Prince Charlie Coatee

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

As for the issue of the blue version of the PC. All I will say is in UK society the finest dinner suits were always made in midnight blue. The black was more common but the best dressed gentlemen wore midnight dinner suits. I know of a few people today who still use midnight blue for their dinner suits.

It was HRH Edward, Prince of Wales, who popularized the wearing of "midnight blue" dinner jackets in the 1920s. He did this because the combination of incandescent lights (then in use) and the dyes of the fabrics caused black to look "dull" and ocassionally take on a "greenish" tinge under some lighting conditions. This green-ness was due to the harshness of the dry cleaning processes then in use, and the area of the jacket most effected were the silk lapels.

It has been suggested that the idea of using "midnight blue" came to Wales when he noticed that his Royal Navy uniform looked black under artificial light.

In the last 85-odd years great advances have been made in both lighting technology and dying fabric, and today's quality jackets do not change colour under incandescent or florescent lights.

The problem with ordering a dark blue coatee from an off-the peg retailer is that you will end up with something that, under any lighting conditions, will look "blue", not black.

[Macman]

Sandford, you've no idea how many times I've wanted to quote Dunakin's little book, but resisted! I love the part where he comments on the trends in ladies' skirt lengths (something about no woman having legs worth looking at above the knee . . . )!
I agree to an extent with what he says about the PC, and the same applies to the Montrose doublet as well. I go against his advice and wear a PC because I feel that it bridges the gap between regular black tie and highland wear, and looks at home with the tuxes. That and the fact that it was given to me and I can't justify buying another formal jacket! I'd love to wear one of the other doublets I've seen, but for the occasions that I go formal, I feel more comfortable in a PC.

[Panache]

Sandford,

Another factor to consider is body shape. Thinking about the different options for formal jackets and doublets it strikes me that some styles are going to look better on some than others.

I think that the PC Coatee strongly favors those of taller and slimmer builds (as does a regular tail coat).

Taking Glen as an example, looking at his formal pictures I must say that he really looks smashing in his montrose, far more debonair than in his PC. Don't get me wrong, he wears the PC very well. But he has broader shoulders than I and is proportionally more solid and compact in the chest than I. That doublet just suits his shape perfectly. With my longer torso I'm not sure I would look nearly as good in a montrose as he.

As much as I really love the look of the montrose doublet I bet that I personally would look better in a sheriffmuir doublet which is has a longer body.

Just another consideration

Cheers

Jamie

[Tattoo Bradley]

I was married in a Prince Charlie jacket, as it was easily attainable as a rental (I hired mine from Kathy Lare, since I'm in-state.) However, like Glen, my tastes have matured and the PC just doesn't appeal to me. I wear m Argyll and waistcoat when I need a jacket, as I really never have an event that would call for something so formal as a doublet (in fact I'm often "overdressed" in my black Argyll.) However, were I ever to purchase an evening doublet, I would hands down go with a Sheriffmuir Doublet with matching tartan waistcoat. And heck, it's formal wear, so I might even go with it in velvet. One can dream....

[Bugbear]

I recall one of the characters in one of the "Adept" novels wearing a green doublet with a broun-ish hunting tartan for a black tie event.

I don't think the color of the sporran or other accessories were described, if I remember correctly.

* Don't leave out the mess jackets and Eton jackets. *

[Panache]

Sandford and all,

Here is another question related to a non black PC Coatee

Would one wear a black bow tie with one? Or does one wear a bow tie that matches the jacket and waist coat?

Cheers

Jamie

[McMurdo]

Jamie
As I understand it a Black Tie is worn even with a Green PC, to illustrate here is a photo from our Burns Night last year


Your "more solid and compact" Moderator

[Panache]

Jamie
As I understand it a Black Tie is worn even with a Green PC, to illustrate here is a photo from our Burns Night last year

Thanks Glen

Cheers

Jamie

Your more "willowy framed" Moderator

[Phil]

Your more "willowy framed" Moderator

Indeed, but the kilt does cover a multitude of sins - I should know. My take on the PC is that the waistcoat rides up over the fuller figure whereas the doublets do not.

[JSFMACLJR]

Jamie,

Black bow tie.

Sandford