navy blue silver button argyle use

[FossilHunter]

Is there any tradition for the use of other colors of silver buttoned argyle jackets besides black (specifically navy)?

I have seen older images of coatees in green and navy.

So this leads me to wonder, if a green PC is as formal as a black (even if less common today), would a navy or bottle green agyle in barathea with silver buttons be just as formal as the black and usable/appropriate for the same occasions (formal day and evening with proper shirt/tie/waistcoat)?

It just seems odd that doublets have so much variety in color while the less formal jackets seems to be stuck with black.

[McMurdo]

The colours do not make a jot of difference in formality. I recently purchased a Claret Prince Charlie. I lent out my black one and it was never returned the claret was such a great deal I could not pass it up. Here are a few photos with others wearing similar outfits, I see no problem with the more colourful coatee. I recently saw a wonderful velvet Argyll jacket with silver buttons, not chrome, the velvet was midnight blue and it was wonderful, I wish I had won the bid but alas it went to someone else.

[David Dubh]

I’d seen some alternative colours for both argyle and PC about a decade ago but they seem to be rarer these days. I think that anything other than a black argyle would be harder to wear at a very formal event but probably here in North America it would be fine. I think any colour of PC would be just fine at any formal (black tie) event since it is tuxedo equivalent.
Good luck in your search I’m sure they are available it’s just harder to find any in an off the peg jacket I’m sure that it can be made to measure.
Regards David

[FossilHunter]

I’d seen some alternative colours for both argyle and PC about a decade ago but they seem to be rarer these days. I think that anything other than a black argyle would be harder to wear at a very formal event but probably here in North America it would be fine. I think any colour of PC would be just fine at any formal (black tie) event since it is tuxedo equivalent.
Good luck in your search I’m sure they are available it’s just harder to find any in an off the peg jacket I’m sure that it can be made to measure.
Regards David

What got me thinking about it as an option was that, since an argyle jacket seems have a ceiling on how formal it can be pushed (I've gotten the impression it would not do for very formal events even if black), it would not suffer from being too informal. But I couldn't find example of people actually doing it online so thought it'd be good to ask the rabble.

[FossilHunter]

The colours do not make a jot of difference in formality. I recently purchased a Claret Prince Charlie. I lent out my black one and it was never returned the claret was such a great deal I could not pass it up. Here are a few photos with others wearing similar outfits, I see no problem with the more colourful coatee. I recently saw a wonderful velvet Argyll jacket with silver buttons, not chrome, the velvet was midnight blue and it was wonderful, I wish I had won the bid but alas it went to someone else.

It's a good look. It doesn't fall into that overly military/ringmaster look the scarlet jackets can edge towards. I especially like it paired with your wildcat tartan.

I noticed kilts4less carries a navy argyle for the same price as the used black ones so I may go that route. I like the idea of not falling into the see of black argyles/PCs. One of the things I like about highland dress is the diversity of looks even when holding to the conventions.

I may also like to pair it with a scarlet waistcoat like I've been discussing in my other thread here.

This is my inspiration:

[RichardtheLarge]

McMurdo, you have one of the most stunning highlandwear wardrobes I’ve seen on the web. Well done!

I echo the “equal formality” sentiment. In the highland tradition, a black wool and a burgundy velvet jacket are of equal formality. If that’s the case, why not choose something flattering and distinctive? Personally, I wouldn’t choose a black barathea jacket or doublet if something more interesting was available.

My next purchase this year will most probably be a navy barathea Sheriffmuir.

[McMurdo]

McMurdo, you have one of the most stunning highlandwear wardrobes I’ve seen on the web. Well done!

Thank you Richard, it has taken a while to amass it all. I started with my Dad's old kilt and sporran. Luckily for me I've stayed the same size more or less for a while. I find the best thing to do is to go for the best quality you can when it comes to the kilts themselves and try for vintage pieces on ebay for the other things, of course when a deal comes along on something like the claret PC you grab it.

[Nomad]

Very dark blue works just as well as black, when serving my mess dress was trousers, jacket (short like a PC without the tail) in very dark blue with a scarlet waistcoat. In truth, unless it was in bright sunlight you would have thought it was black, so I think a navy jacket would work very well with a kilt.

I like McMurdos PC as well, I don't think it would work with a loud or colourful kilt but because the wildcat is of more muted colours it contrasts/compliments it, if that makes sense.

[OC Richard]

It appears that in the old days Highland jackets of various cuts and colours were equally acceptable for formal occasions including jackets of the Argyll cut. So I would think a Navy blue Argyll with silver buttons fine for Evening functions.

[FossilHunter]

It appears that in the old days Highland jackets of various cuts and colours were equally acceptable for formal occasions including jackets of the Argyll cut. So I would think a Navy blue Argyll with silver buttons fine for Evening functions.

I have to ask, what makes you think they're wearing blue?