daywear jacket preferences

[M. A. C. Newsome]

I think the best day wear jacket is the one you like. To that end, I recommend that if people can afford it within their budgets, they really shop around and think about getting a jacket made just for them, from cloth they select, in a style they like. No need to look like everyone else!

My personal preferences are for Harris Tweed, and something with a nice check or windowpane pattern. I like something that tones well with the kilt without being too matchy-matchy.

I also like things fairly simple, so none of my day wear jackets have epaulets, and they all have craill (plain) cuffs. I have one single-button and one three-button.

I like waistcoats, so I always have matching tweed waistcoats made with my jackets.

So much of the above is personal preference, so you may have differing opinions, and that's fine.

My message here is that all too often people feel limited to just what's available off the rack. For too many Highland Dress retailers it's "you can have any color you want so long as it is lovat blue, lovat green, or lovat grey." I say why limit yourself? There are so many wonderful possibilities. Those three aforementioned colors are great choices -- if that's what you really want. But don't feel like you have to go with one of them because there are no other options.

[CMcG]

As Matt says, there are definitely options out there for some interesting colours and patterns in jackets. For those of us (like me) who can't afford bespoke or made-to-measure clothing, finding a unique jacket means looking for vintage or second hand.

I'd like to find an incredible bargain on a Harris tweed, plain cuff jacket, with matching waistcoat, in my size, with a subtle but interesting pattern. That is proving to be quite a challenge All probably for the best though. If I did find one, I'd buy it and then have to sell my current tweed jacket to finance the purchase, which is a bit of a bother. And I think finding a matching waistcoat for the jacket I already have might be impossible...

I agree with those who have voiced support for waistcoats and wish I had a matching one for my tweed jacket. As iustus commented they are nice on their own, without the jacket but they can also really put on the finishing touch with the jacket. A complimentary, non-matching waistcoat can be good too but looks more casual to my eye...

What about tartan waistcoats for daywear? Anyone? I know some people like bias-cut tartan waistcoats to match their kilts but I think that's usually for formal evening wear. I recently acquired a regular cut tartan (not cut on the bias?) waistcoat but it seems a bit much for day wear...

[Jock Scot]

Yes I think you are quite right, tartan waistcoats are a bit much for normal day wear and are usually seen to best advantage in the evening. However I have seen, on occasion, a tartan waistcoat worn with a black barathea, silver buttoned argyll in a formal day setting.

[MacLowlife]

CMcG, what you might try to find is a three piece suit that has lost its trousers, such as this one:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Mens-M-Blue-Gray...item19c077e413


You may have to do some tailoring beyond the usual shortening, but do remember, a short suit coat might well be long enough in the sleeves and how much you chop off the skirt may be irrelevant. For some reason, short suits tend to prevail. I tried searching on eBay for harris tweed suit ( jacket, waistcoat) and searching the descriptions... If you are really lucky, you might be able to have a waistcoat made from the yardage of the trousers.

[CMcG]

CMcG, what you might try to find is a three piece suit that has lost its trousers, such as this one:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Mens-M-Blue-Gray...item19c077e413


You may have to do some tailoring beyond the usual shortening, but do remember, a short suit coat might well be long enough in the sleeves and how much you chop off the skirt may be irrelevant. For some reason, short suits tend to prevail. I tried searching on eBay for harris tweed suit ( jacket, waistcoat) and searching the descriptions... If you are really lucky, you might be able to have a waistcoat made from the yardage of the trousers.

MacLl,

Perhaps I'm misreading you here but are you suggesting that with a suitably short jacket, one might not need to cut the bottom of it? That's an interesting proposition...

I can understand why people convert Saxon jackets but, in my eyes, the look of an altered jacket is rarely right. It seems like the whole bottom of the jacket, the pockets, and the body would need to be re-built in order to make it work. Too often, converted jackets look like someone just hacked the bottom off. Major alterations are pricey, however, and might obviate any savings over just buying a kilt jacket!

And no, I'm not much of a tailor myself

Maybe something like what fellow Xmarker Paul is wearing in a pic he shared with us?


Or like the jacket that the gentleman on the second from the right is wearing in this picture?

[Mike_Oettle]

Well, I’m not so sure about the jacket on the gent second from right, but I like his waistcoat (vest)!
And as for the gentleman in the blue shirt and blue tie, he is always well dressed in a kilt!
Regards,
Mike

[BruceBC]

I like the look of unaltered old tweed jackets for casual daywear. The home page of 21st century kilts has a great example of the look.

[Danwell]

Or like the jacket that the gentleman on the second from the right is wearing in this picture?

Speaking of non-matching........have a look at the guy to the Duke's right! It kind of looks like he fell into his closet and wore whatever stuck!

[Jock Scot]

Speaking of non-matching........have a look at the guy to the Duke's right! It kind of looks like he fell into his closet and wore whatever stuck!

That "guy" is the Duke of Argyll and yes, that is what we Scots do when choosing our attire!

[McConnell Mor]

Speaking of non-matching........have a look at the guy to the Duke's right! It kind of looks like he fell into his closet and wore whatever stuck!

ahhh yes the Duke of Argyll....seems kinda close to the Prince huh..coincidence?