Jacket Measurements

[MacBean]

I have been scanning eBait for a jacket, but find the commonly used measurements difficult to work with. I have tried measuring my own jackets, but only get more confused. Any recommendations from those who have purchased used jackets successfully?

I did win one simple Lovat green tweed kilt jacket, which is a perfect fit in the shoulders, OK in the arms, but possibly short in length - but then, I've never had a kilt jacket before. It seems to me that my other jackets have the bottom button fastening over my belly button, which makes sense, as it would allow one to bend over without disturbing the jacket fit. My green kilt jacket's bottom button fastens 4.5" above the belly button. Is that too high? What do you find on yours?

[Jock Scot]

You will find that kilt jackets are cut shorter than "normal" jackets to allow the kilt pleats to swing to the best advantage. Just so you know,the kilt jacket is usually left unbuttoned,but the choice is yours. It may be of help if you looked for kilt jacket pictures in the picture section to give you an idea. To help here is an oft used picture of me and kilt jacket(argyll).

[HarborSpringsPiper]

My Argyll jackets are 5" shorter than my regular sportcoats/ suit jackets, measured from the back at the collar seam to the hem (I can pretty much wear any US 44R off the rack and am just shy of 5'10"). I measured and it is approximately 6" from my navel to the top button on the two-button Argyll's I own. The two buttons on my blazer are placed differently than the Argylls on account of the kilt rise, so that is a more difficult comparison.

As you might be aware, British size their coats to chest circumference of the garment itself, whereas in the States it goes by actual chest size. So if you have a 44" chest, you would wear a size 46 coat made to British standards.

[MacBean]

Thanks for the useful replies. Ken, you say 6" from navel to top button, but how far from navel to the bottom button please?

[ForresterModern]

The typical kilt jacket is cut short so that the sleeves are about an inch or two LONGER than the bottom of the jacket hem.

[Jock Scot]

Thanks for the useful replies. Ken, you say 6" from navel to top button, but how far from navel to the bottom button please?

Alright, if it helps may I chip in too? My jacket in the picture was hand made and as such, was built to my wish some twenty years ago. In this part of the world we only have one button, but there is nothing wrong in having two. Anyway, at a guess my button is about two inches, perhaps a wee tad more above my navel.

[MacBean]

Based on the helpful replies, the jacket is a close fit, but probably still shorter than it should be. Jacket was made by Alex Scott & Co., Aberdeen, a nice Harris Tweed (even if it has two buttons) . I guess I'll wear it until I can purchase something better. I like Jock's a lot.

[HarborSpringsPiper]

I just measured and indeed it is 2 - 2 1/2 inches from navel to bottom button on both of my jackets.

Jock, until I looked at your jacket I never took notice that some Argyll jackets have two buttons and some have one. Both my tweed, maded in Scotland decades ago and a navy Braemar I purchased new within the last ten years from Higgins, made in the USA, have two buttons. I cruised different Highland wear purveyors on the web and see that depending on the seller, either or both styles are displayed.

[Jock Scot]

I just measured and indeed it is 2 - 2 1/2 inches from navel to bottom button on both of my jackets. Jock, until I looked at your jacket I never took notice that some Argyll jackets have two buttons and some have one. Both my tweed, maded in Scotland decades ago and a navy Braemar I purchased new within the last ten years from Higgins, made in the USA, have two buttons. I cruised different Highland wear purveyors on the web and see that depending on the seller, either or both styles are displayed.

By me saying "this part of the World" I did not mean the UK,I actually meant a narrower area than that. The west Highlands of Scotland!Sadly we have no local tailors any more, the last, local to me died a few years ago. There is a place in Inveraray,which is a fair way from me that looks like a possible though.Yes Chris(Redshank)I really will visit one of these days! Back to buttons!It was usually assumed two buttons was a Southern and Eastern Scots thing and a single button was a Western Highlands fashion. I am never too sure that was really true but funnily enough all my argyll jackets have one button and OK, they were all bespoke,but I do not recall ever discussing how many buttons to have at the front of the jacket, so I had what I was given!Of course these days,with the world wide commercial environment we live in today, regional fashion quirks no longer exist,which is a shame.

[M. A. C. Newsome]

Based on the helpful replies, the jacket is a close fit, but probably still shorter than it should be. Jacket was made by Alex Scott & Co., Aberdeen, a nice Harris Tweed (even if it has two buttons) . I guess I'll wear it until I can purchase something better. I like Jock's a lot.

Something better than a vintage Harris Tweed kilt jacket?! Sounds like you scored a find. We all want to see pictures!