What do you wear under...

[Hamish]

The most comfortable item to wear under your Montrose Doublet will undoubletly (!!) be a T-shirt. I've been wearing that style doublet for over fourty years and have always gone down the T-shirt route. If it's a good fitting doublet, you can easily get away with wearing the jabot directly on your neck, and I have always worn the cuffs loosely tacked to the inside of the doublet's sleeves. This style of jacket is not one that you are going to be able to take off during the course of an event, and so what you wear underneath it is of no importance other than to yourself, and your personal comfort.

In my Photo Album is a photo of my Montrose (taken in the 1960's!) and also several of my recently acquired GT Doublet, which is a single-breasted version of it. To date I have worn this only in the style of the Montrose, but it can be worn with the belt on the kilt rather than on the jacket, and with the bottom two or three doublet buttons undone - ie: worn loosely, like any other jacket. However, when worn like that a formal white shirt would be required.

I hope this helps you decide.

[ByDand]

I had always worn the Jabot collar and sleeve ends under mine until Higgins offered the Jabot shirt for men. Now I wear that. The Jabot shirt is comfortable, the lace stays in place and I don't have to worry about the sleeve ends coming undone. Cost wise it is relatively inexpensive and will last for years, unless like mine the closet air being so restrictive it actually shrinks over time...this also happens to my suits, sports jackets, chinos and everything else I keep in that closet. I must change closets with my wife because nothing in her closet ever shrinks!!! :-P

[Nick]

Thanks for the advice I like the sound of the jabot shirt, but with the doublet I wonder if it might be too warm in the summer? Either way I'll explore both possibilities.

I agree, Shotdir, the Montrose is the sharpest way to go.