daywear jacket preferences

[Vegan Scot]

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

And best comment of the day goes to...

[Danwell]

I don't think he could possible have made everything match less even if he tried........yet it looks good!

[Mike_Oettle]

Danwell wrote: “I don't think he could possible have made everything match less even if he tried . . . yet it looks good!”

Ye-e-ess, apart from the fact that he is wearing a yellow tie. It actually contrasts fairly well with the blue shirt, but yellow (or gold) ties often seem to be worn without any thought for their actual contribution to an outfit as a whole.
The only yellow tie I possess is one in Jacobite tartan.
Regards,
Mike

[MacLowlife]

The reason the D of A's outfit does match is because he has presumed certain elements will be neutral and go with anything- the way a white shirt does in the US and the way a small patterned blue and white shirt has come to be considered in some circles- you know, the guy in the houndstooth jacket with the blue checked shirt and the patterned tie...

I have seen the Duke wearing pink socks, so I believe he just likes contrast from his hose, rather than a match.

Back to the jackets...Top of the collar to hem on an argyll jacket seems to be around 26 inches (66cm?) in my size ( 40-42R) and the same measurement on a Saxon jacket runs about 31 or 32 inches. Granted, simply chopping off 5 or 6 inches is going to give you a coat whose pocket flaps seem "off". BUT, if you start with a jacket whose length is 29 inches, like the vintage tartan sportjacket I recently got on eBay, you are talking about chopping two or three inches. I do not advocate wearing the 29 inch jacket with a kilt as is, though it would look three inches better than the 32 inch one, but I think it might more easily be altered at the hem. And quite often, there is room enough in the sleeves to let them down, if you find them to be correspondingly short.

Surprisingly, they aren't always.

For my money, the trick of sportjacket conversion is to remove the pocket flaps and re-install them a little higher, whether or not you raise the actual pockets underneath. Of course, you can only raise them so much, but they can easily come up an inch without revealing the pocket below. THERE lies the proportion trick that makes some converted jackets seem "off". If you happen on a jacket with patch pockets, the process is easier, as described in many other threads.

Speaking of neutrality, my favorite conversion started with a Swiss wool uniform tunic- it is a perfect grey-green color and has four pocket flaps and four buttons, but no cutaway in the front. These jackets used to be available from The Sportsman's Guide for about $5. As a uniform jacket, it is slightly shorter than a Saxon sportcoat, but probably not short enough to wear with the kilt as-is. However, cutting the hem and making a sporran cutaway does not require moving the pocket flaps because they are just that inch or so higher already. You do have to swap a few buttons and remove some metal belt hangers. Stag buttons or leather knots make it the perfect wooly day jacket, but mine seems to have shrunk through the waist...

[longhuntr74]

PS I am the old ugly one. The young hansom one is my son.

Well you both look very well turned out! I wanted to comment, in particular, about your son...

I commend both him and you on how good he looks. It's very rare these days that we see young people well dressed with a sense of style. His shoes are traditional and stylish. His hose are complementing. He's wearing a tie (quite a rarity it seems for the under 25 crowd). The jacket and vest are top notch! He looks to be a mature gentleman for sure. Well done, dad, for teaching him properly.

[MacRobert's Reply]

Many thanks longhuntr74 for your kind remarks. The photograph was taken shortly before my son's wedding so he was 'making an effort'! However, apart from the sporran and kilt pin, the outfit was all chosen by him.

[BoldHighlander]

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!

With my luck I'd give myself another concussion if I did that Jock!!

[OC Richard]

There's a lovely vintage check tweed kilt jacket on Ebay now, going cheaply, closing in a few hours, size 42.

[Irish Jack O'Brian]

There's a lovely vintage check tweed kilt jacket on Ebay now, going cheaply, closing in a few hours, size 42.

Yes, I saw that jacket. Just a wee bit small for me.

[Arlen]

For daywear I tend to go for a comfortable Tweed jacket. (Either of 3 button regular cuff or gauntlet cuff.)
This is my favourite. It was a gift from the lovely Vmac a couple of years ago and it is a nice, fitted jacket but with loose enough sleeves that I can do as much work as I need to during the day.