Selecting a Day Kilt Jacket, advice.

**RichardtheLarge** · 8th March 18, 03:06 PM

I’ve enjoyed a lot of mileage from my black barathea silver buttoned Argyll jacket. If you own no other kilt jackets, it is a great place to start and can be worn just about anywhere at multiple levels of formality.

If you are set on a tweed jacket, then I would go for it, but I believe that you would get significantly more mileage out of a jacket and vest like this in colored barathea. If you selected a non-descript button type (I see matte black pretty regularly nowadays), then this type of doublet could be worn with everything from a solid wool tie to a jabot.

As others have pointed out in this thread, the material of the jacket ultimately dictates the formality of the jacket moreso than the cut and style. That is, a tweed Sheriffmuir is quite casual, while a velvet Argyll is quite formal. Barathea is “middle of the road” and can go either way.

**McMurdo** · 8th March 18, 07:51 PM

I love the tweed sheriffmuir but I don't know where or when I would wear it. If it were me I would go for an Argyll jacket. If you are lucky you can find one on eBay or at a local tartan shop in your size. Here are a few of mine that I've picked up over the years some on EBay some at tartan shops and even one that was sent to me by a friend who purchased it but it didn't quite fit him.

This one was sent to me by a friend it's from 1931

This was handed down from a Grandfather

This was on consignment at a local tartan shop

Someone was selling this on the forum a while ago

I found this on EBay

Ex-Rental from a local tartan shop

This set I had made for me in a tartan I designed

I got this one from kilts4less.com for my nephew's wedding, though I would not wear it for daywear some others do.

So there are a myriad of ways of getting yourself a tweed day jacket. As I say I do like the jacket pictured but I do not know where I would wear it.

**RichardtheLarge** · 8th March 18, 08:16 PM

You’ve been holding out on us, McMurdo! I didn’t realize that you had not just the Wildcat tartan kilt suit, but also the Wildcat hose!

All that’s missing is your Wildcat belted plaid (almost kidding, but not quite).

**CollinMacD** · 8th March 18, 08:26 PM

Originally Posted by McMurdo

I love the tweed sheriffmuir but I don't know where or when I would wear it. If it were me I would go for an Argyll jacket. If you are lucky you can find one on eBay or at a local tartan shop in your size. Here are a few of mine that I've picked up over the years some on EBay some at tartan shops and even one that was sent to me by a friend who purchased it but it didn't quite fit him.

I got this one from kilts4less.com for my nephew's wedding, though I would not wear it for daywear some others do.

So there are a myriad of ways of getting yourself a tweed day jacket. As I say I do like the jacket pictured but I do not know where I would wear it.

All of them are very nice, but I just love the jacket that I have found. Appears you must wear the kilt often, my use of the kilt is maybe once a month, and most are black tie affairs. However I do not have a tweed and just love the jacket. I appreciate your style, but the jacket I have chosen is more of the style that I prefer. From what I understand as I have researched the Balmoral Tweed Kilt Doublet, it is not a Sheriffmuir Jacket, there are differences, The Balmoral was very popular pre WWII and one of the predominant jackets of the Highland. But you have a real nice wardrobe. Second jacket will be more conventional. Thanks so much for sharing.

**McMurdo** · 8th March 18, 08:54 PM

Originally Posted by CollinMacD

All of them are very nice, but I just love the jacket that I have found. Appears you must wear the kilt often, my use of the kilt is maybe once a month, and most are black tie affairs. However I do not have a tweed and just love the jacket. I appreciate your style, but the jacket I have chosen is more of the style that I prefer. From what I understand as I have researched the Balmoral Tweed Kilt Doublet, it is not a Sheriffmuir Jacket, there are differences, The Balmoral was very popular pre WWII and one of the predominant jackets of the Highland. But you have a real nice wardrobe. Second jacket will be more conventional. Thanks so much for sharing.

A friend of mine was the first with this jacket from House of Labrahan and I do like them a lot I just know it would not be my choice for a first jacket as to me it is neither fish nor fowl. Especially if I were going in for Black Tie affairs I would get something in barathea or velvet instead of tweed as these choices are more traditional for Black Tie. I question why you are asking for advice when it seems none is actually wanted.

**CollinMacD** · 8th March 18, 09:30 PM

Simply because I would like to make sure that I understand proper clothing to wear at appropriate events. Maybe I did not explain this correctly, I already own two formal jackets, and I do not just attend black tie events. I have been attending many more casual events and don't have any Day Jackets, I only have formal black dress jackets. However, I still want to maintain a high dress standard, I do not care for the polo shirts, sweaters, white hose, and boots look. I especially do not care much for the Jacobite shirt look, although I have one and did wear it recently but did not feel comfortable. I am looking for a much more dressier look. I prefer being sharp and distinguished, as an older gentleman with no issue wearing a tie and waistcoat. Why am I asking advice here, well I do not know a better place to come for such good advice and viewpoints from many perspectives. Not close minded, but from the post I have read above, many state that the tweed material does not really qualify as a formal or semi formal dress, but more as a Day Jacket regardless of the style of jacket. I just love the style of that Balmoral Tweed Kilt Doublet and to be honest, I want to be different but correct. I wear suits or sports coats with ties to work everyday, so having a style like I picked out, gets me out of the rut of the sports jacket look. You raise a good point, and I hope I was able to provide you an acceptable answer. Thank you.

Also, communicated with the vendor, sent my sizes in, selected my tweed, and will be ordering by end of month. I am going for it..... Here is the selection of my tweed and my kilt tartan.

I will let all know as I go along how things work out. Very excited, and think I made a good decision. I will buy another more standard jacket, two button Argyll tweed but will not spend as much as I am for this. Just to give me more choice depending upon the event. Most likely a charcol grey tweed, but that will be down the road, want to get through this first.

**Michael Flemming** · 8th March 18, 10:04 PM

It seems to me that Scottish events such as Highland Games are the perfect places for high-end day wear. If you are just out on city streets the "sport jacket" look probably works better.

**RichardtheLarge** · 8th March 18, 10:09 PM

Originally Posted by Michael Flemming

It seems to me that Scottish events such as Highland Games are the perfect places for high-end day wear. If you are just out on city streets the "sport jacket" look probably works better.

I agree with this; the Balmoral doublet in tweed would work for snazzy daywear at an afternoon wedding or the Highland Games. With that said, I think you would get better mileage from a green barathea.

**Michael Flemming** · 8th March 18, 10:19 PM

I'm leaning toward the 885 tweed myself...

**McMurdo** · 8th March 18, 10:53 PM

Thank you for the further explanation, as I said a friend of mine was the first person with this style jacket and he did much in the way of design of it and I think it is wonderful though he also has several more standard Argyll jackets to choose from. I do hope you enjoy it when it comes and I am sure you will be delighted with it. Please do post photos when you get it.