Thanks for the eBay link. I do not see this one on eBay US. It being poly-cotton, I wonder about how dressed up it can be, but it might well work. If you check out mess dress jackets, they often have bucket style cuffs in a contrasting color, which are simple enough to add. As it is, this jacket ( the one with the standup collar and slit pockets) has elements of dress, elements of military, and then the cotton fabrication, which is a little more daywear oriented. I do think one can wear cotton, especially nice, pressed cotton, for certain dressy occasions- and it brings the advantage of being lightweight.

HOWEVER, as an old man, I find more and more truth to what they say about polishing a t*rd and converting sows ears into silk purses. I am constantly tempted, but I try hard to keep my money in my pocket and my eyes on the road. And, of course, I am limited by the number of times I have already jumped.

For my money, the best repurposed jackets are dress mess jackets and their civilian counterparts. Next would be the shorter Korean blazers mentioned above. Next would be Ike jackets and their ilk. You do not have to monkey with the construction of any of these- just change the buttons and add cuff treatments as you desire.


Next would come regular Saxon jackets and blazers (and some uniform tunics), which must be shortened, (often including adjusting pocket flaps) to become Argyll style jackets. I expect next would be a tailcoat converted into a PC, which can be simpler because of the lack of waist pockets.

Climbing the scale of rarity and difficulty, I would suggest next either conversion of a plain saxon blazer into a PC or conversion of a blazer or tailcoat into a regulation doublet . Either of these involves actually monkeying with tails and tashes as well as contending with pockets and possibly button stance. It is possible to run into a Nehru style velvet jacket and I have been thinking of creating tashes/ skirt flaps out of the regular blazer skirts of one of them. But paying for this kind of work probably costs more than a good rental -return PC...

Some wise person has already pointed out that you need to balance all of this exuberant tailoring with your own needs. If you are fortunate enough to attend Highland balls on a regular basis, I would endorse going as big as you can. If you wear a kilt fewer than a dozen times annually and most of them in the same rooms with men in sweaters, I would suggest that versatility has its virtues. Get the lifestyle first, then the wardrobe. I know, because I have clothes for occasions I have yet to experience. The money would be useful now and then. Can you say Argyll*, friends?

None of this is to say that altering a navy velvet or moleskin blazer into a special evening jacket is not worthwhile. Of course it is. But so is giving a third of your riches to the poor. It just may not be practical right now. But it may make you feel very very good, which is worth something, too.

Please pardon my rant- and remember that I am preaching to myself as much as to anyone.




*OH, and one more thing- a dark blue Argyll is as appropriate as a black one for most formal events and it looks a lot better ( IMHO) in the daylight. It also looks less like you ordered Option B from the Kilt Department at Sears...

M'll