Jacket Advice needed

[Graham]

I assumed my daughters' wedding at the end of the year would be informal, but I've learned that the men will be wearing suits and ties.

So, good excuse to buy a jacket, however, the wedding is in summer in South Australia - HOT, the jackets I've seen on kiltstore all seem to be tweed and wool.

Are there any suggestions for lightweight kilt jackets, and suppliers?
thanks

[auld argonian]

I've been mulling over the same thing...after watching last weeks installment of Monarch of the Glen and taking note of the outfit that Golly was wearing for a job interview, I had to think that his jacket, which was in tweed, bore a resemblance to what we in the US would call and "Ike" jacket (after the President and General Dwight David Eisenhower). Thought that there might be some promise in looking in for things using that as a sort of "keyword". I would assume that there would have been/still are things like that made in a suitably tropical material.

I've seen a couple of threads that dealt with re-tailoring existing jackets to go with kilts...I suggested in one that I had seen some lighter weight jackets sold as "seperates" at a Target store here and that they would probably be easier to re-configure owing to their lighter weight. Don't know if there's Target over there on the other side of the world but all of this stuff is being made in the Far East (hell, you're closer to the manufacturer than I am!) anyway (except for the stuff that has the label "made in Slovenia"...and as we all know: nothing says "quality" like "made in Slovenia"). I've got to assume that lighter weight suits are the norm due to the climate so I'd think that you might have better luck re-engineering a nice light weight jacket rather than try to find one "off the rack".

best

Auld Argonian

...and, I'll tell you, we decided to forgo the "monkey suits" when I got hitched and I went out an spent the money on a nice Valentino suit...one of the best decisions that we made!

[jjoseph]

...daughters' wedding...the men will be wearing suits and ties...summer in South Australia - HOT
Are there any suggestions for lightweight kilt jackets, and suppliers?

It's been years, but I worked in NSW for a while (lived out near Lightning Ridge then in Paramatta by Sydney). I remember that there were folks who suited and tied for the Anglican church service there; seemed to favor grey jackets in a light wool. I bet you can find a summer weight (summer in Britain) wool in lovat grey or green easily enough. But if you can get by w/ linen, it's ton's cooler and breathes more. A bit casual though. I don't know how difficult, if at all, it is to get offshore stuff to Tasmania, but if you don't have a lot of time to shop online, I'd go with buying a regular jacket and having a tailor cut it down.

[Raphael]

How about finding a tailor in your neck of the wood and ask him to tailor your a jacket for the wedding. It may be cheaper than buying one from oversea.

It is your daughter's wedding after all and I think you need to explore all options in getting the best looking jacket that you can afford.

[macwilkin]

I've been mulling over the same thing...after watching last weeks installment of Monarch of the Glen and taking note of the outfit that Golly was wearing for a job interview, I had to think that his jacket, which was in tweed, bore a resemblance to what we in the US would call and "Ike" jacket (after the President and General Dwight David Eisenhower). Thought that there might be some promise in looking in for things using that as a sort of "keyword". I would assume that there would have been/still are things like that made in a suitably tropical material.

Golly's jacket in question was a standard tweed day jacket, not an "Ike" jacket, which is similar to the British Battle Dress Jacket of the Second World War -- the web site for Sav's WWII Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders reenactment unit has some good pictures of this style, which is a short "shell" jacket.

Cheers,

Todd

[auld argonian]

Golly's jacket in question was a standard tweed day jacket, not an "Ike" jacket, which is similar to the British Battle Dress Jacket of the Second World War -- the web site for Sav's WWII Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders reenactment unit has some good pictures of this style, which is a short "shell" jacket.

Cheers,

Todd

Thanks for the references. I did recognize that there were differences and that the Ike Jacket looked a lot more "military" than the one in the MOTG episode...the similarities being the length, the epaulets and, if I remember what I saw correctly, the waist on Golly's jacket was "banded" (for lack of a better term as I don't know how else to describe it)...these features made me think that this particular jacket did look a little more "military" than, say, a Crail Jacket. I know that the epaulets are traditional and sort of a "standard" feature on most kilt jackets. If I think of any reference on the jackets worn by the WWII highland regiments, I think of the costuming in "Tunes of Glory" as being about right though of a slightly later vintage.

It's all in how to describe something here in the US to folks who aren't very familiar with them. If I found a jacket to take to a tailor, I would probably have to explain that the waist should be at about the same spot as an Ike Jacket...though with the profound grasp of history in this country (!) I might have a hard time finding anyone who remembers who "Ike" was. It's like the old question: we called it a Nehru Jacket...what did Nehru call it? If you asked him, he'd probably say, "...it's just a jacket...why do you ask?"

And. let's face it, most folks probably think that Nehru was the guy who invented the Nehru Jacket and know little else about him.

...sorry to drift so far off topic...middle age...you know how it gets.

best

Auld Argonian

[Alan H]

You know, in this particular situation...

Need a lightweight jacket
need it to be really smart-looking
limited time

I might bite the bullet and go to a tailor. Take pictures of argyll and braemer and crail jackets. Take lots of them, take pics of the darts in back, take pics of the pockets, etc. If you can take in an existing jacket that's heavier weight, but in the style you want, it'll help. Think hard about what sort of material you'd like. A light suiting wool is a good possibility,I'd also agree with linen, though linen is a serious stinker to keep looking crisp. It wrinkles at the slightest opportunity.

a light summer-suiting weight plain wool blend might be the ticket.

This won't be "cheap". But on the other hand, when you're done you will have a great jacket for summer, and you will be able to wear it for decades, as it will be the furthest thing from "disposably trendy" than anyone can imagine..

[GMan]

I agree with Alan Graham. I have looked at the price of new ones, and the price of getting one made is very comparable. I used to get shirts made for me when I was in the business world and the cost per shirt was and still is (to me anyway) $50.00US. Yesterday I was at a department store and looked at some shirts for the cost of $70.00US. Granted this was at Nieman-Marcus (Needless Markup).

[Cawdorian]

Man, all this talk about an "Ike" jacket reminded me that I am old enough to have actually worn one in ROTC back in the days of the old "Brown Shoe Army". It was a nice comfy jacket, much more comfortable than the newer green tunics they switched to in the "Black Shoe Army". Only problem was it only came in one color OD!

Jim (feeling old)

[Sherry]

I third Alan on this one. You can have a jacket made up to your specifications, or find a jacket you like & have it shortened to wear with your kilt. You'll have a jacket that you can wear for many years.

Sherry