Should have been a kilt jacket...

[MacLowlife]

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

[Irish Jack O'Brian]

For my money, the best repurposed jackets are dress mess jackets and their civilian counterparts. Next would be Ike jackets and their ilk.

There are some interesting and CHEAP Ike jackets (2 for $20) at Sportsman's Guide right now. Only in sizes 42 and 46 and I don't think the girl comes with.

[SlackerDrummer]

There are some interesting and CHEAP Ike jackets (2 for $20) at Sportsman's Guide right now. Only in sizes 42 and 46 and I don't think the girl comes with.

This leather jacket on that site could be nice with a kilt. It has a VERY short waist height, perfect for showing off your tartan.

[Whidbey78]

Sportsman' Guide often has military dress jackets that could make good kilt jackets.

I'm seriously thinking about ordering this. Since there are two jackets I could try again if I don't like the results. Plus there would be a lot of extra material for cuffs and such. The only thing that might be a problem is pocket location, but there are ways around that too. The seams running down each side of the front are a bit odd though...
http://www.sportsmansguide.com/net/c....aspx?a=743118

These might be workable as well.
http://www.sportsmansguide.com/net/c....aspx?a=738084

http://www.sportsmansguide.com/net/c....aspx?a=645003

[MacLowlife]

Those Sportsman's Guide offerings look good. I kept looking in my last shipping box for the girl in the picture, but she wasn't there.

I like to check the length of the jacket against the length of the sleeve as a good indicator of how long the jacket is. I think a standard Argyll has sleeves about as long as the jacket skirt. The Czech one looks promising, but the picture shows it buttoning RIGHT OVER LEFT, which might explain the presence of what I believe are known as "princess seams". Uncle Gary may be mistakenly trying to sell us womens jackets- or the image may be reversed.

The Belgian one doesn't look too bad, either, with a patch pocket that ought to be simple to move or shorten.

[auld argonian]

Makes you wonder what they sell in European military surplus stores....we seem to get all of their stuff over here. I've had a Dutch field jacket for a while and it always gets compliments...

Best

AA

[Whidbey78]

I like to check the length of the jacket against the length of the sleeve as a good indicator of how long the jacket is. I think a standard Argyll has sleeves about as long as the jacket skirt. The Czech one looks promising, but the picture shows it buttoning RIGHT OVER LEFT, which might explain the presence of what I believe are known as "princess seams". Uncle Gary may be mistakenly trying to sell us womens jackets- or the image may be reversed.

I check the length by comparing it to the sleeve as well. It's about the only thing you can use in a photo for reference.

Now that you point it out, the Czech jacket is right over left, at least in the pic. Hmmm. Glad you caught that...I was just about to place an order. Might have to investigate this first. Thanks for the heads-up.

[CMcG]

<snip>
For my money, the best repurposed jackets are dress mess jackets and their civilian counterparts.

I did a bit of searching for mess dress jackets and came up with a couple that look interesting. My only concern with these in a civilian context is somehow disrespecting the military unit they come from. I seem to recall reading somewhere that it would be sufficient to put on non-regimental buttons and remove any patches, braiding, or other insignia?

Royal Artillery, I like red lapels.


Gurkha Rifles, I like the cut, colour and cuffs. Imagine it with buttons up both sides of the front, like on a Sheriffmuir...


And by "civilian counterpart" I assume MacLl meant the Spencer/Eton/bumfreezer/waist coat?

[MacLowlife]

C McG,


Once again, you are spot on. You might try looking for jackets both under "Dress Mess" and under "Mess Jacket".

I agree with you on the red lapels. I believe the Royal House of Windsor livery includes red lapels, even if I have botched the reference or phrasing. Somewhere there are pics of the Duke of Edinburgh and the Duke of Rothesay in jackets with contrasting lapels ( and kilts). Chances are, they would be too polite to observe the faux pas of your wearing such a jacket in their presence. The US Army uses red lapels for certain units and gold ones for others. The US Air Force has/had a solid blue jacket with shawl lapels. Some British units use all red jackets or red jackets with black or green lapels and cuff facings.

Some American jackets delineate rank with braid and/or knots at the cuffs and I believe it would be more polite to remove this, along with any other insignia that might be present.

Not to disparage anybody's clothes, but I find the Spencer/Eton jackets sold new for under $50 to be, well, a little too waiterly, if you will. Better to buy a used one that originally cost a little more, if the choice is available.

[CMcG]

<snip>
I agree with you on the red lapels. I believe the Royal House of Windsor livery includes red lapels, even if I have botched the reference or phrasing. Somewhere there are pics of the Duke of Edinburgh and the Duke of Rothesay in jackets with contrasting lapels ( and kilts). Chances are, they would be too polite to observe the faux pas of your wearing such a jacket in their presence.

And there lies the rub... if a mess jacket is too distinctive, even without insignia, one could make a faux-pas? Not that I have any chance of dining with a Duke anytime soon

Here's some royal examples:

<snip>
Not to disparage anybody's clothes, but I find the Spencer/Eton jackets sold new for under $50 to be, well, a little too waiterly, if you will. Better to buy a used one that originally cost a little more, if the choice is available.

Yes, the polyester bumfreezer is usually a waiter's jacket and not optimal. The 100% wool ones marketed as dinner jackets would be a much better choice and can be had cheaply as ex-rentals. I've had some luck finding them for sale on eBay by searching "tuxedo waistcoat" or at my local thrift shop.