Casual kilt jackets?

[CMcG]

Thought that had been unavailable the last couple of years -- is it back?

<snip>

It is apparently back "while supplies last" along with a kilt cut sports sport:
http://stores.channeladvisor.com/Sti...ilt%20Jackets/

[Dale Seago]

It is apparently back "while supplies last" along with a kilt cut sports sport:
http://stores.channeladvisor.com/Sti...ilt%20Jackets/

Thanks, I just ordered one of the leather ones!!

[Dale Seago]

Thought that had been unavailable the last couple of years -- is it back?

I've found a leather "bomber" style jacket to fit the bill nicely, as it's originally a short-waisted military design for seated flight in aircraft. Filson in Seattle have a wool bomber-cut jacket, too: See http://www.filson.com/products/macki...taProduct=aa13

I picked up another leather jacket recently which, while pricey, I find goes very well with the kilt: http://www.territoryahead.com/jump.j...emType=PRODUCT

If you're thinking more of bashing around in the boonies, then the wool bomber mentioned above or -- perhaps even better, and comparable to a Barbour in "bomber" length/style -- should do it: http://www.filson.com/products/cover...ket.10024.html

[Tobus]

If you're thinking more of bashing around in the boonies, then the wool bomber mentioned above or -- perhaps even better, and comparable to a Barbour in "bomber" length/style -- should do it: http://www.filson.com/products/cover...ket.10024.html

That one seems to be too long to wear with a sporran, unless it's kept open all the time, right?

[Dale Seago]

That one seems to be too long to wear with a sporran, unless it's kept open all the time, right?

If you're wearing a kilt belt it may cover that when the jacket is closed; but the sporran should be fine.

The wool version does appear to be cut a tad shorter.

[MacMillans son]

Thought that had been unavailable the last couple of years -- is it back?

I've found a leather "bomber" style jacket to fit the bill nicely, as it's originally a short-waisted military design for seated flight in aircraft. Filson in Seattle have a wool bomber-cut jacket, too: See http://www.filson.com/products/macki...taProduct=aa13

I picked up another leather jacket recently which, while pricey, I find goes very well with the kilt: http://www.territoryahead.com/jump.j...emType=PRODUCT

Thanks for the link Dale. I think those Wool Mackinaw bombers will suit me fine!

[Pyper]

The US Army jacket I mentioned has a tag that reads:

Jacket, Man's, Water Repellant Army
Black 385 with liner

It goes on to say that it is specification UOCS-06-80 and Certification 8-2076-KL.

It was made by Blauer Mfg. Co. of Boston.

When my Dad was in the Army, he had rank pins on the epaulettes, but nothign sewn on, so if you find one in a surplus store it can look good as new, even if it's worn. It's not "puffy" like a flight jacket. In fact, it fits like a Levi's jean jacket -- just it's warmer.

[Dale Seago]

Bomber-type (different collar) tweed jacket from Orvis:

http://www.orvis.com/store/product.a...0&cat_id=11234

[Tobus]

Once upon a time Kevin Kenny of Empire Canvas was making kilt length shooting jackets for us to sell in our gift shop.

Story of my life... a day late and a dollar short! I like the look of that jacket, Matt. It is more along the lines of the kind of casual I'm envisioning. It's probably still a tad on the delicate side for rough use (tweed would snag on pretty much everything I hike through), but it's certainly got the look I'm thinking of.

Another observation, if I may -- if you are looking for something more dressed down than a normal tweed kilt day jacket, I'd say wear any kind of jacket you like. Who cares if it is specially made for the kilt or not? If it's that casual, I wouldn't think it mattered all that much how it was cut, if it was "too long", etc. If it's warm and functional, it's good enough!

Well, that's kind of what I'm doing now. And I just get annoyed that it interferes with my sporran or falls lower than the fell line of my kilt, limiting the swish of the pleats, etc. It just doesn't look or feel 'right' for wearing with a kilt.

That's not entirely correct. A tweed sportcoat is a casual garment. Looking nice and looking casual isn't a contradiction in terms.

I'm not trying to say that the tweed sportcoat isn't casual. It's just not the kind of casual I had in mind. I don't really know how to explain this. In my area of the world (and with the people I know), a jacket of that style is seen as dressy. I have several tweed sportcoats that I occasionally wear to work with trousers and boots, and when I wear them, people ask me why I'm so dressed up. That's just the way things are around here. So while such a jacket may be seen as very casual in Highland fashion circles, it just isn't seen that way everywhere. I don't know if it's the shoulder pads or the lapels or what it is that gives it that pseudo-dressy look, but it just looks more upscale than I am going for.

I think that sportcoat would look great for hanging out at a Highland Games or other particularly Scottish event, and I do like it! But I think for the purposes I had in mind when I started this thread, it would look more dressy than necessary. I am thinking more along the lines of something I'd wear with a non-collared shirt or sweater or a thermal, along with hiking boots. Maybe even something I'd wear for working on fences or other light-duty work, if that makes sense.

Stillwater Kilts makes a kilt cut leather jacket.

Now that is an interesting jacket. Not really what I had in mind, nor would it be my cup of tea, but it's interesting in that it takes a fairly plain modern jacket and gives it 'kilt styling'. I'm honestly surprised that there aren't more companies offering similar items for the ever-expanding non-traditional kilt market.

Back on the subject of the Ike jacket, I have some questions. I managed to find this page with some pretty fair prices on vintage jackets. What I've noticed, though, is that there seems to be a lot of variation between them. Some seem to have shorter length bodies, or hidden buttons, while others are longer, or have exposed buttons, or look more like dress jackets. If you look at the length of material below the pocket, or the ratio of body to sleeve, there's a huge variation. Why?

Also, I'm confused by the sizes. Many of these are shown as size 34 or 36, which seems awfully small! My chest size is about 38, and usually I have a hard time finding jackets made that small. Is their measuring system different than what I'm used to? In other words, if I would normally wear a 38 short in a modern jacket, what size should I be looking at in one of these jackets?

[macwilkin]

I'm not trying to say that the tweed sportcoat isn't casual. It's just not the kind of casual I had in mind. I don't really know how to explain this. In my area of the world (and with the people I know), a jacket of that style is seen as dressy. I have several tweed sportcoats that I occasionally wear to work with trousers and boots, and when I wear them, people ask me why I'm so dressed up. That's just the way things are around here. So while such a jacket may be seen as very casual in Highland fashion circles, it just isn't seen that way everywhere. I don't know if it's the shoulder pads or the lapels or what it is that gives it that pseudo-dressy look, but it just looks more upscale than I am going for.

I think that sportcoat would look great for hanging out at a Highland Games or other particularly Scottish event, and I do like it! But I think for the purposes I had in mind when I started this thread, it would look more dressy than necessary. I am thinking more along the lines of something I'd wear with a non-collared shirt or sweater or a thermal, along with hiking boots. Maybe even something I'd wear for working on fences or other light-duty work, if that makes sense.

I live "just up the road" from you in SW Missouri, and whilst the general opinion you express about is essentially the same, it still doesn't change the fact that a tweed sportcoat is a casual garment. In the words of one of my favorite poems, The Little Red God:

Wear the garments he likes to wear,
Never dreaming that people stare;

Your second paragraph does help clarify what you're looking for, though. Might I suggest a fleece jacket or sleeveless vest, a la L.L. Bean, Orvis, et. al.?

T.