Need some advice...daywear (shirt, vest, jacket)

[Bugbear]

Thanks, xman.

And as far as the wind, I think you would be more worried about your kilt than your jacket causing problems. That being said, the day wear jacket will have two side vents, the back being a flap, as well as, the jacket being shorter; all this probably changes the tendency to balloon up like a sail in the wind as the typical sack suit might.

[Jordan]

I can’t answer for other people or even the traditional point of view but I personally don’t button up any jacket I wear be it a kilt jacket or my suit jacket for work I just don’t feel quite comfortable doing it for some reason

Jordan

[Jock Scot]

WILDROVER.

We are quite used to a lot wind in the Highlands, but our jackets usually stay unbuttoned. However, if hypothermia is about to strike then common sense takes over and we might think about doing up the button. I don't think that a buttoned jacket is regarded as a hanging offence here, but unbuttoned is the norm and it would be assumed that you were a visitor if you were "buttoned up". Out of interest, the wind in the picture above was, at a guess, a steady 30MPH, gusting to say, 45MPH and not many degrees above freezing either!

I know that I must be sounding like a stuck record by now, but as with not bothering about doing up the jacket button it is quite normal for Highlanders not to be bothered about all this matching carry-on either. If anything does match, then I can almost bet that it is by accident!

[Downunder Kilt]

Hi Wildrover
I also wear the MacLaren tartan, both in modern and ancient colours. I have several tweed jackets and waistcoats to wear with them. One in charcoal, one in a loden green and one in lovet green. I also have a couple of Op shop converted harris tweed jackets which I wear with doeskin waistcoats. These converted ones are in brown tones which go rather well with the ancient tartan. As for cuff styles, they are a mixture of argyll, breamar and craill. I am currently contemplating ordering a ettrick poacher tweed jacket and waistcoat from the Scottish tartans museum, I think this would complement the MacLaren tartan extemely well

All the best in your projects

[McMurdo]

I find that the Charcoal Argyll Jacket and waistcoat is the most versatile that I own. I'd suggest taking a look at the 1 kilt 10 looks thread for some ideas.
http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/f...-attire-46888/

[wildrover]

Well, I hope I didn't say "match"! That's not what I'm after, anyway...I think "coordinated" is a good, vague description. I actually favor the green, blue, and brown jacket & vest, and charcoal is as dark as I'd go.

Here's why the buttoned/unbuttoned thing is so interesting to me. If I were looking for a jacket, in general, I'd pick something which had been made with a good silhouette, then finished to fit me. When the front is closed, you see the shape of the jacket, and hopefully, it's complementary to the wearer. When the front is open, the silhouette is almost completely lost...the jacket is nearly square to the bottom.

Anyway, I'm not going to worry about it, other than this--if you wanted to button the jacket (for whatever reason), is there enough material to allow it?

Downunder Kilt, got some photos? I'd really like to see the greens, with the Modern tartan. Good to know I'm not the only one thinking that "poacher" tweed would look good with Maclaren! ...Setting aside for the moment my g/f's assertion that I am "neither old nor professorial enough to be wearing tweed!"

McMurdo, I noticed Jamie is sporting an interesting vest & jacket combination in #5. Any thoughts? Or comments from anyone else? Not that I'm likely to go that route...just thought it was worth asking what people think would work, or not work, in that style.

Thanks everyone, for the advice so far!

-Sean

[chasem]

. . .Anyway, I'm not going to worry about it, other than this--if you wanted to button the jacket (for whatever reason), is there enough material to allow it?. . .

All my kilt jackets - excepting the Prince Charlie - will button.

[creagdhubh]

Greetings Sean,

Very interesting topic and I commend your spirited enthusiasm for Highland attire, and for it being worn properly. You obviously have a sense of style, fashion, and are a keen observer of gentlemen that wear Highland attire, ore specifically, Highland daywear, so well and effortlessly. HRH the Duke of Rothesay is one of these gentlemen that definitely has an extremely innate sense of style, sense of traditional fashion, and incorporates such respectable attributes into his Highland dress. I have always looked to HRH for motivation, ideas, and advice.

You are correct, I do own tweed day jackets with matching waistcoats from Kinloch-Anderson of Leith, Scotland. I own every color they make and I absolutely adore them. I do find the 'plain' style of jacket and waistcoat, such without the epaulettes, cuffs, and Argyll style pocket flaps, attractive and quite conservative, however I do own many traditional Argyll style jackets and matching waistcoats with all of the aforementioned details, and equally love that particular style as well! I interchange what I wear, and which style I wear depends on my mood and what event or happening that I am about to attend whilst wearing Highland attire. I really do enjoy assembly my outfits, as I am fortunate enough to have a nice, rather large Highland wardrobe to choose from.

What I would suggest for you as a solo piper, is to also take a look at P/M Gordon Walker's and P/M Roger Huth's outfits, specifically his 'day attire'. He wears it so damn well and looks very fashionable and every bit the gentlemen, every time! Of course, you are definitely off to a great start by already looking at various photos, trying to see what you prefer and what you think will work best for you. If money is no barrier for you, then you have a lot of freedom to shop around and purchase a wee bit of everything, or whatever you fancy. If you would only like to really put together one outfit at the moment for piping, and start with one daywear jacket and waistcoat, then I'd either go with the Kinloch-Anderson styles, which come in lovat green, lovat blue, and charcoal colours, or the Lochcarron Ettrick Tweed range, which come in a variety of colors and patterns (you posted a photo of the 'poacher' pattern in your post), or also the estate tweed range, inspired by authentic Scottish estate tweeds (which are not actually available for commercial purchase), which come in a plethora of designs, colors, and checks. The latter two can be found at the Scottish Tartans Museum Gift Shop, compliments to Matt Newsome.

I agree with Jock with regards to the buttons on the daywear tweed jacket, as well as any Highland jacket (daywear) that buttons for that matter, they should always be left unbuttoned, unless, like he mentioned, you become cold in the elements, or simply because you deem it necessary due to the weather whilst out-of-doors. I wouldn't button the top button if it is a two button closure, or the top two buttons (or the middle button only) if it is a three button closure (which are a bit of a rarity to see these days)-basically no matter how many buttons the jacket has, I'd leave them unbuttoned. It just looks much better anyhow, especially so people can see your waistcoat if you wear one, or perhaps a belt and buckle. I just find the unbuttoned look more aesthetically pleasing and stylish.

I hope that I helped my fellow Highlander and good luck with the search. Like I mentioned before, you are definitely off to a great start and I am eager to find out what you will decide to purchase. Please keep us updated and keep it up with the photos! Well done mate.


Detail of me in my Kinloch-Anderson daywear jacket and waistcoat in the charcoal tweed.


Detail of me in my Kinloch-Anderson daywear jacket and waistcoat in the lovat blue tweed.


Detail of me in my Kinloch-Anderson daywear jacket and waistcoat in the lovat green tweed (herringbone).


Detail ot me in my Kinloch-Anderson daywear jacket and waistcoat in the lovat blue tweed (yet note how different the lovat blue looks when worn with the red modern colours of my Macpherson tartan, versus the red ancient hues-keep that in mind!)


Detail of P/M Gordon Walker's attire, and him winning the Bratach Gorm (Blue Banner) in London.


Detail of P/M Roger Huth's attire whilst competing for the Bratach Gorm in London.



Yours aye,

[creagdhubh]

Dredging up a bunch of photos from the forum (and elsewhere)...I like the style of HRH's jacket and vest. Hell, I like the whole outfit.


A wee bit off topic, but since I am ever the loyal Macpherson clansman, I shall proceed. Take a wee look over the Duke of Argyll's right shoulder, our left when viewing the above photo, here you will find the face of my chief, Sir William Alan Macpherson of Cluny and Blairgowrie, TD. I had to say something!

Creag Dhubh!

[saxandpipes]

[/QUOTE]
Detail of P/M Gordon Walker's attire, and him winning the Bratach Gorm (Blue Banner) in London.


[/QUOTE]

How is it that a man that can play like that, also has such a great sense of style!

You can't go wrong if you take your inspiration from Gordon Walker. Probable couldn't hurt to take a few playing tips from him too ;)

Cheers,

Michael