uber formal on the cheap: dollar by dollar

**Alan H** · 9th July 07, 08:53 AM

Originally Posted by cacunn

I have been thinking about getting one of the Eton Jackets from Uniformwearhouse as a compliment to the tails coat I converted to a PC. My questions is if you replaced the original button and added the six side button and cuff buttons with button held in place with cotter pins, could you also carry a set of buttons covered in black cloth matching the coat, could the black button be used to make the coat less formal - almost day wear.

Rather than carry two coats you could carry two sets of button.

You'd have holes in your jacket, right? So you couldn't go "buttonless". So yeah, sure you could put on black buttons. Now, whether I'd consider that "day wear" or not is another question.....it will still be black.

Go geta tweed jacket and modify it. That is definitely day wear.

**cavscout** · 9th July 07, 09:07 AM

Here's a shot of the jacket done similar to Alan's (thanks to his heads up about the ebay listing)

I have to agree that the jacket being black really makes it difficult ot dress it down to a casual or semi-casual level.

A fe months back however, there was a photo of someone wearing a PC jacket (silver buttons and all) with a standard white button down collared shirt without a tie (or maybe it was a jacobite shirt, I only remember it had a collar and was open at the neck. It looked pretty good but still had a look of "at the end of the reception when everyones hot from dancing".

**oldsoldier** · 9th July 07, 12:31 PM

I know this original post is over a year old, but I'd be interested to see what the finished Eton jacket would look like. I ma not inclined to sewing a all...I fear even the buttons on the sleeves may be beyond me. But, I figure for lest than $70, I could afford to make a mistake or two

. I'd like to have a nice dress jacket for the Burns Supper next year, and will most likely go this route. I'd just like to see a finished product. Thanks!

**Panache** · 9th July 07, 02:44 PM

Originally Posted by oldsoldier

I know this original post is over a year old, but I'd be interested to see what the finished Eton jacket would look like.

Here is picture that walkerk took of Alan and his wife the Luminous Joan at our Burns' Night Supper earlier this year:

Cheers

Jamie

**cacunn** · 9th July 07, 04:01 PM

Go geta tweed jacket and modify it. That is definitely day wear.

That is a slight problem, I stand 6ft 1in and weight 285 lb and have looked in thrift shops in at least three states. NO jackets in my size tweed or otherwise. As long as I am losing weight I can't see buying a new day ware. I guess I will have to wait until I drop to thrift store weight.

**Panache** · 9th July 07, 04:44 PM

Originally Posted by cacunn

That is a slight problem, I stand 6ft 1in and weight 285 lb and have looked in thrift shops in at least three states. NO jackets in my size tweed or otherwise. As long as I am losing weight I can't see buying a new day ware. I guess I will have to wait until I drop to thrift store weight.

My Tweed Sports Coat that I had converted to a argyle like kilt jacket was purchased new for under $30 from Ross. It doesn't have to be dirt cheap, just cheap. Check out your local Ross, TJ Maxx, or even Target or Mervyns. There are deals to be had out there. Just keep looking!

Cheers

Jamie

**Casper** · 10th August 07, 03:10 PM

Is it just me, or do all of the Eton jackets at the UniformalWearHouse site have shawl collars?

**Captain** · 17th August 07, 05:51 AM

They do, which means you end up with something closer to a Brian Baru jacket than a PC, but still formal and still nice looking (in my opinion).

What I'm wondering about is the eton jack with the banded (mandarin) collar and buttons all the way up the front... could it become a doublet? I just might try it...

**Alan H** · 21st January 09, 10:54 AM

I just thought I'd bump this post again, since thomsec put together this EXACT outfit, as recommended in the first post in the thread, and wore it to our 2009 Nor Cal Rabble Burns Night.

He looked *great*.

I am wearing a rental Eton/Spencer jacket I got off of ebay, but thomsec actually got the Uniformalwearhouse jacket, put on cast pewter buttons, teamed it up with a USA Kilts kilt in the Isle of Skye tartan and looked super.

Yes, his kilt was a USA Kilts casual, and that's not the same as a full-on formal kilt, but he still looked super, and did it on a serious budget.

Well done, thomsec!

**Alan H** · 21st January 09, 11:08 AM

Originally Posted by Casper

Is it just me, or do all of the Eton jackets at the UniformalWearHouse site have shawl collars?

Yes, they have shawl collars. The one that thomsec was wearing at our Nor Cal 2009 burns Night has a shawl collar.

I know that Prince Charlie's don't have a shawl collar, but something to keep in mind here is that you are NOT TRYING TO MAKE A PRINCE CHARLIE OUT OF SOMETHING ELSE. You are trying to put together something that "works" in a formal setting, that is a good length for a kilt, and yet doesn't break the bank.

As for adapting various things to Montrose doublets etc. etc... I have no comment. Go for it, if you want to. My purpose in making this post was to show a way whereby someone on a very tight budget could own a quite passable formal getup without having to re-sew an entire jacket or coat, or do anything beyond sewing on some buttons.

Some of the original ebay links are toast, now but I'm sure you can find vendors who sell pewter celtic buttons, either round or diamond-shaped.