Tweed waistcoat?

**sailortats** · 20th August 13, 04:03 PM

slight hijack here, sorry. But when wearing a waistcoat, non-tweed in my case, is it necessary to always wear a tie? I have tried wearing one without a tie but feel very uncomfortable in doing so and yet I would love the added comfort of no tie from time to time. I am referring to wearing the waistcoat without a jacket of course.

**MacMillans son** · 20th August 13, 08:17 PM

Originally Posted by RunTheWorldOnMac

I have a waist coat for my argyle since it's black and dressy I can wear it by itself. I have yet to see pics of someone wearing a tweed waistcoat all by it's onsey. Anyone for against? These guys are spending my money...

I agree with the buy it if you can afford it crowd RTWOM. When purchased as part of a set, the price is usually not too much more than the jacket alone price (+/- $50) Purchased alone you'll find they are closer to $150. Here are a couple of photos with Connie and Daelin(pre kilt) from the Santa Cruz Games and Ren Faire (2012 I think).

I think waistcoats work well alone for daywear. I wear one with or without a tie depending on my mood. At work I tend to wear it without for a more casual look. However, I never wear a jacket without a tie, but that's just me

I say "go for it!"

**Nathan** · 20th August 13, 08:46 PM

Because my traditional kilts are strapped at the natural waist with a rise, I like how the waistcoat creates the visual illusion of a waistline close to where it would be in trousers, thus elongating the torso and avoiding the potential "Urkel" look. My jacket didn't come with a matching waistcoat so I wear a contrasting fabric which is smart but I am resigned to the fact that I will never find a waistcoat that perfectly matches. As Matt and others mentioned, if you can swing it, do so because you won't have the chance later. If you can't swing it, well you can't. Don't avoid it just to be frugal.

**JohntheBiker** · 21st August 13, 06:50 AM

Originally Posted by sailortats

slight hijack here, sorry. But when wearing a waistcoat, non-tweed in my case, is it necessary to always wear a tie? I have tried wearing one without a tie but feel very uncomfortable in doing so and yet I would love the added comfort of no tie from time to time. I am referring to wearing the waistcoat without a jacket of course.

I have no problem wearing a waiscoat without a tie. I have an Irish tweed waiscoat that I occasionally wear like a sweater vest sans tie. I think it looks perfectly acceptable.

**Chas** · 21st August 13, 06:55 AM

Originally Posted by sailortats

slight hijack here, sorry. But when wearing a waistcoat, non-tweed in my case, is it necessary to always wear a tie? I have tried wearing one without a tie but feel very uncomfortable in doing so and yet I would love the added comfort of no tie from time to time. I am referring to wearing the waistcoat without a jacket of course.

I agree. I find waistcoat and no tie to be sloppy. Unless the waistcoat is left undone.

**creagdhubh** · 21st August 13, 07:54 AM

Originally Posted by Chas

I agree. I find waistcoat and no tie to be sloppy. Unless the waistcoat is left undone.

I agree as well. However, if I am wearing a button down shirt without a tie and with the kilt, it will be the shirt only, i.e. - no waistcoat or jacket (typically in hot weather). In regards to Highland dress, I think a button down shirt with a jacket or a waistcoat without a tie looks sloppy. Sorry, just my two pence here.

**RunTheWorldOnMac** · 22nd August 13, 05:38 AM

Originally Posted by rsvpiper

Attachment 13460
Like this
Attachment 13461
or this or how ever you see fit tweed is such nice a material with many different colours and styles that it can be posh or scuff without too much effort either way.

Looks sharp... I think I will go with the waistcoat to go with the jacket I am already going to buy....

**Kiltboy** · 22nd August 13, 09:09 AM

I love a tweed waistcoat with a kilt. As others have said, order with the jacket, for a perfect match. It's your choice if you sport a tie or not. It depends on your mood and style, I guess.

Or, if handy with a sewing machine, and you find some great tweed, make your own.

**AKScott** · 22nd August 13, 09:39 PM

I tried on a herring bone tweed waistcoat in charcoal and dark grey with my clan green kilt at the local Scottish games this year. I was in pink hose with a french blue shirt, maroon paisley tie, and if memory serves yellow flashes with black shoes and brown sporran.

My wife would have bought the waistcoat on the spot, alas it was two sizes too large, but she loved the look. I _think_ (not actually owning a waistcoat yet) that a subtle tweed can open open bright colored shirt options that would otherwise not work.

I hadn't considered wearing a waistcoat without a tie until I reading this thread. I think it _could_ be done, most easily perhaps on a burly sort reaching for smartish type daywear without having to wear a necktie or a jacket. I'll give it a maybe, but defer to folks that have a much keener sense of style than mine, perhaps Panache or Kyle- or just about anyone else registered here really.

**McElmurry** · 22nd August 13, 10:58 PM

I have been known to wear a linen herringbone waistcoat in the California sun for the exact reason described by Nathan and combined with a Panama hat and neckerchief. Here is the linen waistcoat last year at the Pleasanton games with Panache. The brown neckerchief is a bit hard to see in the shade of the hat.

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