Toned down (e.g. elegant) kilt jacket with five-button vest

[Scott Gilmore]

I notice on your Web site that Freedom Kilts may be considering marketing "a Waistcoat/Vest, and a Contemporary Kilt Sport Coat." Hopefully it'll look something like this, perhaps in a nice charcoal wool.

or this or this

Note no epaulets or fancy cuffs or pockets (I prefer the slash pockets shown in the center shot) and with a more modern cut, particularly the shorter lapels and the front of the jacket. The jackets shown have three buttons on the front of the coat and one on the sleeves. Ideally, considering the style and the cut, the off-the-peg jacket and vest could be tailored for your customers who wear a fitted or even slim fit dress shirt - e.g. not the usual "relaxed" or "full" fit - something that would fit someone built like you, Steve.

The vest shown on the far left is a little better than that worn by the young man with the black hose because of the splay at the bottom to make better room for a sporran. Five imitation stag horn buttons and two watch pockets and a satin back with an adjustment strap, of course.

Considering the number of kilties that resort to making their own from store bought jackets, one would think there's a market for this. Also, some of us just can't get worked up about yet another cookie-cutter Prince Charlie (or Argyll or Lomond or Holyrood or Craill or Sherrifmuir Doublet or Montrose Doublet or whatever) - I mean, I'd get to use one of the fancier cut jackets about once a decade. The jackets shown above are as versatile for kilting as a standard blue blazer is for bifurcated garment use.

Finally, the opportunity to order an expensive garment from a merchant I know and trust is also a big selling point for me. I've been burned by an overseas merchant. I won't make that mistake twice.

Anyway, I hope this helps with the market research.

[The Wizard of BC]

The first FK kilt jacket is on my sewing table right now.
I'm doing it from a nice caramel brown cord fabric that I had around.

Yes, the jacket will be very like what you describe. Just a little older in style than those in the pictures. More like if Calvin Kline of the '70's was blended with Savile row of the '60's and a little touch of Bogart of the '40's thrown in.
Very simple, classic, timeless.

I have a source for the most beautiful Donegal Tweeds. In browns, grays, and charcoals.

patience my friends, fullness will.

[AtagahiKC]

Sounds great! I'll take a couple!

[Chef]

Put me on the list as well Steve.

[thescot]

The biggest thing I would hope for soon is a light weight jacket and waistcoat. I wouldn't take anything for the heavy tweed jacket and waistcoat I already have, but after May or so, it's just too hot to wear.

As to style, I like what the Wizard had to say. It sounds like something a grown man wouldn't look silly in but still stylish.

[Cawdorian]

This sounds like a great idea, I would like to have a reasonably priced tweed or herringbone day jacket that would go with both my Ancient Lamont and Campbell of Cawdor kilts. I think bone or antler buttons would be suitable, I like the look of the flat epaulets and pockets with flaps.

Charcoal or medium grey might be the right color for me.

[auld argonian]

I wish you success in your jacket endeavours and watch with interest. I guess that I favor a sort of stylish but austere kind of look...silver buttons and epaulets don't really make it for me.

Best

AA

[Prester John]

I notice on your Web site that Freedom Kilts may be considering marketing "a Waistcoat/Vest, and a Contemporary Kilt Sport Coat." Hopefully it'll look something like this, perhaps in a nice charcoal wool.

[center]

Note no epaulets or fancy cuffs or pockets

THIS is what I want also.

Can we start a petition or something about this?

C'mon, SOMEONE must be able to order one of these and reproduce it here in the USA!

You'll get alot of business, I think. AT LEAST alot up front.

[The Wizard of BC]

The real problem here is that I'm not a real tailor. I'm just a guy that makes skirts for other guys. And it was supposed to be a little retirement business.
Now I've got a shop, and employees, and customers (OH let me tell you about the customers. This would be a great business if it weren't for those customers.)

I've never made a quality custom made sport coat before. I know I would like to. but there is almost as much finicky work in a sport coat as there is in a kilt.

And I don't have enough time in the day to make all the kilts on the order board.

I've never been the kind of guy who cuts out steps or makes something cheaper just to make it easier on myself. I KNOW, in my head, how I want my kilts to look and feel and swish. I also KNOW, in that same small, crowded and aged head, how I want a kilt jacket to look and feel.

Now I just need to figure out how to actually make the darn thing. But hey, I'm an Engineer. IT WILL COME!!!

And the way things go it will probably be about a week after some smart boy takes my idea and gets their crews in Pakistan to make them for $100.00.

NO, that is not a jab at anyone. Just the facts of business.

[auld argonian]

If you're very lucky you'll be able to find a retired person who has their tailoring chops together and wants to pick up a couple of extra bucks to augment their retirement.

A buddy of mine is a photographer...he found that he was so busy shooting that he was falling behind in the darkroom work...thus, he decided to find a darkroom assistant to take care of the work. His solution was to hire an eager student-aged person...several times, these guys would work for him for six months, get experienced and then leave to set up on their own often taking a couple of clients with them...he was giving his competition on-the-job-training. I suggested that he look for a retiree...and he found a guy who was a great technician and a very good printer and the two of them were very happy for a long time. The guy was making some dough and had no ambitions to get back into the rat-race.

Holy schnikes! You'd think that somebody would jump at the chance to go to Victoria and tailor kilt jackets to your specifications...

Best

AA