Two vent or not to vent

**Asser 1** · 20th September 09, 01:57 PM

Ok cheesy title!

I was looking on the picture thread of HRH Prince Charles. It is a great thread and since I have been wearing a kilt Charles and Philip have been the guide. I also loved the bias cut Balmoral waistcoat with the Royal Stuart kilt Philip was wearing in the last picture, I would not have thought of mixing the two tartans but he pulled it off with class. I like the look but am not for sure about the dress Stuart Charles was wearing.

Now to the point of this post

I noticed in one of the pictures where he was wearing the blackish charcoal day jacket that when he was turned around the jacket appeared to have no vents. You all know that typically a day jacket has double vents and all the saxon jackets that I have had cut into day jackets I have put double vents in.

Is HRH not following convention? Has the convention changed? Did the picture just appear that there were no vents?

I think the double vents are a nice detail and with a saxon jacket they have the purpose of hiding your '****' when sticking your hands in your pockets. With a kilt they really have no purpose.

I was just curious if anyone noticed and your thoughts on the matter.

**Jock Scot** · 20th September 09, 02:06 PM

Without doubt Prince Charles will be wearing bespoke tailoring, so he will be wearing exactly what HE wants, not what he has to make do with off the peg. It is as simple as that.

**Hamish** · 20th September 09, 05:01 PM

Originally Posted by Jock Scot

Without doubt Prince Charles will be wearing bespoke tailoring, so he will be wearing exactly what HE wants, not what he has to make do with off the peg. It is as simple as that.

You took the very words from my own mouth, Jock.

Additionally, whilst Prince Charles may appear to follow tradition most of the time with regard to dress, he is individualistic and does not always follow convention. I know this from my own experience of working with Royal Warrant holders, and members of his personal staff, for over thirty years.

Take care,
Ham.

**Rex_Tremende** · 20th September 09, 05:06 PM

Originally Posted by Hamish

Additionally, whilst Prince Charles may appear to follow tradition most of the time with regard to dress, he is individualistic and does not always follow convention.

Can we quote you on that?

Regards,
Rex.

**Jock Scot** · 21st September 09, 03:18 AM

Prince Charles can and does break with convention with highland attire,no doubt other things too, he has his own mind and what is more he can afford it! His kilted pictures demonstrate so well, his impeccable taste when breaking with convention. He can only succeed in doing so by having first hand knowledge of what is required. Money does not necessarily enter into the equation, nor does slavish adherence to convention.

Sadly and I am not trying to be rude or petty, there are many in this world who do not know kilt wearing conventions well enough, or, have the depth of knowledge to be able to "adjust" those conventions successfully. Personal flair is down to the individual to make Highland attire work well, some like The Prince can do it well, some like Sir "Shaun" Connery fail miserably.

**Matthew Siegmann** · 21st September 09, 03:56 AM

Can someone inform me of the importance of the vents? I never found them that attractive on the jackets. I'd rather go without too.

**Bugbear** · 21st September 09, 04:11 AM

Originally Posted by Matthew Siegmann

Can someone inform me of the importance of the vents? I never found them that attractive on the jackets. I'd rather go without too.

On the Argyle type jackets, the vents are there to allow the front-bottom of the jacket to move a bit in relation to the back-bottom of the jacket as the hips etc move. Since the kilt jacket is to be worn open, or not buttoned, the vents aren't too important if the jacket is well talored and properly flared out from the waist. A single, center vent in the back, like many sport jackets have, would not work well on a kilt jacket for a number of reasons, so... you can just leave the vents off.

I'm sure someone else can add to that.

**McMurdo** · 21st September 09, 04:25 AM

I was going to say something about this last night, but found that Jock and Hamish had said it so well already. Of course HRH Prince Charles the Duke of Rothesay wears bespoke jackets etc. would you expect any less from the heir to the throne? I know I would not. However if you go over photos you will find examples of the double vent on the jackets worn, why are they there? The answer is ease of movement. Here is an example.

And another

And one more

So you see he may not follow convention, in all areas of highland wear, or other areas of his life, for that matter, he certainly does have the flair to carry it off well, but I think the vent question is an anomaly. The vents are there for a reason, and I'm sure HRH Prince Charles the Duke of Rothesay knows it.

**Jock Scot** · 21st September 09, 04:38 AM

Just to add one thing more about vents. The kilt jacket is "cut" to be a "snug" fit and they are meant to be that way and are more "snug" than many realise, so the vents do allow better movement. This is worth remembering when ordering your first kilt jacket, as many have been surprised when they have to re-order a jacket at least a size larger. Bespoke tailoring does have its advantages!

**Asser 1** · 21st September 09, 04:44 AM

McMurdo,

The jacket HRH is wearing in your second picture in your post is the one I am referring to or is like the one I am referring to. I have noticed that most of his jackets have the double vents but there is one picture on the picture thread I mentioned in the original post that it looks as though there are no vents in the jacket at all. This may just be the lighting of the picture that appears that way and I have brought this up for nothing. I will try to find the picture and post it on this thread.

I can't imagine a day jacket looking right or functioning right with out them.

As to an earlier comment about HRH breaking the rules "you have to know them to break them" is my personal motto on all fashion. I would agree I doubt Sir Sean knows the rules to break them. But then again HRH has been wearing kilts from his days as a wee lad and Connery didn't get a kilt till he was well into his 60's or later. It takes time and wearing often to feel and look comfortable and uninhibited in a kilt.

Look at pictures of Prince Andrew and Prince Edward, they do it well but don't have the comfortable debonair flair that Charles and Philip have and the late Duke of Windsor had.