Escaping the Black Argyll

**Jock Scot** · 10th October 21, 01:12 AM

I really don't want to rain on your parade OCR, but you have, I am afraid, achieved exactly the effect that I feared you would with your jacket.The colour scheme and their patterns in the tweed diminishes the effect of the tartan. Sorry.

**OC Richard** · 10th October 21, 03:52 PM

Originally Posted by Jock Scot

you have, I am afraid, achieved exactly the effect that I feared you would with your jacket. The colour scheme and their patterns in the tweed diminishes the effect of the tartan.

Yes I was conscious of the same effect, however I was somewhat surprised to see how at any distance the jacket's pattern becomes mostly lost and we're left with a quite neutral taupe-ish colour.

Only in closeup do we get the plaid-on-plaid effect which, in the case of these particular fabrics, is not displeasing to me.

**Recon1342** · 10th October 21, 05:11 PM

Originally Posted by OC Richard

Yes I was conscious of the same effect, however I was somewhat surprised to see how at any distance the jacket's pattern becomes mostly lost and we're left with a quite neutral taupe-ish colour.

Only in closeup do we get the plaid-on-plaid effect which, in the case of these particular fabrics, is not displeasing to me.

At conversational distances, it’s quite a pleasing look; moreso than the swatch from earlier indicated.

**12stones** · 11th October 21, 06:56 AM

Personally I love this up close and from far away. Great choice for a jacket and glad that you love it. I don't think it takes away from the tartan at all. Can't wait to see how it looks on.

**JPS** · 11th October 21, 07:22 AM

The jacket came out great, Richard!

I'm surprised at myself that I'm actually not a fan of it paired with the tweed kilt. However, this checked jacket against the Drummond tartan is a beautiful combination! I wonder if, as Jock Scot has suggested, it's because the bold colors of that tartan allow it to maintain center stage in the rig.

**Troglodyte** · 13th October 21, 06:32 AM

Originally Posted by OC Richard

My jacket arrived yesterday!

I couldn't be more pleased.

Not only does the tweed itself look much nicer in person than in the online image (like all tweeds and tartans do) the overall colour-effect is halfway between my two favourite Marton Mills swatches- Plover and Dunlin Coffee.

I simply couldn't visualise Marton Mills Multicheck done up in a jacket, and it's stunning.

It's risky buying a bespoke jacket because you can't try it on beforehand, however the fit is perfection. St Kilda offers "piper's cut" jackets, with the arm-holes more circular than oval, allowing your arms more range of motion (as when doing Highland Tenor Drumming or Drum Major flourishing) and allowing pipers to shove the bag up into the armpit. That's the cut I got.

No time yet to wear a Highland outfit, but just now I laid out the jacket with three of my kilts, and as you can see the jacket looks fantastic with all of them.
L-R
-Hunting Stewart Weathered (Marton Mills 16oz tweed)

-Isle Of Skye (Lochcarron 16oz)

-Drummond Of Perth Muted (House Of Edgar 13oz)

Here's a closeup which shows off the jacket's lovely colours more accurately

The high position of the 'piper's cut' jacket is interesting to know.

It sounds quite a lot like what I have specified (much against the tailor's inclinations) when I have had jackets made in the past. With those, I have had the arm-hole cut higher, and have had a 'gusset' placed in the under-arm seam.

The gusset allows the arm to be raised to shoulder height or more, without the irritating pulling up of the body of the jacket. A box-pleat in the rear centre seam, or at the shoulders transforms the wearability of the jacket hugely.

I guess the piper's cut does the same thing.

**Nathan** · 14th October 21, 11:33 AM

I think you've chosen wisely. I think your jacket and waistcoat look smashing with your tartans and don't diminish from them one iota. I think the overall look will be smart indeed.

Nathan

**Moses** · 14th October 21, 12:18 PM

This is a great look; nice selection. I will say that I'm willing to concede that the jacket may diminish the effect of the tartan slightly but the overall look is greater than the sum of it's parts in this case.

**kilted2000** · 8th January 22, 06:00 PM

As someone considering having St. Kilda make me a jacket, I'm curious about how the tweed does in California weather?

**OC Richard** · 8th January 22, 08:31 PM

Originally Posted by kilted2000

I'm curious about how the tweed does in California weather?

I now have four tweed jackets, and they're all heavy for our climate. I'm guessing they're 16 ounce or more.

That's the thing about my black Argyll, it's quite light, I'm guessing 11 ounce Barathea? 13 ounce at most, making it comfortably wearable when the tweeds are not.

Today I piped at a Memorial Mass. I'm rarely able to get a photo of myself in Highland attire; when I'm piping at funerals and weddings it's inappropriate. However today I buttonholed a caterer for a pic.

In my vow to avoid my Black Argyll whenever possible I wore my new (ex-hire) Geoffrey (Tailor) Edinburgh jacket & waistcoat