PC jacket weight

[kiltlad82]

I want to get a new Prince Charlie jacket. I don't know the weight of my current one (it was second hand from an Edinburgh kilt maker) but it feels thick and weighty. Sadly it's just a bit on the short side. I tried some on in various kilt shops during a recent trip up to Edinburgh, so know the sizing I need, but I didn't think to ask about jacket weight. Lots seems to be 11, 15 or occasionally 19oz. I ordered one online last month but had to send it back - though it was 100% wool it just felt so thin compared to my existing one which I love. Is 19oz overkill and perhaps even too heavy and warm for dancing at wedding / Burns ceilidhs? Or is 15oz too thin? Any thoughts appeciated.

[Jock Scot]

Hello there. It would help to know three things before a sensible answer can be given.

One, Are you talking about tweed cloth or something else? Two. Where abouts in the world are you? Three. What sort of occasion are you planning to wear it------------------- informally- Smart casual- Smart- Formal?

On re-reading your post, I notice that you are talking about a PC. Sorry. I cannot answer your question from personal experience as I don't do dancing or go to Burns nights and have never owned a PC and certainly would not wear one to a wedding. But, generally speaking, I would suggest a medium weight cloth, as it will hold its shape rather better than light weight cloth.

[figheadair]

On re-reading your post, I notice that you are talking about a PC. Sorry. I cannot answer your question from personal experience as I don't do dancing or go to Burns nights and have never owned a PC and certainly would not wear one to a wedding. But, generally speaking, I would suggest a medium weight cloth, as it will hold its shape rather better than light weight cloth.

Agreed. A good worsted medium weight cloth will look and wear much better.

[kiltlad82]

One, Are you talking about tweed cloth or something else? Two. Where abouts in the world are you? Three. What sort of occasion are you planning to wear it------------------- informally- Smart casual- Smart- Formal?

Hi, thanks for the response. I'm based in the North of England. My current one is traditional Prince Charlie 100% black Barathea Wool and I'm planning to get the same. I have a tweed Argyll that I use for weddings, so this would just be for Burns suppers and other black tie events. If anyone has experience of 15oz vs 19oz please let me know. Thanks :-)

[OC Richard]

I want to get a new Prince Charlie jacket. I don't know the weight of my current one (it was second hand from an Edinburgh kilt maker) but it feels thick and weighty.

I know what you mean, I had a vintage Prince Charlie that was heavier than the ones generally seen nowadays.

Today the vast majority of Prince Charlie coatees are made in Barathea.

I just looked on Lochcarron's site, they list their Barathea at 15 ounce. That's probably the usual, somewhere in the range of kilting cloth, which generally is 13 ounce or 16 ounce.

In the old days you would see Prince Charlie coatees (and other Evening jackets) in the fabric called Moleskin, generally a bit heavier than Barathea. That's what my vintage Prince Charlie appeared to be made from.

I think the standard Barathea is a good balance between looking substantial and not being too heavy or hot. BTW I used to be a Scottish Country Dancer and at our dances the men would always shed our jackets after dinner, to push the tables to the sides and begin a night of dancing.

Sadly it's just a bit on the short side.

I should point out that traditional kilt jackets, Prince Charlie coatees included, are meant to be on the short side.

The trouble comes when people order their kilts too low.

So here all of our Prince Charlies are the proper length, but I'm the only one with a kilt that's the traditional height.

(We have to make an exception for the gent at far left, who was as I recall 6 foot 9. For him a jacket in "long" is probably not nearly long enough.)