By jackets made in the UK being a size or more smaller than those that fit Americans, I was refering to the size in inches, not the S-M-L-XL categorization. This has been my experience, as well as that of my brother, my nephew and quite a few men here on X Marks.

If you can't afford a custom tailored jacket (and few can justify that expense for something worn only a very few times a year, if that), you might locate a tailor or a seamstress in your area to alter a mail order jacket, and then order one a size or so larger, keeping in mind that we are all different, with broader and narrower shoulders, chests and waists, longer and shorter arms and torsoes.

Another alternative is to find a tweed or similar jacket in a thrift store and have it altered to the cut of a kilt jacket. Some of the men here on X Marks have had this done, a couple of guys in the San Francisco Bay area especially. They found a seamstress who does quite good work, judging from the photos they posted.

If you are adept at sewing, or know some one who is, you might try altering a thrift store jacket yourself. Some here, more talented than I, have posted explanations and directions:

http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/s...ad.php?t=22180

http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/s...ghlight=jacket

http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/s...ket+conversion

http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/s...ket+conversion

http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/s...ghlight=jacket

http://www.geocities.com/alanhsails/...lt_jacket.html

http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/s...ghlight=jacket

http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/s...ket+conversion

http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/s...d=1#post362090

http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/s...ad.php?t=28067

http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/s...807#post292807

Another option is to make it from a pattern, such as Simplicity 5029, or this: http://www.folkwear.com/152.html

or if you or some one you know is good at reading 19th century pattern books, this : http://www.costumes.org/HISTORY/vict...ages/09_44.htm and http://www.costumes.org/HISTORY/vict...ages/09_45.htm