Kilt Jackets

[Kilted Hiker]

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

[Nighthawk]

I'd say a dark green or navy blue would look great with Black Watch. Black looks really good, too.

[auld argonian]

You'll probably find some tweeds...I find some really nice ones all the time and it's tough to not bring all of them home when they're $5-$10 and nice material.

(My wife is the one great motivating factor for my leaving them behind..."do you really need another __________?" you can fill that in with "jacket", "camera", "fishing rod", "typewriter"...what-ever.)

Anyway....when you see a lot of different tweed jackets on the rack, you'll see that they usually have a sort of predominant color cast to them. Some are neutral, bluish, greenish, tannish...you get the idea. It's a judgement call as to what goes with any given tartan and you do have to take your own coloration into consideration...are you whitish, pinkish, olive-ish, tannish...once again, you get the idea. So it's a question of putting the whole thing together color-wise. You'll probably find something that definitely doesn't go with the Black Watch but you'll find more that do.

Beware, however, the much criticised "matchy-matchy" look where everything is so perfectly color coordinated that it looks artificial. You've got some lee-way in tossing in the odd-but-complimentary color that breaks up the matchy-matchy thing.

I'm trying to remember the thread from a couple of months back where the question of what goes with what was beat to death and many of our members from the Old Country pointed out the tendency to over color coordinate (AS CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM). I think that we've all been on our toes since then to cool it on the "perfectly matched" outfits.

Don't forget that some of the best jackets to convert are snug fitting and have patch pockets! You're more likely to find patch pockets on tweeds than on anything else.

Best

AA

[Kiltboy]

I got lucky and found a beautiful Harris Tweed jacket at my local thrift store. And it was my size. Score! Looks great with my Black Watch too.

Tip: Wear your kilt when you go shopping. You'll know immediately if a jacket works with it.

[RB51]

I picked up a charcoal Harris tweed at the local thrift shop for under $10, had it converted by a local tailor for about $80 and it goes very well with my Black Watch.

Laurie

[eagle43172]

Looking at "real" or store bought kilt jackets they all have double vents on the back. The jackets I've converted were chosen with that in mind. Does it Matter? I personally think then lay better over the pleats. Finding a nice Harris tweed with them is not too easy, but worth thr search.

[Spartan Tartan]

I got lucky and found a beautiful Harris Tweed jacket at my local thrift store. And it was my size. Score! Looks great with my Black Watch too.

Tip: Wear your kilt when you go shopping. You'll know immediately if a jacket works with it.

GREAT tip! Maybe obvious, but I wouldn't have thought of it necessarily. Thanks!

[OC Richard]

You can get a black or charcoal grey jacket and make a more formal jacket, or get a nice check Harris tweed for an outdoor jacket.

For some reason kilt jackets are usually plain tweed or check tweed or windowpane tweed. I can't remember seeing jackets which were originally made as kilt jackets in herringbone tweed.

[JSFMACLJR]

You can get a black or charcoal grey jacket and make a more formal jacket, or get a nice check Harris tweed for an outdoor jacket.

For some reason kilt jackets are usually plain tweed or check tweed or windowpane tweed. I can't remember seeing jackets which were originally made as kilt jackets in herringbone tweed.

I have several herringbone tweed kilt jackets. One is a good 50 years old, too.

[rtc872]

Don't worry about matching with kilts complimentary is nice but still a tweed jacket can be as free as a bird.

Happy hunting