Should have been a kilt jacket...

[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.

[MacLowlife]

Anytime I find myself in the company of Old Regiment types who might recognize my jacket, even without insignia and with new buttons, I reach into my sporran for the Old Standby and attach a little metallic silver decoration to the lapels. Even its own mother wouldn't recognize it when I am finished.

It hasn't failed me yet.