a bit of patience to find one in your size, but you find blazers and similar sports coats suitable for conversion to kilt length jackets regularly on ebay. I look for those without vents, and having patch pockets. I landed a very nice Hugo Boss blazer with conversion in mind, but so far have found it nice enough to wear with conventional clothing, and haven't done anything to it yet.

Personally, I don't feel there is any law that requires the wear of an Argyle, and only an Argyle for day wear. Seeing someone kilted and in a blazer style jacket or conventional sport coat style wouldn't cause me cardiac arrhythmia.


Patch pockets, too, are OK with me. Read all the jacket conversion threads here, and you'll see how much trouble set-in pockets cause. They usually become useless ornaments. Patch pockets can be placed in a way that allows them to be usable.


I suspect there was a time when the jackets most commonly worn with kilts had nothing but patch pockets, but that was too long ago to be consider traditional, by those who don't allow for anything worn with kilts prior to 1950 to be considered traditional.


No doubt a myriad of old images showing sports in kilts and jackets with set-in pockets can be found and posted here to prove a point. But I contend that set-in pockets add only to the price of a bespoke jacket, and to the labor put into making a jacket from scratch at home. In the days before tradition, common folks probably used jackets with patch pockets much more often than not because they were less costly in money or labor. These folks are also the ones least photographed, and least likely to have portraits painted. So pictorial evidence is basically nonexistent.