Waistcoat dilemma's

[Bobby Gordon]

thanks guys, yeah I think you're right, two is the best option, it won't be all that much extra tartan. better to have two purpose made ones than one odd looking one or belly hugging trousers!

Guys, if you want to a Araca jacket check they're pictured in my post in the DIY showcase. Yep, they're a imported jacket, altho the fabric is woven in the UK, they're a good first kilt outfit jacket.

@Tobus, yeah I know what you mean about the jacket, but personally I like shorter jackets anyway, so when and if I eventually get round to making one it'll be kilt jacket length, but if it looks funny I'll just make another one. But I don't think my tailoring skills are good enough to tackle a jacket just yet!

[usonian]

Don't necessarily knock natural-waisted trousers. From time to time I get living history gigs playing 19th century banjo, and so I have a pair of 19th-century styled trousers - definitely high-waisted, and just about the most comfortable pants I own... and when worn with a waistcoat they don't look particularly odd.

Not too long ago I picked up a pair of Haband mens' dress pants at a Salvation Army store... never worn, with the tag still in them. If you're not familiar with Haband, they're... interesting. Very cheap clothes (cheap price, cheaply made), lots of synthetic fiber. The pants I found were something like 90% polyester, 10% wool, but actually looked and felt pretty good, and fit well... for a couple of bucks I figured why not? The first time I wore them for an extended period I realized that they have a pretty high waist - not as high as my 19th century trousers, but noticeably higher than my other dress pants. High enough to wear with my tartan waistcoat! The short waistcoat with a longer jacket does look a little different in an old-fashioned sort of way, but personally I like the old-fashioned look.

[M. A. C. Newsome]

I confess, after many years in the business I have never heard of an "Araca" jacket, either. When I do a google search, the jackets pictured all seem to be fairly standard style kilt jackets, most with Braemar cuffs.

One online shop did have a blog which allows people to leave comments. I noticed with amusement that on their page about their Araca jacket, the first comment left was: "I have searched the internet to find a meaning for this word ARACA. The only definition I found was a spirit made from molasses."

The shop's response: "Unfortunately I can’t give you a definitive answer on this, as I’m slightly unsure myself. My understanding is that it is the term used to describe the particular material used in this jacket. Whether that refers to the weave, the colour or the type of wool used would only be a guess."

A third person replied: "Should it not be spelt Arrocher? That solves the problem AND describes the cloth’s origin."

And the shop responded: "Yes, you are correct. The correct spelling (and hence what caused the confusion) is Arrochar. We picked up ‘Araca’ from a description sheet on the product and at the time the jacket was very new to us and didn’t check the name thoroughly enough!"

Although I have to also echo what Cyngus says above. Most all of these jackets labeled "Araca" seem to be of non-Scottish origin so I would doubt the cloth actually was woven in Arrochar, hence the spelling change. Although there is a town of Araca in Bolivia. Don't know if they weave tweed, though!

[Skiballa]

Although there is a town of Araca in Bolivia. Don't know if they weave tweed, though!

If they did, it would probably be Alpaca, not sure how well that would hold up to thorns.