concerning epaulets

[Computergeek]

Hello the rabble DIY'rs,

I am just finished up my second sporran after a slight hiatus from buying a house and getting married. I have decided to start on another project being the conversion of a tweed jacket of regular design to a tweed kilt jacket. I have read over a number of tutorials on the site and still have a couple questions.

The first is what measure should be used for length in the back?

The second is should it have epaulets, most of the kilt jackets I see have them. In the thread on HRH I noticed that his jackets did not have them and seem to have a much cleaner line with out them. do they serve a function aside from their martial reference?

Thanks to the rabble.
Cheers,
Jeremy

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

When plaids were regularly worn the epaulet was useful in securing it to the shoulder; likewise, it was useful for preventing the leather or canvas straps on any sort of utility or hunting bag from slipping off your shoulder. Now days, when the plaid is rarely worn, and bags of any sort aren't regularly ported by gentlemen, they are little more than a decorative feature.

In my opinion if you have any sort of "cuff" to your sleeve, then you should have epaulets. If you have plain sleeves (like a modern suit jacket) then it is probably best to dispense with the epaulets.

[Chas]

Jeremy,

For what it is worth, I have noticed recently that some manufacturers are producing non-functioning cuffs and epaulettes. That is to say that the cuffs have the buttons sewn on and a line of ribbing to indicate the edge, but there is no separate cuff. Likewise the epaulettes are sewn onto the shoulder of the jacket and could not have anything passed underneath. Both are there for the look only.

regards

Chas

[Computergeek]

MoR and Chas,
Thanks for the information guys, I think I may try and go no epaulets and having functional buttons on the sleeve cuff. I do still occasionally have to roll up my sleeves when working but I never carry a bag, this being the reason for those choices. I am by no means set on it yet and would love for more of the rabble to chime in with their thoughts as well.
Cheers,
Jeremy

[Jock Scot]

The only kilt jacket that I can fit into these days is my tweed one,as seen in the oft published picture here, it was made for me by a local tailor some 20 years or so ago. Yes it has argyll cuffs(gauntlet cuffs is another name) with functioning buttons and no epaulettes. That is what I wanted and I do not regret for one second having no epaulettes.

Hummm, not eating too well these days, I wonder if I might fit into my other jackets soon? Might have a look one of these days.

[billmcc]

On a formal (black) jacket, the epaulettes are typically used to attach a plaid. They have no function on a tweed jacket and aren't needed.

[Mipi]

I was placing the same question to myself. And now I got the answer.


Thanks for posting this question and for all answers.

Mipi

[Ancienne Alliance]

My Argylls are without epaulettes and with simple Crail cuffs.

It's a personal choice.




Best,

Robert

[Chas]

They have no function on a tweed jacket and aren't needed.

I don't know if I agree. My dinner suit (tuxedo) has a stripe down the trousers, it has no function, but without it my dinner suit would not be a dinner suit. Some things don't have to have a function to be needed.

Regards

Chas

[Mipi]

I don't know if I agree. My dinner suit (tuxedo) has a stripe down the trousers, it has no function, but without it my dinner suit would not be a dinner suit. Some things don't have to have a function to be needed.

Regards

Chas

I'm not so sure, that trousers have no function.