sartorial advice needed (again)

**sailortats** · 6th November 12, 06:56 PM

I have a green PC with matching 3 button vest. (see photo below) I would like to wear a 5 button vest with it some of the time. The company where I bought the PC does not have a 5 button vest in this color and I am hesitant to order one from some other place as I am sure it would not be the same shade of green.
Hence my question; can I wear a totally different color 5 button vest with this PC? If so, what colors would look best with it, black, navy blue or.....? I would normally be wearing my Stewart Hunting (ancient) kilt and not the Celtic Nations as in the pic below.

**MacMillan of Rathdown** · 6th November 12, 08:07 PM

A five button vest is not worn with formal evening attire... What you might want to consider is getting an Argyll jacket and five button waistcoat in the same shade of green as your coatee and then, when the mood strikes you, wearing the three button vest with the Argyll jacket to formal events instead of your coatee.

**sailortats** · 7th November 12, 07:05 AM

Ok MacMillan, thank you for this. I have an Argyle jacket and a couple of 5 button vests that I wear with it. I guess I will have to be satisfied with things the way they are now.

**David Thorpe** · 7th November 12, 07:09 AM

Originally Posted by sailortats

...I guess I will have to be satisfied with thongs the way they are now.

I'm gettin' a visual here and it could go either way.

**Tam Piperson** · 7th November 12, 07:28 AM

I would suggest (if you can find one) a red waistcoat which you could wear with either the coatee or an argyll jacket. Red waistcoats at one time were very popular for Scottish eveningwear for formal occassions, although they are not seen as much today; still a very attractive look in my opinion.

**sailortats** · 7th November 12, 07:42 AM

David, I cannot imagine what you are talking about

**CMcG** · 7th November 12, 08:13 AM

We can probably assume that MacMillan of Rathdown (MoR) is giving you the straight traditional goods. I'd like to add a bit of rational and nuance to his dictum.

A Prince Charlie coatee typically has rather long lapels, which look best when matched with a low-cut, formal waistcoat. There are other types of formal wear, however, that generally take a high-cut waistcoat, such as a Sheriffmuir doublet. Furthermore, some types of formal neck wear require a high-cut waistcoat, i.e. if you wanted to pair a stock or cravat with a dress Argyll jacket.

Here's an example of me wearing a stock tie with my Braemar jacket:

**Chas** · 7th November 12, 08:34 AM

I did it once for one event.

Navy Blue PC with a 5 button waistcoat. A wing collar and a very full jabot.

The effect was similar to a Sheriffmuir, because the jabot hid the fact that the waistcoat did not go all the way up to my collar.

At that time and at that place, it worked. I would not have done it with any form of tie. Would I do it again - probably not. I now have a Sheriffmuir for those kind of occasions.

Regards

Chas