Concerning Doublets

[MacLowlife]

KDB,

I congratulate you on your good taste. But first, do remember, the Montrose has no tails. "Your" shell jacket is essentially a Montrose, with slightly different button placement ( The Montrose doublets I have seen have the buttons arranged slightly further apart at the top than at the bottom. My own Montrose doublet, made for me with love and patience by my sainted mother, is of mid blue velvet, but it has contrasting burgundy for the lining and my fond wish was that I could wear it with the lapels buttoned back or half open as the gent in the other photo does. Sadly, there were hitches between concept and execution that stopped my Montrose from being that versatile. I do not believe any of them are inherent, but we ran into hitches that made it impractical to wear the doublet other than buttoned all of the way up.

Please see my thread MONTROSE MULTIPLEX

http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/f...ltiplex-55197/

In which your brilliant idea is touched upon and Mr. MacLean posts the pic you posted above.

Probably the best thing in that earlier thread ( Other than JSFMacL's photo of the half-buttoned gent ) is the link to Folkwear patterns' BELGIAN CHEF'S JACKET http://folkwear.com/133.html which would probably have made a much better starting point than the McCall's pattern we used. If you want to compare, the McCall's number is M4745, I believe.

The big thing to remember is that many Montrose doublets do not include two full fronts- and if they do, a full lining for each front makes the jacket four layers thick. You may as well add Kevlar and call the thing bulletproof! But, in order to get the contrast / button back effect, you are going to need all of those layers. And someone will need to make buttonholes that work through all of that and maybe a little interfacing as well. Worst of all, it has to be made to fit NOW and probably can't be let out if it should shrink in your closet, because of the velvet. Oh, yeah, and then there are the pressing/ steaming issues, too.

May I suggest that you also consider piping or edging in the lining color, for when you do wear it buttoned all of the way up?

Think of how easily THIS look could be adapted for your Montrose:

http://www.robeshop.com/cassh-122.htm

Please let us know when yours is complete.

[KD Burke]

Original?!? I would never presume! I've not had an original thought in my life. I count myself fortunate if I can comprehend the ideas of others after deliberate and thorough explanation!

As to the piping, I'd already considered, and mentally approved of the thought.

I must find some talented soul capable of performing such a miracle before I can even think of commissioning it.

KD
:ootd: