Fit Check - Burns Supper 2026

[Jock Scot]

I am late to this discussion, too late for Burn's Night, but thought it might help future discussions to post this photo taken last weekend at a talk I gave in Edinburgh. it shows the range of individuality of a group of long-time kilt wearers. No two jackets, sporrans or hose match yet each would be equally acceptable at a non-Black Tie evening event.

Attachment 44726

Exactly so!

[jsrnephdoc]

No two jackets, sporrans or hose match yet each would be equally acceptable at a non-Black Tie evening event.

And, of course not one single pair of Ghillie Brogues

[Troglodyte]

Pocket square in the breast pocket? Don't bother!

Now that's a challenge, Jock..!

Salty old seadogs traditionally stuff their hankies up their sleeves while striding about the quarter-deck, while army officers carried theirs in their breast-pocket - as it is easier to reach when on horseback, which, of course, they always were. Ratings and other ranks simply wiped their noses on their sleeves!

Carefully contrived and elaborately folded 'squares' are a bit louche - a bit 'charlie' as people of stern character used to say. Foppish and a bit suspect as they are never used.

My trick for solving the hankie-less problem of the breast-pocket is to have my jackets made with a flap covering them - no-one knows whether there is a neatly folded bit of silken paisley or rustic polka-dot cotton awaiting use, or not...

[Troglodyte]

I am late to this discussion, too late for Burn's Night, but thought it might help future discussions to post this photo taken last weekend at a talk I gave in Edinburgh. it shows the range of individuality of a group of long-time kilt wearers. No two jackets, sporrans or hose match yet each would be equally acceptable at a non-Black Tie evening event.

Attachment 44726

Read 'em and weap..!

Take note, lads - a masterclass in action.

And so it is said unto you, go forth and do likewise...

[Jock Scot]

Now that's a challenge, Jock..!

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My trick for solving the hankie-less problem of the breast-pocket is to have my jackets made with a flap covering them - no-one knows whether there is a neatly folded bit of silken paisley or rustic polka-dot cotton awaiting use, or not...

Flaps on the breast pocket. Wow! That takes me back a few years! My hunting (horses and hounds) jackets used to have those.

[Troglodyte]

Flaps on the breast pocket. Wow! That takes me back a few years! My hunting (horses and hounds) jackets used to have those.

You're clearly a man of discerning taste, Jock...

I have had two or three of my tweed jackets made with two flapped breast pockets, one each side. The first one was the result of taking a length of Hunters of Brora Carol tweed to a hunt-tailor, and letting him loose with shears, needle and thread. Cut long and buttoning high like a hunt-coat, it has a double thickness yoke across the shoulders, centre back vent and half-belt.

They don't make 'em like they used to...

[Canadian Vet]

Flaps on the breast pocket. Wow! That takes me back a few years! My hunting (horses and hounds) jackets used to have those.

Military jackets have those.

[Jock Scot]

Military jackets have those.

Yes they do. However, the jacket that I am talking about has only one breast pocket, that is not a button down, often with a flap and is "cut" more like a sports jacket, only with a fuller "skirt" to deal with sitting on a horse and extremely heavy melton cloth. Much, much heavier than the heaviest of tweed and a much closer weave with no pattern, but with a distinct colour, usually black, but also dependant on which pack of hounds one hunts with.

Hot off the press! I am reliably informed that modern hunting jackets do not have an outside breast pocket, these days.

Remember, the UK definition of hunting is NOT the same as you chaps across the Atlantic use and I think in the rest of Europe use.

[Troglodyte]

Flaps on the breast pocket. Wow! That takes me back a few years! My hunting (horses and hounds) jackets used to have those.

Here you go, some pictures...

Not as heavy a cloth (at 21oz) as a hunt-coat in Melton cloth (32oz or more) but a very good general purpose coat just the same.

Hunters of Brora tweed jacket 2.jpg Hunters of Brora tweed jacket 1.jpg

I have seen some very attractive tweed coatees cut for wearing with the kilt with the same twin breast pocket arrangement - here's one

Tweed Argyle style 1.jpg

[Canadian Vet]

Yes they do. However, the jacket that I am talking about has only one breast pocket, that is not a button down, often with a flap and is "cut" more like a sports jacket, only with a fuller "skirt" to deal with sitting on a horse and extremely heavy melton cloth. Much, much heavier than the heaviest of tweed and a much closer weave with no pattern, but with a distinct colour, usually black, but also dependant on which pack of hounds one hunts with.

Hot off the press! I am reliably informed that modern hunting jackets do not have an outside breast pocket, these days.

Remember, the UK definition of hunting is NOT the same as you chaps across the Atlantic use and I think in the rest of Europe use.

Nort Americans visualize Elmer Fudd in Camo, not scared foxes and Toffs on mounts.