There can be only one...jacket that is.

[Spartan Tartan]

I only recently got my first kilt and am now trying to continune to get additional items to piece together nice outfits for a variety of events. I am currently saving up my money to get a nice kilt jacket.

My question is this: If I can (initailly) only afford 1 jacket, which one should I get first?

Things to consider:
-I would like to wear it to semi-formal possibly more formal events
-I don't want to be "over dressed" to go out on the town.

Ideally, I would just get a couple tweed jackets for the day, an argyll for evening wear and a PC for formal events. But of course, that is a hefty price and will likely be something to aspire to.

Then, there is the matter of the waistcoat. I am still trying to understand if the waistcoat "dresses up" the jacket or is just an option and does it have to match the jacket?

Thanks!

Jeremy

[Tim Little]

My $0.02:

Your best bet might be to go with a black Argyll-type jacket and waistcoat. That will be just fine for black-tie functions, and you can change up the accessories and go w/o the waistcoat if you want to "dress down" somewhat.

[Tobus]

Yup. The black Argyll seems to be the universally-agreed jacket to have if you can only have one. It is appropriate for nice daywear all the way up to certain levels of formality (see the "10 looks" thread for examples).

Once you've done that, you might also consider buying an inexpensive used tweed jacket on eBay or at a local resale shop, and having it converted to a kilt jacket for less casual daywear settings.

[Jock Scot]

I don't disagree with what has been said above and it really all depends how formal you may need to be. Now as a traditional Scot a NON black tweed argyle will see you through funerals, most day weddings, a visit to the bank manager, highland games, informal drinks do's( day or evening ), taking the wife out to lunch and is perfectly acceptable for an informal dinner with friends in the evening. To my mind that would be the way to go for a "jack of all trades" jacket.

However if the need is likely to lean towards the more formal, then a black barathea argyle with interchangeable black and silver buttons and two waist coats.One a 5 button traditional cut for day wear and a low cut one with 3 sometimes 4 buttons for a black tie event.

One needs to be aware that a black TWEED argyle is really not suitable for black tie events.

[Spartan Tartan]

One needs to be aware that a black TWEED argyle is really not suitable for black tie events.

Especially thanks for this last piece. I don't know that I would have even thought of that. Could have been an embarrassing error...

[The Barry]

The above posters are correct. A nice (black or gray) Argyll is the way to go. Pick up the matching waistcoat, that will go a long ways towards making the jacket ensemble "dressier". Also, as stated above, avoid the tweed for your first jacket, as it is really not the right jacket for more formal events. Tweeds are nice, but less flexible.

I wanted a nice formal jacket, but not a PC. I ended up with a really nice black Argyll with Braemer cuffs with a matching waistcoat. It's perfect, all the way to black tie; but I can also wear a normal dress shirt, lose the waistcoat, and be much less formal with it.

Don't underestimate how much the sporran can affect the ensemble, a jacket will take on two very different looks with two different sporrans.

[Jock Scot]

The above posters are correct. A nice (black or gray) Argyll is the way to go. Pick up the matching waistcoat, that will go a long ways towards making the jacket ensemble "dressier". Also, as stated above, avoid the tweed for your first jacket, as it is really not the right jacket for more formal events. Tweeds are nice, but less flexible.

I wanted a nice formal jacket, but not a PC. I ended up with a really nice black Argyll with Braemer cuffs with a matching waistcoat. It's perfect, all the way to black tie; but I can also wear a normal dress shirt, lose the waistcoat, and be much less formal with it.

Don't underestimate how much the sporran can affect the ensemble, a jacket will take on two very different looks with two different sporrans.

With the greatest of respect that is not quite what I said. To be clear when I said "NON black" I was not thinking of grey. I was thinking Greens and browns and mixtures thereof.

[Zardoz]

I find myself both agreeing and dis-agreeing with most of the posts in this thread..I think if you can initially only afford one jacket, I feel like a charcoal tweed jacket and waistcoat set is a more versatile way to go.

I agree that the typical black barathea shiny button Argyll jacket and/or waistcoat set is quite versatile, it can go from daywear to semi-formal with the right accessories etc... But honestly I really feel like the shiny buttons (which could be changed out) make it look a little 'fancy' for some settings.
I feel like a charcoal colored tweed set is really more versatile overall. It won't cut it for black-tie, but it can go from more casual daywear to evening events where a dark suit or 'business formal' is expected. And the color goes well with most things.

I have both styles, and I wear the charcoal tweed quite often. But since I got a mess jacket for more formal stuff, maybe 3 events per year, I hardly wear the black Argyll at all.
I guess it depends on how often you are going to attend the more formal events.

[SlackerDrummer]

Jeremy,

I feel like people are chiming in having read the responses in the thread, but not your original post. You have stated that you'd like to have something that can potentially be worn to formal events, but something that won't get you laughed out of town at less formal occasions. The best choice for you is a black barathea Argyle jacket. Period. Even the vest (waistcoat) is not necessary. This jacket can be worn with black tie for evening events, with a regular necktie for semi-formal daywear, or with a colored and collared shirt for even less formal occasions. This is currently the jacket of choice of pipe bands the world over and, as such, will fit in at any highland games. And, given that you live in Oklahoma, it will be a suitable year-round jacket, which a tweed may not.

[Tim Little]

I guess it depends on how often you are going to attend the more formal events.

I believe this is indeed the crux of the matter.

If you'll be frequenting black-tie events and can only afford one jacket, go w. the black argyll.

If you won't be in black-tie, then go with something more versatile (e.g., charcoal tweed).