Tweed jacket opinion

**OC Richard** · 10th November 15, 05:57 PM

My first tweed kilt jacket, back in the 70s, was a thrift store/charity shop conversion I did myself.

There are two problems you run into, seems to me:

1) the lower of the two buttonholes is placed right where a kilt jacket would swoop away (assuming we're talking a traditional kilt jacket cut). I've seen people sew shut that buttonhole, making it almost disappear. Or, they make the front of the jacket angle back at a steep enough angle to avoid the buttonhole, but the result doesn't have the classic elegant cut.

2) the lower front pockets are usually placed rather lower than they are on a traditional kilt jacket. I have seen blazers with those pockets higher and more to the side which make better candidates for conversion. Or, if you can find a blazer with patch pockets these sometimes can be removed cleanly and you can place new pockets (or nonfunctional flaps if you wish) in the correct traditional locations.

Here you can see how a traditional kilt jacket swoops away from the single fastening button; though this is a current Ebay thing it has the classic cut. Note the elegant balance between the portion above the button and the portion below the button.

This is to be contrasted with the sort of shape people usually get from a conversion. Note how the fact that the button is so much lower changes the balance

I think if you started out with a three-button jacket (where the top button is higher than on a two-button jacket) the front would look more like a traditional kilt jacket.

**416 Rigby** · 10th November 15, 10:32 PM

Thanks, gents. I know tweed looks great with kilts, but was just a bit surprised at my wife's reaction. I told her lots of guys convert jackets. Maybe she just needs to see it in person. Then again, she likes the Duncan look from Monarch of the Glen.

I'm thinking that maybe the material that is removed from the bottom could be used to make patch pockets in the proper location.

I spoke with a gal at the local bridal shop about doing the work, just have to meet with her and see what she thinks. I'll show her some of these photos as a guide, as well as the previous threads.I'm hoping for a cost under $50.

**plaid preacher** · 11th November 15, 07:28 AM

Originally Posted by 416 Rigby

Thanks, gents. I know tweed looks great with kilts, but was just a bit surprised at my wife's reaction. I told her lots of guys convert jackets. Maybe she just needs to see it in person. Then again, she likes the Duncan look from Monarch of the Glen.

I'm thinking that maybe the material that is removed from the bottom could be used to make patch pockets in the proper location.

I spoke with a gal at the local bridal shop about doing the work, just have to meet with her and see what she thinks. I'll show her some of these photos as a guide, as well as the previous threads.I'm hoping for a cost under $50.

I think you may have misunderstood when someone mentioned patch pockets. The patch pockets are ideal for a conversion, because they can just be removed and there is no evidence that a pocket was ever there ( as opposed to the traditional slit/lined pocket which makes a slit through the tweed fabric). With patch pockets you can simply remove the pocket and use the material to make a false flap that can be placed anywhere on the jacket to make it appear as if there is a pocket there. With the slit style, most guys will move the flap a little to give the appearance of a higher pocket, but are limited to how high it can go because of the slit.

It is a great jacket though. I can't wait to see how everything turns out. I suspect your wife's problem (like mine) is they are used to a more matching look than is the case with traditional highland dress. But don't forget you will be wearing it with your kilt. Hopefully that will win her over.

Best of luck.

**Jock Scot** · 11th November 15, 07:44 AM

I am not clear whether your wife does not like tweed kilt jackets worn with the kilt, or she does not like the idea of tweed jackets converted to a kilt jacket worn with the kilt.

Anyway in case she is not convinced that tweed and kilts go very much together, show her this. Not a converted jacket though.

Or this.

**HarveyH** · 11th November 15, 04:56 PM

Tweed and a Kilt - natural combination. and I have to say I'm not all that worried about a conversion, standard jackets (sometimes rather offensively referred to on this site as 'Saxon' jackets) have a long honorable tradition of being worn with a kilt, and can look jolly good.

**MacEanruig** · 11th November 15, 08:37 PM

Originally Posted by Jock Scot

I am not clear whether your wife does not like tweed kilt jackets worn with the kilt, or she does not like the idea of tweed jackets converted to a kilt jacket worn with the kilt.

Anyway in case she is not convinced that tweed and kilts go very much together, show her this. Not a converted jacket though.

Or this.

Looking Braw, Jock.

**McMurdo** · 11th November 15, 10:12 PM

I think a brown tweed is wonderful with tartan and is an underused colour I quite like my brown argyll jacket that I got a while ago at a tartan shop on consignment.

Tweeds are very natural with the kilt regardless of the tweed or tartan, they just seem to work take a look at these photos

There are lots of different tweeds and kilts in the above photos but each one works in it's own way.

As for wearing a Saxon or Regular jacket with a kilt simply does not work for me. They look too long as they interfere with the fell of the kilt and they do not have a cut for the sporran in the front thus getting in the way there as well as looking sloppy and slovenly. I have found wearing a tweed argyll jacket with the kilt simply works because it looks right and was made for the kilt.

**Jock Scot** · 11th November 15, 10:42 PM

Originally Posted by HarveyH

Tweed and a Kilt - natural combination. and I have to say I'm not all that worried about a conversion, standard jackets (sometimes rather offensively referred to on this site as 'Saxon' jackets) have a long honorable tradition of being worn with a kilt, and can look jolly good.

As far as I am aware, the term "saxon" to differentiate one style of jacket from another was first(?) used in the book " So you are going to wear the kilt". I have no idea why that term was used, but it does have its uses. There is a marked difference in style and cut between the two, so I suppose it is helpful to know which we are talking about in our discussions here and "saxon" seems as good a description as any other to me. Have you a better suggestion?

**416 Rigby** · 11th November 15, 11:21 PM

Looking good, gents! I've always admired the tweed look. I've looked through many threads and photos. When I brought the jacket home, I understand she thought it would clash with the tartan. I haven't had a chance to put it on with the kilt, that will certainly help. I wear the kilt to work on Fridays, so we'll give it a go then.

I do know that she doesn't care for some of the more bold patterned tweeds, but I do. Some of them are almost outrageous and loud, but I think they're pretty cool.

We don't dress up, we're very simple, casual, jeans and t-shirt kind of people. We have no dressy clothes. We don't go to formal events, opera, symphony, or anything like that. I'm not even sure she knows what a Chanel jacket is, I sure don't.

**Jock Scot** · 11th November 15, 11:39 PM

Yes indeed some tweeds do look outrageously loud, but when worn out on the hill, they blend in perfectly with the surroundings. Many tweed patterns, "estate tweeds' as they are known, were and still are, woven to blend in with the landscape of a particular estate and was the first form of "cammo gear". Some of these "estate tweeds" are still jealously guarded by the estate owners and their staff who wear them with considerable pride, even today and knowing the tweed patterns can tell you which estate the wearer comes from.