Spenser Jacket and Buttons

**Cygnus** · 19th February 13, 03:09 PM

For a dress jacket, I'd skip the enamel buttons and go with plain silver - you can't go wrong there.

Either way, I'm looking forward to pictures!

**SemperFyffe** · 22nd February 13, 07:12 AM

I love the blue. But that shade just happens to be my favorite color... seeing them with the jacket would help. Though as Cygnus said, you can't go wrong with silver. You wouldn't have the concern of matching.

**JSFMACLJR** · 22nd February 13, 08:33 AM

Originally Posted by SemperFyffe

I love the blue. But that shade just happens to be my favorite color... seeing them with the jacket would help. Though as Cygnus said, you can't go wrong with silver. You wouldn't have the concern of matching.

Who worries about buttons matching? Who even notices?

**SemperFyffe** · 22nd February 13, 11:26 AM

Originally Posted by JSFMACLJR

Who worries about buttons matching? Who even notices?

He expressed concerns of compatibility with the kilts he owns... I was just trying to say that silver goes with everything... But I still vote blue!

**Tim Little** · 22nd February 13, 12:35 PM

Originally Posted by Cygnus

For a dress jacket, I'd skip the enamel buttons and go with plain silver - you can't go wrong there.

Either way, I'm looking forward to pictures!

***

**Alan H** · 22nd February 13, 12:54 PM

I also agree....who notices if the buttons "match"?

That said, I'd also opt for silver, as it's a bit more "traditional"...though your buttons here aren't exactly traditional.

Also, are you REALLY going to wear this jacket with ALL your kilts? I know that I have two kilts which are my nicest kit, and when I get dressed up, those are the ones I pull out of the closet. There's no point in me trying to match anything fancy with my knockarounds. How about you?

**MNlad** · 22nd February 13, 03:26 PM

+I silver. Less chance of it clashing with the next kilt in your closet. Hey, then again, the blue or purple gives you an excuse for buying another jacket if it does clash.

**tundramanq** · 24th February 13, 05:03 PM

I am not much worried about traditional as this is for a Spenser jacket for more casual use. I have an Argyll Jacket on order for when it matters.
All these look better than the black buttons on the jacket now. The all pewter and the blue/pewter look a bit washed out on the black wool jacket itself. Although blue is my favorite color. I am leaning toward the purple ( second favorite ) as it looks sharpest on the jacket and seems to work with all colors.

4th jacket ordered in 36XL - I realized the back waist band was only overlapping my belt by about 1/2 inch. From what I gather this should be around 2 inches to the kilt top or belt top. ( Please correct me if I am wrong? ) .The spenser does have a little mini v-shaped tail the point of which extends 1 1/4 inch below the hem at the kidney area.

I like the cut of the spensers is why I am getting it. Not to make a bobtail PC. The buttons will be the only modification.
If one gets too close to a PC you need to get a bagpipe kilt pin to show the yokels when they ask where it is.

**tundramanq** · 24th February 13, 06:01 PM

Since there is interest in the jacket as purchased. I am posing these of the 36R ( my actual chest is 38.5 inches ).
They carry one label:The Robert Wagner Collection by Raffinati the other label is:American Commodore Tuxedo,Cleaveland Ohio.
This explains the size difference. American makers usually make coats and blazers that fit like garbage bags rather than doing the precision tailoring required for a close fit and this was made here. IMHO kilt jackets should be close european fit as to accentuate the loose flowing kilt and not add another loose flapping piece to the picture.
The back:

The Front:

And the side:

I know it's a Utilikilt - it's what I wore today - was working on neighbors car earlier - but the waist position is the same. I did take off my 2.5 inch black belt so the jacket hem is easy to see.

**tundramanq** · 4th March 13, 02:02 PM

I now have pictures. Note I am 5' 10" and chest is 39", This is an American made WWTuxedo Spencer jacket 36XL ( XL - due to how low I wear my kilts - Body lengh is exactly 2 inches longer than a 36R ). As expected, I rehemed the sleeves 1 7/8 inch shorter, (1 inch below the wrist bones) - if you look close, the permanent felt tip marks are still on the backs of my hands about an inch above my knuckles from measureing. After experimenting with button placement using yellow sticky pad squares, I settled on the PC layout and number and marked the spots and sewed the purple filled pewter diamond buttons on in the current positions. As of now the sleeves are bare. The jury is still out on placing a single button on each sleeve in the standard suit jacket positions. Since this isn't a regulation PC, no back buttons or tails, the sleeve buttons showing from the back would balance the "bling" on the front.

The vest is the next project, with more on order that have more "cut away"in front. This 3 button stops at the 2.5 inch belt top in back and is as you see it in front.
Ordered are: 2- 3 button chain points in Dark gray and black and 1 from another brand, a 4 button point and a knit 5 button point. What dosen't get used here will still be used casually - that's my excuse and I am sticking with it......

Windy Day - jacket A-OK. kilt so so. - went back inside. Rocky, FYI that's a 40mph side gust on your Casual:

Front view:

Back - I'm sloching here, when I stand straight the jacket hem aligns with bottom of belt:

Side view:

Then quarter view: