Cheap Formal Suit and Tie

**keepoffgrass** · 8th August 08, 10:43 AM

i got a really nice argyll on ebay for a great price a couple years ago, so I have one of those. But I've been thinking about getting on of those Eton jackets to convert to a kilt jacket because it seems they would be quite a bit cooler to wear than the 15 oz wool. Also, I have to have a nice formal kilt jacket for my brother before mid Nov. So that may be the ticket

**Casey_in_Carolina** · 8th August 08, 12:04 PM

I've gotta say, the more I think on this idea, the more I really like it. An inexpensive jacket, with a couple of modifications, and you're ready to go. That way I can redirect more money towards getting a more formal sporran for such occasions as well. I tell ya, I love finding ways to pinch the pennies that still look decent....

Casey

**Bugbear** · 8th August 08, 12:49 PM

Yes. Plenty of good options posted in this thread, and complete with links.

**Alan H** · 8th August 08, 01:05 PM

I wear my Eton with one of the backless, three-button vests from Uniformalwearhouse. It looks great IMHO.

Now, I will say that the backless vest is the one drawback to the outfit. See, I wear a proper formal shirt with french cuffs and studs instead of buttons. Hey, they only cost $11 on Uniformalwearhouse, I have two of them! But a proper formal shirt isn't like your plain old white shirt, it has ribbing down the front and that ribbing stops above the level of where the top of the kilt lies. Thus, you need a cummerbund or a vest to top it off.

The backless three-button does this just fine, but there are times when the backless vest slides around a bit and "pooches" around the lapel of the Eton. It's not the end of the world, but if I ever get around to upgrading this kit, the first thing I will do is get a full-back, three button vest.

The other option is to find a formal shirt with studs but WITHOUT the ribbing, and lose the vest altogether, wearing the whole thing pretty much exactly as you would wear a Mess jacket.

Ebay is a good source for celtic buttons, BTW. Look for "Treasure Cast"

**MacMillan of Rathdown** · 8th August 08, 02:33 PM

I might add to the above that inexpensive dress shirts are available at most JC Penny's.

**Bugbear** · 8th August 08, 05:39 PM

So what I'll do is get an Eton jacket, black matt bowtie, and look into the three and five button vests. I'm looking into upgrading the sporran.

That aught to work out well, and hopefully be usable with a traditional kilt I plan to get at some point. It will take a while though.

**Carolina Kiltman** · 11th August 08, 02:52 PM

Originally Posted by campbell

7. A black, one-button Eton jacket from http://www.uniformalwearhouse.com/ap...ojackets4.html
. Slainte

Just checked the website for the URL above. Just goes to show that it is always better to get a look at the item than go by verbal/written description along. In my much younger days, the Eaton Jacket came just below the waist, and had only one button, a real "bum-freezer" as we called them. You should look sharp. The important thing is to make sure accessories are balanced for the occasion.

**Bugbear** · 11th August 08, 03:00 PM

Originally Posted by Carolina Kiltman

... The important thing is to make sure accessories are balanced for the occasion.

Good advice.

I Finally found the measuring instructions at that link for jackets and all. Here's the link:
http://www.uniformalwearhouse.com/ap...o_measure.html

It was a little difficult for me to find that page, so I am going to put that link in a post back there. Very important link.

**McMurdo** · 11th August 08, 03:04 PM

What I have done with great success is to go to the local tartan shop (I am lucky in that there are several in the Toronto area) and see about ex-rental jackets or jackets on consignment. Another technique that has worked for me is to troll ebay, I would suggest going to:

www.ebay.co.uk

They have more selection than the American site, it may take time to find exactly what you are looking for however it is in my mind worth it.

**Alan H** · 12th August 08, 05:00 PM

my two cents, and mind you this is just me.

I wouldn't wear an Eton jacket with a four-in-hand tie. That's a "regular" tie. An Eton is basically a tailcoat without tails. Think: tuxedo. I only wear my eton with the formal shirt and bowtie.

If you're hurting for a daywear or less formal jacket and have to pinch pennies until they squeal, hunt the thrift stores and find a nice tweed or camels hair sportcoat and modify it. I just got a wonderful gray camels hair jacket from the local Goodwill shop for $20. Now that I've paid attention to David Dalgliesh's and the F-H.C.A.G's threads on jacket modification, and I know what I don't like about my tweed modified jacket, my second attempt will likely be better than my first kilt jacket mod.