Open Fronted Doublets

[CMcG]

Thanks, C McG,

You may want to check out the offerings over at MINISTRY OF TARTAN. I have never dealt with them, but I like to look. The frustration is that so many of their jackets aren't yet pictured, but their prices seem reasonable. I think I would find a tailcoat and start chopping before I paid Skye to make me a Laird's jacket. I am a devoted fan of SHO, but that just looks too easy- and I think they left a little too much on the tails. A really clever tailor could even turn some of that tail length into a set of tashes for the front. Charles Thompson shows how top make a PC from a tailcoat. I expect a Regulation is within reach of a good copyist. These days, there are several styles of tailcoats floating around and you might find just the thing on the rental return racks.

I've been watching the Ministry of Tartan but no luck there yet. I also found a place called "PIOB MHOR of SCOTLAND" who have some used Sheriffmuirs. Has anyone ever dealt with them?

I'm also gently considering a conversion project. I've heard of people doing a nehru tux jacket to something Sheriffmuir-esque and now MacLL has mentioned a tailcoat to Regulation. The problem is, I haven't been too impressed with most of the tailcoat to PC or sportscoat to daywear kilt jacket conversions I've seen...

The best bet seems to be jazzing up a jacket that doesn't require much conversion. Something like Zardoz's short tux jacket with shiny celtic buttons. There has been a trend in fashion this year for military-style jackets and I've seen a couple that look rather like a Sheriffmuir... if I could find one in a nice material, that was sufficiently short waisted with a bit of cut-away, maybe swap in some of those chrome kilt jacket buttons...

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It has been my experience that Sheriffmuirs are the least practical in terms of both cost and comfort.
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In all probability the Argyll is the slightly more practical, and slightly less expensive. If I could only own one evening jacket, it would be an Argyll.

Hope that helps!

Why is it that Sheriffmuirs are the least practical in terms of both cost and comfort?

At the moment, I use a Braemar (like a black Argyll but with mariner cuffs) for my only evening jacket. It is as versatile as MoR says, but am looking for something more formal...