Entire DIY ensemble

[Arlen]

That is a very, very sharp outfit. Good for you, Hector!

[Standard]

Good on ya, you should be proud of your work. It's always nice to be able to sport what you have produced with your own hands. Great look, and as you say the price was right.

[george7]

You ought to start making things on the side to sell at art festivals and such.

[macneighill]

Hector, that ensemble looks absolutely fabulous!! A very sharp outfit .

[Spc. Scott]

A very impressive show of talent there Hector! A great job on your kit and you wear it well.

[kevinkinney]

Nicely cut!

Kevin.

[Panache]

Hector,

You asked for comments / critique so I would like give you my honest opinion of your ensemble. First off let me say that I am very impressed that you were able to do your jacket and waistcoat conversions yourself, I lack the skill with a needle to do anything but sew patches on things (and the F-H.C.A.G. might have a tale or two to tell about how I messed up doing that!)

Taking a look at your ensemble

What works for me

The kilt jacket, kilt, and hose all go well together. The grays, while not the same, are complimentary to each other.

The red tie and red flashes work well as a counterpoint to the gray (I use red flashes and tie myself to similar effect when wearing darker colors/tartans)

The sporran tassel colors. The white tassels give the simple black leather sporran a bit of flash that elevate it into a dressier accessory (a more elaborate/ brighter button on the flap would be even better)

What doesn't work for me

The waistcoat, while nice in itself, it just doesn't work color wise with the jacket or the kilt (it appears to have a greenish cast to it as opposed to the slate color of the kilt jacket and kilt). It also has a texture to it that stands out as being far too different from the kilt and kilt jacket. It is a nice waistcoat and I think it would work well with a tartan kilt.

Belt and Waistcoat. Some may disagree, but I think you wear one or the other. Wearing both makes one's waistcoat look too short.

The shirt. A simple white shirt or even better a pale blue one, would make your outfit look far more elegant. The check just doesn't seem very dressy and takes away from the dramatic flair of the very nice red tie.

The sporran tassel length. They seem to long to me. I think they would look better if the ends didn't hang below the sporran.



This is just my two cents, take it for what it is worth.

Cheers

Jamie

[fluter]

Hector, you're looking very distinguished. Congratulations on your excellent work.

I see Jamie's point about the color of the vest, but I'm not certain. Our perception of the colors may easily be skewed by the indoor lighting, the flash, and the camera's color characteristics. Take a good look at the outfit both indoors and in daylight to make a decision.

The vest is really quite nice, as everyone has said. I don't have any problem with the vest matching up with the other grey garments. Somehow to me, the jacket, vest, and kilt look appropriate together---dare I say it, like something a Scot would wear.

I wonder if the vest would look better without the blue added to the mix by the shirt. An afterthought: I scrolled the shirt up off my screen, and I really do like the combination.

A white shirt might make for a more harmonious combination and would dress up the ensemble quite a bit: that gorgeous red tie would look terrific on a white shirt, very dressy! Alternatively, a white or neutral shirt with a green tie and flashes (or green hose) might turn the green shade of the waistcoat into an asset, "pulling" it into the whole outfit in a different way.

Congrats again, and well done.
- Ken

[Mr.Charles Anthony]

Zwounds! You have done a very proffesional re-cuting of a commerical coat. With this level of competence, you should try some of the Patterns for these items. Then you can choose fabricks, styles to suit you desires.
One thought, I would change the plastic buttons; the coat can be self covered buttons, or a contrast button. The weskit would do well with brass or pewter
Thus the thoughts of
Mr.C.Anthony
Historical Tailor
Member-Recreated 74th Regt.Argyle Highlanders

[Mr.Charles Anthony]

Addium; Weskit Lenght;
An original weskit was long enough to cover the waistband/ belt before it flared left and right. The inverted 'v' shape was designed to make acess to the breeches flap eaiser than fishing thru the long skirts of the earlier style of weskit.
Even a 21st Cent. weskit, with its short circular hemline, looks short and dumb, when worn with trowsers, if it does not cover the belt line.
Thus I would Ditto this advice to Kilt-o-philles: have yourt weskit long enough to cover the belt line, before the inverted 'v' starts, generally the last button of the weskit lies over the belt buckle.
Would some care to enlighten both the Membership and I?: were not the original belts worn to have the buckles turned to the back or one side when worn? This was my understanding, and how I wear mine. Fancy, whoop skip, belt buckle plates are a Victorian and later fashion trend.
Again, the thoughts of;
Mr.C Anthony