Argyll Vests

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

I have to agree with Jock Scot; I've only seen one person (the late Lord Borthwick) wear a tartan waistcoat with a tweed day wear jacket. The only reason that it worked (in my opinion) was that the repeat of the sett of the Borthwick Tartan on the waistcoat was about one and a half inches, in other words much tinier than the repeat on Borthwick's kilt.

With a black Argyll jacket a black waistcoat, cut either for day wear (5/6 buttons) or evening wear (3/4 buttons), is the only appropriate choice.

[JSFMACLJR]

I have to agree with Jock Scot; I've only seen one person (the late Lord Borthwick) wear a tartan waistcoat with a tweed day wear jacket. The only reason that it worked (in my opinion) was that the repeat of the sett of the Borthwick Tartan on the waistcoat was about one and a half inches, in other words much tinier than the repeat on Borthwick's kilt.

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I do have a photograph of Farquharson of Invercauld wearing a tartan waistcoat. Interestingly, if you look very closely, it appears that Invercauld is wearing two belts!



Sandford MacLean

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

I do have a photograph of Farquharson of Invercauld wearing a tartan waistcoat. Interestingly, if you look very closely, it appears that Invercauld is wearing two belts!



Sandford MacLean

I can't make out if that's a second belt, or the hem of a lightweight pull over worn to keep out the cold. BUT what this shows is how some Scots really do dress, as opposed to the photos seen on kilt shop web sites. No one seems to be worried about sporran straps matching shoes, or flashes, or any of the myriad of other things some of us really do spend too much time on. Both gentlemen are impeccably and traditionally dressed, as befits the occasion and their status.

Invercauld is wearing a tartan waistcoat (not cut on the bias) with four pockets. His watch is in the top pockets. His visible belt (worn over the waistcoat) displays either his arms or crest (I can't quite make it out). He looks every inch a Highland Chief, which he is, right down to his horse blanket kilt pin, worn the correct way with the clasp down.

And that's why Invercauld's outfit works. Everything is worn correctly (kilt at right height, hose at right height, sporran right where it needs to be, etc.). What a great photo!