Planning for an Argyll

[Jock Scot]

I understand where you are coming from and what you are trying to achieve and you have had some exellent advice from M. of R.. I would not get too wound up over silver buttons and what type of cuff you are going to have. Get what YOU like, as most other people won't know about what you are wearing anyway! Dash it all, we can't even agree on Xmarks, and we are supposed to have a vague idea what we are talking about! The one thought that I have is this:- you are standing out in the crowd by wearing the kilt so why get too worried about the jacket? All right, you don't want to look like a "lemon", that I quite understand, but wear the Argyll with the Argyll cuffs if you want to, by implication your are being Scottish(ish?) by the very fact that you are wearing the kilt! Have fun.

[Bugbear]

Thank you, Jock Scot.
I am exploring the different jacket options and identifying personally affordable sources for each option. This will be the highest quality outfit I own, and I want to have all the ducks in a row so to speak.

My focus had been on making a daywear outfit to go with the one wool kilt I own at the moment. I've almost finnished putting together that outfit, which did also happen to be inspired by MacMillan of Rathdown, so now I'm looking into the formal and eveningwear...

MacMillan of Rathdown has posted quite a bit of good advice, like what I quoted here. It's not difficult to figure out who knows what they are talking about, and it makes it easier to sort through all the... information.

[Bugbear]

I would also like to think that very carefully exploring all the options to find exactly what I want and need at a price I can afford before spending any money is the Scottish way of going about it.

[Casper]

I, personally, make it even easier. Same argyll and 5 button vest, but dressy consitutes a regular tie and lay-down collar, and extra dressy (ie: black tie) comprises of a ruche and wing-tip, non-pleated tuxedo shirt.

[Bugbear]

So the shirt and tie are making the difference in formality with that approach. Interesting.

[Bugbear]

*Sigh* The other side of the coin is that I could probably adapt a black wool suit or sport jacket into an Argyll-like jacket, but I need one to look at first.

It would probably be better to have the real thing, though. We'll see what happens.

[Bugbear]

It might also be that I only need the daywear outfit I have now. Formal events are rarely a part of my life...
I could keep looking at the Good Will, and second hand stores for a black or charcoal grey jacket and waistcoat to put together something a little dressier like a suit. Then convert it to something without all the Argyle epauletts and so on. Just a black blazer with a five button waistcoat that has been modified for the kilt.

And since I already have the daywear outfit, and don't really wear the kilt too often, there's no hurry.

[billmcc]

...convert it to something without all the Argyle epauletts and so on. Just a black blazer with a five button waistcoat that has been modified for the kilt.

Keep it simple. I've never seen a suit jacket or blazer here in the US with silver buttons. Epauletts are rare and usually seen only on safari-style and military-style jackets.

[Bugbear]

I'm not sure, now that I think of it, whether the black Argyles have epauletts or not. Hard to know without looking.

Anyway, that is what I was thinking too, Bill; keep everything toned down. These small details are difficult to navagate through, but there are small details that seem to be very, very important to other people.

On the other hand, the two tartan kilts I have are contemperary kilts that only look a bit traditional, so maybe they should go with contemperary kilt jackets which I would be adapting. I don't know...

Frankly, I would love to come up with a black corduroy version of the brown corduroy, daywear jacket and waistcoat that I converted. I don't know that corduroy is an acceptable material for a eveningwear (not black tie) jacket. That's why I was looking into getting a traditional Argyle in the first place because there are too many unknowns and questions...

[McMurdo]

Ted the Black Argyll jackets do indeed have epauletts.