Ike jacket

[Hamish]

Hamish:
This one is for you, but other input is also solocited. I have a WWII Ike jacket similiar to the Brit combat jacket of the same era that makes for a great military-look with my kilt. What color shirt and tie would you recommend to wear with it? I have a gold shirt that looks great with this jacket so I could try a gold tie that blends like the old khaki shirt and tie that was originally worn with this jacket or should I try to coordinate a solid color tie using one of my tartan's colors-ancient Maclaren is my kilt I will be wearing.
Thanks
CR

Hi CR!

Whilst I do remember the WWII British khaki, combat 'blouse' as we called them (nasty, very rough and uncomfortable to wear, they were!), I cannot clearly see the Ike jacket, or rather, the colour of it! Also, I'm having some difficulting in imagining a "gold" shirt and tie ...... gold to me is something with a metallic sheen to it, but I cannot believe that is what you have in mind! Should I be thinking of something in a sort of mustard yellow - is that what you'd call "gold"? You do mention the khaki shirt and tie that were worn back in the 1940's, but I really do not think those would be appropriate for wear with the Ike jacket and your kilt - aping the real uniform too much, I'd say. On the other hand, you indicate that you actually WANT to achieve - a military 'look' - a uniform in other words. Is this for an historical re-enactment?

I am sorry, CR, but I'm getting more confused the more I think about this. The military 'look' is, personally, the last thing I would want but if you are being serious about that, then I suppose you should opt for the khaki shirt and tie, or something very close to it. In a military context, you would not wear a tie co-ordinated with a colour from your tartan.

Whatever, you select, I think you should be very careful not to be seen to be poorly imitating, in part, a respected military uniform. Or wearing a mish-mash of military and civilian items.

A final thought: I think I , in your shoes, might consider having the jacket dyed to a navy blue!! (I hope you don't consider that to be sacreligeous?) It would go well with your MacLaren tartan (and many other tartans too); it would be unique and it might not be seen by others as the misuse of a WWII uniform. That, worn with a white shirt and a plain woollen tie in almost any colour from your tartan would look very smart. You might even be able to get away with it on formal occasions, with a bow tie.

If I've grasped the wrong end of the stick with this, please excuse me. It's almost 1.00am and I've had a tiring day following a hectic weekend - I am sure I'm not at my best!!!