Tux with tails to Prince Charlie conversion

**Panache** · 29th September 06, 09:04 AM

Taking a cue from Prester John's wife I am looking to convert my old tuxedo jacket* with tails (being it is of good quality and condition) into a Prince Charlie. I am thinking of using the diamond shaped thistle buttons from Three Feathers Pewter

http://www.threefeatherspewter.com/Buttons%20Celtic.htm

My friend Gryphonaire is going to loan me his PC to take with me to the Tailor's shop so we have a model to go by.

I had a few questions.

I was wondering about the vest for a Prince Charlie. Most of the pictures I have found of PC jackets show them worn with a very low vest with a mere three buttons. Can a taller vest with more buttons be worn or is that not true to the PC look?

Are all the buttons on a PC jacket the same size? Or are the cuff and epaulette buttons smaller like the vest buttons?

Is the PC always to be worn with a vest (I've seen a few pictures showing it worn with a belt and no vest)?

Lastly if any one has pictures of themselves in a PC (preferably both front and back) I'd love to see them.

Anyone who has done this/ had it done I'd love any tips.

Cheers

* The pants that I have to go with it are obviously of inferior quality, having shrunk to unreasonable size whilst sitting in my closet for the last decade. That is my tale and I am holding fast to it.

**cavscout** · 29th September 06, 09:16 AM

I cannot offer advice but I think it will turn out well. And to supplement the information for those reading later, a good vest for this purpose can be found at Uniformal Warehouse

**Bob C** · 29th September 06, 09:17 AM

Good luck with your project, Panache. Here are a couple pics of me in my PC. I don't have any of the back, but I'll try to shoot some for you this weekend.

Without looking at the pics, I would not have remembered that the buttons on the sleeves were the same size as the ones on the front. I would not recommend the jacket without a vest, but that could just be a personal preference.

**Colin** · 29th September 06, 09:22 AM

Originally Posted by cavscout

I cannot offer advice but I think it will turn out well. And to supplement the information for those reading later, a good vest for this purpose can be found at Uniformal Warehouse

another option is to email Burnetts & Struth and see if they have your size in the $45 (cdn) clear out PC waistcoats (a bit down the page. http://www.burnetts-struth.com/sale_items.asp

**Robin** · 29th September 06, 09:41 AM

**Robin** · 29th September 06, 09:41 AM

**switchblade5984** · 29th September 06, 10:44 AM

nice pics

since this is a conversion it may not help

however if you go to the fabric stores in your area and look in the costume sections of the pattern books there is a pc jacket in one of the sets

**Panache** · 29th September 06, 02:36 PM

Thanks for the links and pictures!

I will post before and after pictures when this project is completed.

Cheers

**Blu (Ontario)** · 29th September 06, 07:27 PM

Every time I see one of these conversions, I get the urge to have one of my old jackets turned into something mode useful. I rarely wear a blazer ant more and I aven't owned a suit for many years. I consider this "recylcing" at its best.

.

**Panache** · 1st October 06, 08:59 AM

This is the jacket I'm planning on modifying. I still haven't decided if I need a new vest or not for a PC outfit (it would certainly be cheaper to just replace the buttons.) I also think that I should purchase a black bowtie, I'm not quite sure about the one I'm wearing here :rolleyes:

My thanks to Sinbad for taking the picture. Way to go kiddo.

Cheers