Kilt Jackets

[Ruffus]

Hello all,
I'm currently searching the thrift stores for a sport coat to convert to a kilt cut jacket. Thanks to the lovely how-tos on Xmarks, I think I'm comfortable plunging into this project. But, to get on with my question. My current kilt is in Black Watch,what would be a complementary jacket color?


Thanks,

Seth

Thanks for posting this, you took the words right out of my mouth. I too am looking for that exact same thing. I bought two jackets yesterday mainly for my wife to practice with. Will either of these work with the Blackwatch tartan?

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[Standard]

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To my eye this one looks perfect. I don't care for the red stripe in the first jacket. Please be sure to post photos of your finished project!

[auld argonian]

That second one is excellent. My understanding was that the vents are on the sides to accommodate the sporran strap...doesn't seem like that practical of a consideration but that's what I heard.

Best of luck with the conversion. I would suggest that when you decide just how much to shorten it that you do it with your kilt and the jacket on you and have someone help you mark it...sometimes jackets just seem too short and I think that it's a question of matching the proportions to your own build

Best

AA

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

Two things you will want to look for, in order of importance:

1) a jacket with patch pockets (converted jackets end up with the pockets way to low);
2) a jacket with a double vent (this will fit better over the fell of the kilt).

I would also suggest that corduroy makes a superb kilt jacket, especially if you live in the warmer climes, and that corduroy jackets are quite often easier to source than tweed.

[rtc872]

Wow MoR that is amazing advice. I am going to keep my eye out for that exact type of jacket myself.

Cheers

[Downunder Kilt]

Ruffus, I think both jackets will work when converted. I have had 2 tweed saxon jacket converted to kilt jackets and as many have said the pockets tend to look too low. As a simple solution I don't wear mine with pocket flaps out. I iron them into the pocket and I believe it takes a keen eye to notice that the pocket slits are too low.

In relation to the back vents, both of mine had single vents so I magic taped them closed and the jacket still seems to sit ok. Of course they don't sit and look as good a purpose made kilt jacket, but hey, you pay 10.00 for a jacket, modify it yourself or 50.00 for someone to do it for you and you get a perfectly servicable jacket.

Good luck with your project. Cheers