Coloured Waistcoats

**English Bloke** · 30th June 11, 09:49 AM

I WOULD happen to still have it... although it has never occurred to me to wear it with my Kilt as it is still pukka mess kit and not obsolete. It also has tailored holes in the shawl lapels for regimental collar dogs (badges) which if removed, really spoil the look and appear as though the wearer has forgotten to put them in. This would be a cardinal sin in the Mess and one which would send the 'Top Soldier' into apoplexy and land you on duties till the end of time. That kind of rule of fear does things to the psyche of a man so there are some things even I cannot do.

If it was all black (say like the REME) I may get away with it, I love the cut of a Mess Jacket but mine has coloured facings (on the shawl collar) and would just look like re-hashed Mess Kit, to me at least. I could never be comfortable in it for when you leave, you leave the club and you stop wearing the clothes.

If I were to excise the waistcoat for it's stand-alone loveliness, I would have to change the buttons and I'm not sure standard shiny, highland jacket buttons would work... But maybe that's because my eye wouldn't be used to seeing it that way. mmmmm... Maybe antiqued buttons?.... but then I'd have to change all the buttons on my jacket too... Ohhh it's all too much of a faff... What about black buttons... See where we are with this? I think I'll just leave it.

I did once consider replacing the square buttons on my PC jacket with Regimental buttons (I'm pickled in Regimental Pride) but then I took myself to one side and gave myself a good, stiff talking to. The nearest I'll go now to wearing any dress which reflects my Military connection is a Regimental tie (long tie or bow tie, neither are issued). Regimental Cufflinks if the shirt requires it (not issued) and very occasionally and only if I deem it appropriate (Remembrance etc), I'll wear my medals.

That said I have just acquired a Khaki BD jacket but those are long time obsolete now and I never wore one while I was serving so it doesn't connect with me the same way. I am seriously tempted to put period, cloth shoulder titles on it though. I'm still ummming over that idea.

The Mess Kit I have will never be sold by the way. Not by me anyway. It's not something I can bring myself to part with. Lots of amazing nights togged up in that rather splendid gear, Ooooh yessss! It holds a place of special reverence... In my cupboard.

I've still got my Pace Stick too. And my drill boots. How sad is that?

**The Wizard of BC** · 2nd July 11, 06:11 PM

During the Edwardian period a man may own two or perhaps three jackets.
But he would own 10 or 15 vests in different colors, styles and cuts.

I thought it would be a good idea to do much the same with my kilt jackets.

Here is a Charcoal Tweed jacket with matching vest that is about what we think of as "Standard".

Without changing anything else I changed my vest to one exactly the same but in a Dove Gray.

And here is the exact same outfit with the same vest in a Marroon.

I can get three completely different looks for very little money.

**Downunder Kilt** · 2nd July 11, 06:37 PM

Excellent examples Steve. I also have a range a different coloured waistcoats. mainly in doeskin or tweed which I wear with my kilt jackets. I am currently on the search for a maroon/claret one in doeskin, which I think is a great colour

**creagdhubh** · 3rd July 11, 08:13 AM

House of Bruar, Blair Atholl, Perthshire, sells beautiful doeskin waistcoats in an array of colours.

**tripleblessed** · 3rd July 11, 09:11 AM

House of Bruar is indeed a great visit if you're in the area. An afternoon of oohs and aahs and hopefully a lifetime of enjoyment. I heard after my last visit they instituted a "you drool on it, you've bought it" policy.

**creagdhubh** · 3rd July 11, 09:36 AM

Originally Posted by tripleblessed

House of Bruar is indeed a great visit if you're in the area. An afternoon of oohs and aahs and hopefully a lifetime of enjoyment. I heard after my last visit they instituted a "you drool on it, you've bought it" policy.

Quite right mate. I was last there in 2010; had a nice lunch in the warm, August sunshine - great place to shop!

Cheers,

**Downunder Kilt** · 3rd July 11, 03:21 PM

Originally Posted by creagdhubh

House of Bruar, Blair Atholl, Perthshire, sells beautiful doeskin waistcoats in an array of colours.

Thanks for the tip Kyle. My good lady and myself are currently working on a trip to the United Kingdom next year and your suggestion will go down on that never ending "must do" list. Cheers

**Jock Scot** · 3rd July 11, 10:40 PM

Originally Posted by Downunder Kilt

Thanks for the tip Kyle. My good lady and myself are currently working on a trip to the United Kingdom next year and your suggestion will go down on that never ending "must do" list. Cheers

We pop into the House of Bruar for lunch quite often and without doubt the whole enterprise is a great success story and seems to be ever expanding. Dead easy to find, right next to the main A9 road. Warning! Some of the goods are very over priced and the tweeds whilst looking good are very thin. Another warning, keep the credit card under lock and key!

**tripleblessed** · 3rd July 11, 11:19 PM

What Jock said. My original post, which I rewrote, suggested you stop in there if your sporran isn't sitting right. When you leave, it'll be lighter by the weight of many, many ducats, consequently riding much higher. I decided I'd best let a more local source broach that aspect. Done, and done.

**OC Richard** · 4th July 11, 05:26 AM

About various waistcoat colours, we can look back to the 1860s and see, in The Highlanders Of Scotland, that it was quite common for the waistcoat to not match the jacket.

With the jackets equivalent to our modern "day" tweed jackets around half have matching waistcoats and the others tartan, crimson, or red waistcoats. (Tartan waistcoats weren't just for Evening Dress at that time!)

With the "doublets" (the nearly universal formal jacket of that time, usually black with square silver buttons) the waistcoats are never matching but are tartan or red, save for a couple of buff/cream waistcoats.

In my old Highland Dress catalogues from the 1930s etc the two main formal jackets of that time, the Coatee and the Doublet, are illustrated and described with matching, tartan, or red waistcoats.

One illustration shows a Coatee (Prince Charlie) worn in a much more formal way that we usually see today, with tartan waistcoat, lace jabot, castellated diced hose, and buckled shoes.