Square Gold Kilt Jacket Buttons Anyone?

[Danny the Who]

As Ted has pointed out, you could have them gold plated at you local jeweler. But a word of caution here--

If you do gold plate your buttons you will also want to gold plate your sporran cantle, kilt pin, and everything else you wear with your kilt because the metals have to match. It's one of the social conventions of Highland attire.

The other thing to consider is how you will be seen (and perceived) by others. If you are a fairly wealthy Scottish aristocrat (or a famous rap star) you can probably pull it off. On the other hand, if you aren't a member of the landed/stranded gentry, most folks will think you are rather jumped up with your gold plated gewgaws.

There are a lot of things you can do to customize your coatee without causing folks to arch an eyebrow; Ted's suggestion of custom buttons being the easiest way to achieve a distinctive look.

Any local alterations shop should be able to fit eyelets to your coatee-- but, again a word of warning. They will have to be extremely careful when putting in the eyelets to make sure they are even on both sides of the jacket, otherwise the buttons won't "line up" on the breast of the coatee.

Of course, you could dispense with the buttons on the left, and arrange your right hand buttons to be closer together on the edge of the jacket below the lapel, as with ordinary suit coats. Add matching button holes on the left side and you have a Prince Charlie coatee that looks very much as they did when they first appeared on the scene, low! those many years ago.

If I were a wealthy Scottish aristocrat I'd go for the solid gold ones. I guess that is who generally buys them (or maybe its the rap stars...)

Nice thing is if I get the eyelets fitted I'm completely flexible. I have just been examining my PC and it seems that the buttons are already fixed through slits and retained on the inside with tiny rings (like tiny key rings). The problem is that the lining is sewn over this. Maybe I can just get a slit cut in the lining to access these. Anyone done this?

[JSFMACLJR]

The problem is that the lining is sewn over this. Maybe I can just get a slit cut in the lining to access these. Anyone done this?

One nice thing about my bespoke doublet is that the tailor inclubed coverings for the inside buttonholes, so that they are hidden from view.

The first photo shows the inner lining on the front of the jacket. the rings holding the buttons are under the little stip of fabric:


Here you can see the inside better:


Here is the same deal on one of the flaps: