Civilian Mess Jackets

[macwilkin]

I found some Pictures on Cullinn Craft http://www.cuillinn.com/notesMay06.html of a fellow named Lance who wore the Mess dress for his wedding. I was looking to find out if it was authorized so I could do likewise without fear of reprisal. At present it isn't, for the Marines. Though in the Army and Airforce I know there are Official tartans, and are authorized for wear in uniform. the Leatherneck is not officially recognized by the Marine Corps yet. Notice here that all the other branches are wearing Kilts with Uniform Items, except the Marines. http://www.alexismalcolmkilts.com/1089/1098.html People are working on it. I still intend to have mine set up so I can wear it that way if I can smooth talk my command into it. Good Luck.

See: http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/f...tml#post987262

T.

[CMcG]

Excellent jacket. I have one in a similar style from McKenzie Frain in rifle green with matching vest. Think the white vest a brilliant idea.......Robbie

Nice. The pictures they have on their site have epaulettes and flap cuffs, is that how yours looks too? And does it have the same cut at the waist as mine, that is to say higher cut sides, peaked front, and dipped back?

Please post a pic of your jacket if you can, but here is the one from MacKenzie Frain's site:

[CMcG]

I'm wondering if MoR and robbiethepiper found any pictures of the mess jackets they mentioned?

And where is MacLowlife? It's not like him to miss out on a THCD thread

[robbiethepiper]

I'm wondering if MoR and robbiethepiper found any pictures of the mess jackets they mentioned?

And where is MacLowlife? It's not like him to miss out on a THCD thread

Not clever enough to post photos, but mine is as the picture you posted, except in rifle green (very dark) with black facings. Have always found this company VERY flexible and willing to customise a standard design. They are even making me a piper's doublet to my own design at a reasonable cost.....Robbie

[MacLowlife]

I am a fan of Dress Mess jackets, but I will admit most of mine started out as somebody's uniform. I have a great red flannel one with green cuffs. I have seen the dip on some jackets and not on others. I also have a US Army one with red lapels and elaborate knots. I would be tempted to try removing the knots, but I'd also need to remove about a cubic foot of gros ventre before it would do me any good.

I think the (US) army ones are very cool with the color coded lapels, but I do wonder about wearing them for civilian wear, even after swapping buttons and removing epaulets. Fortunately, I haven't had to go that far. The red one is from the UK and I will go ahead and promise never to wear it there.

For those who haven't seen them, UK Dress Mess jackets often are impressively constructed, with quilted lining and neat piped edges.

Finally, (and sorry for the ping pongish back and forth) I think the USAF Dress Mess is a great starter jacket for the man who needs something formal and needs it right away. The buttons are often on those little cotter pins and you can switch them in an hour.

(So much for keeping my mouth shut and letting others contribute for a while.)

Oh, and CONGRATULATIONS, HONOUR ROLL honorees.

[Cygnus]

While generally not a fan of kilt jackets that are so short (mostly because I feel they make the wearer's torso look disproportionately small), I have been tempted to get a white mess jacket for wear in the sweltering desert summers.

I think it would help to "beat the heat" - and hope that leaving off the cuff braid and swapping the buttons would remove it from the military uniform standard enough that nobody takes offense at it being worn by a civilian.

[CMcG]

<snip>
(So much for keeping my mouth shut and letting others contribute for a while.)

Thanks so much for joining in. I knew the issue of converting mess jackets was one you had considered and you brought up some rather important things for people to think over...

While generally not a fan of kilt jackets that are so short (mostly because I feel they make the wearer's torso look disproportionately small), I have been tempted to get a white mess jacket for wear in the sweltering desert summers.

I think it would help to "beat the heat" - and hope that leaving off the cuff braid and swapping the buttons would remove it from the military uniform standard enough that nobody takes offense at it being worn by a civilian.

The shortness of the waist definitely required an adjustment to (hopefully) balance out the proportions. In the picture I posted, I'm wearing my sporran much higher than usual. Also, a jacket with that short of a waist doesn't work unless the rise on ones kilt is able to match it.

As for beating the heat, I was surprised at how much cooler the mess jacket is compared to my Argyll. I suppose it also helps that the white vest I wore with it is backless...

I believe the Australian Army has a white mess jacket for wear with the kilt. Can any of our Aussie brothers comment from experience on the pros and cons of such a thing?

[macwilkin]

I believe the Australian Army has a white mess jacket for wear with the kilt. Can any of our Aussie brothers comment from experience on the pros and cons of such a thing?

Not an Aussie, but I do know from two friends in Queensland who are masons that Queensland brothers (can't speak for other state grand lodges) wear white eton jackets in the Summer to lodge, and they both report it very comfortable.

The other option for beating the heat in tropic climes & heat is "Red Sea Rig".

T.

[Cygnus]

...
The other option for beating the heat in tropic climes & heat is "Red Sea Rig".

T.

That is an interesting option, but out here where it isn't so humid, it's not as necessary as it is in the Red Sea!

When wearing Red Sea rig with a kilt, would a cummerbund be required? Or could a black kilt belt and formal buckle be substituted?

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

That is an interesting option, but out here where it isn't so humid, it's not as necessary as it is in the Red Sea!

When wearing Red Sea rig with a kilt, would a cummerbund be required? Or could a black kilt belt and formal buckle be substituted?

A dress black dirk belt is the equivalent of a cummerbund.