velvet or wool?

[cable scot]

Haveing saved and worked the expence with my soon to be wife(the wedding to be the reason) I now get to choose, a sheriffmuir in black wool or midnight blue velvet. Under artifical light black has a greenish hue, midnight blue looks BLACK. The cost difference is noteable,but the care and feeding? how do they wear,last ect... I've seen pics of rabble in wool but not in velvet, Why? Is wool in the long run better for my money?Does velvet not look as good as I think? Is it fragile,weak and hard to care for?For my part it is a couple of hundred dollars diffrence and I want to look almost as good as my girl will,but I plan to have this for a good long time and would like it to be a good investment. I do plan to buy the wool one from Scotweb or the velvet from Highland clans who I have had good dealings with.

thanks in advance
Andy

[LitTrog]

I have experience with both. The velvet looks great but is harder to maintain and susceptible to water spotting. I do not regret buying my velvet sheriffmuir, however...love it!

[davidg]

If you care for it well velvet will last as long as wool and stay looking good but it is susceptible to numerous problems. Crushing is one problem, removing sticky residue dropped on the fibres is another

Personally I would go for the black barathea. It is traditional, looks good, and is relatively easy to care for. Velvet requires more effort, can be seen as flamboyant, and according to my daughter gives you the "Mike Myers" look

[McMurdo]

I would agree that Barathea wool would be easier to care for, however as someone who has a Black Barathea doublet I can say without a doubt if I were to purchase another doublet it would be in velvet. I would also point out that there are photos on the forum of Sandy in his velvet doublet. Here is a link showing him in one

http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/f...ml#post1037862

[artificer]

For sheer WOW factor, you cannot beat velvet. It's traditional, looks fantastic, and will really set you apart in a room full of penguins.

That said, Barathea is much easier to maintain in it's "like new" condition.

Even taking the care & maintenance issues into consideration, my vote is still for the midnight blue velvet.

ith:

[longhuntr74]

I'll put in a hearty vote for VELVET! Set yourself apart from the rest of the room for the rest of your life. The HC jacket will be 2x better (quality and fit) than Scotweb too, I'm guessing.

[creagdhubh]

I agree with McMurdo. My next doublet will be in the Regulation style and made of black velvet, yet I do own the same doublet in black barathea. My vote is to have doublets or coatees in both fabrics, so you are not wearing the velvet variant all the time, allowing it to 'rest.' Same mentality as fine leather brogues.

[McMurdo]

Kyle, I agree my next will be a Regulation Doublet in velvet, I looked on the Scottish Tartan Museum webpage but did not see them offered any longer. I think Kinloch Anderson would be the perfect place to purchase one. I was looking at this offering from them

http://www.kinlochanderson.com/mens/...-special-order

[cable scot]

So we seem to be getting more votes for velvet.Care and feeding advice,pitfalls? Did you guys buy wool first because of the cost ratio?
What is crushing? And god please I don't want to look like Mike Myers!

[McMurdo]

I purchased my montrose doublet from ebay, and yes the price was a consideration. Here it is

While it is a wonderful doublet and I am very happy with it, most times I am the only gent in the room not in the ubiquitous Prince Charlie, I personally would prefer velvet and a velvet that was anything but black. Simply to take it up another notch.