Those Green Colored Formal Jackets

[Mychael Sporrano]

Those bottle green formal jackets and waistcoats such as can be found in the Charlie Coatee and Brian Boru styles have me both intrigued and perplexed. The design is such that they demand a bowtie be worn with them, definitely consigning them to the realm of formal wear. Yet, when is it appropriate to wear green?

I especially like the looks of the Brian Boru and think that it could prove handy having a formal jacket in the wardrobe. However, is green as limiting as it appears?

Mychael

[Freelander Sporrano]

I've only seen these Green jackets on Irish kiltmakers pages.

I think it all depends on if you personally think the colour will clash with the tartan you're wearing.

I do agree that they seem to be for use only formally and with a bowtie. However I have seen a less dressier version here

http://irishkilts.net/?p=store&a=1&deptid=95

Hope it helps Mychael....David

[macwilkin]

Whilst green is not technically a formal colour, as Freelander says, if the jacket goes with your tartan, then go for it! I rather like the look of these jackets -- they would make one stand out in a crowd.

Tartanweb offers a green twill day jacket with Irish harp buttons & vest which is also very striking.

Scottish Lion was offering a blue charlie jacket --
A friend of mine who was ex-Royal Navy wore his mess dress jacket (in blue, of course) with his Anderson kilt, and it looked good -- but the Anderson has a lot of blue, so it matched.

Cheers!

T.

[mkmound]

Whilst green is not technically a formal colour, as Freelander says, if the jacket goes with your tartan, then go for it! I rather like the look of these jackets -- they would make one stand out in a crowd.

Tartanweb offers a green twill day jacket with Irish harp buttons & vest which is also very striking.

. . .
T.

Tartan Web also has a picture of a maroon Prince Charlie -- from their online catalog page, on the lower right under "outfits", follow the line for "formal wear", then in the pulldown, see "Prince Charlie . . . maroon doublet".

In a different vein, I happen to like Tartan Web's cravat with an open collar shirt -- under "outfits", follow the "less so & casual" link, then under "Semi-dress", follow the drop-down for "Linen shirt & cravat". I think it's a neat look, but sort of "period costume", so I'm not sure what kind of occasion would warrant it -- any ideas?

Regards,
Mark

[Blu (Ontario)]

I'm having trouble logging onto the TartanWeb website. Are the jackets you're refering to similar to the ones posted up on the Kilt Store website??

[mkmound]

I'm having trouble logging onto the TartanWeb website. Are the jackets you're refering to similar to the ones posted up on the Kilt Store website??

Is this the site you're trying to access?

http://tartanweb.com/intro.htm

Regards,
Mark

[Derek]

There are Welsh Green formal jackets .. I have one .. I'll post a picture later today. Derek

[Derek]

Ive added the pictures to my personal gallery. Derek

[Mychael Sporrano]

Nice jacket, Derek! Thanks for the pics.

When I put together my kilt wardrobe I bought two jacket/waistcoat pairs: charcoal tweed (plain without epauletes or guantlet cuffs) that I can wear to weddings and funerals or even the odd evening event if not too formal; and a lovat green tweed for more casual day functions that also works great for work business casual with the right colored tie. The waistcoats are great on their own, and of course jackets can always be worn sans waistcoat. Lots of versatility here.

Where I will come up short is when a bow-tie is required, and any white-tie affair is of course definitely out. The question is, when is it considered proper to wear a formal (evening wear)green jacket rather than the obligatory black? It seems to me that if a green coatee is acceptable at a function, I could probably get away with one of my other jackets so long as a bow tie is not required.

One thing I have been keeping in mind is that a Charlie coatee or Brian Boru are in essence tuxedo type jackets. I have attended only one or two events in my life that have demanded the wearing of a tux, or even where a tux wouldn't have been considered overdressed. However, sooner or later I am going to need something onto which I can slam a bow-tie, and if I had my druthers I would prefer to buy green. As Episcopalscot noted, it would stand out from the crowd. But, would it be appropriate ofr the occasion, necessarily?

Mychael

[Casey]

With so much green in the tartans that I wear, a green jacket/vest is a bit too much for me.

I find that the black or charcoal ground the outfit.

Casey