odd looking tweed Argyll jackets on Ebay

[OC Richard]

Cole you could always take the jacket & vest in to be tailored, I suppose.

Are there labels inside that indicate where they were made? I ask because I notice the Ebay listings on several of these similar-looking jackets (some of Harris Tweed) mention only where the fabric is made. Since all of these jackets are being sold by the same firm, and all have the same odd styling (which looks quite distinct from any UK tailored kilt jackets I've ever seen) the spectre is raised of a firm shipping British fabrics overseas, and shipping the finished jackets back.

Here's gorgeous Harris Tweed, but note no mention of where the jacket is made, and that same boxy cut, same very high pockets. It's a lovely jacket and quite tempting at the price, but the buyer will probably have to have it retailored. At least it has the body the correct length for kiltwearing

http://www.ebay.com/itm/HARRIS-TWEED...item20e2ebdf0d

This one not so much, having a very long Saxon-ish body

http://www.ebay.com/itm/HARRIS-TWEED...item20e4844c44

Now compare all those boxy funky jackets with this one, made by the Harris Tweed Clothing Company harristweedclothing.co.uk

[Tobus]

That last jacket is stunning, Richard! Aside from the pockets being at different heights (even in relation to the line in the tweed), it looks top-notch.

The slant cut of the sleeve cuffs is interesting, though. Can't say I've seen (or noticed) that before.

[MNlad]

Cole, I'm sorry you jacket did not meet your original expectations. Perhaps, however, your "taking one for the team" will give others pause before taking the plunge and heading the sage advice, "if it seems too good to be true . . ."

I hope a bit of tailoring puts it in order. At least the fabric in the pix looks like a good starting point and trimming down is always easier than trying to make something a size bigger.

[Aussie_Don]

I'll add my $0.02 here.

I've got two tweed jackets, one that I bought from Rocky and the other from an eBay seller,
that is probably of Pakistani manufacture.

Now, I realise that I am not typical -- most of the rabble do not play guitars in their kilt
jackets. I also go to the gym regularly after nearly a lifetime of a variety of sporting
activities, so my build is somewhat unusual.

The arms, particularly the upper arms, in both jackets are a bit tight -- though the jacket
from USA kilts (made in Scotland) is a bit more generous.

Neither jacket comes in much at the waist. And I'm never going to see one that's sufficiently
tailored for me unless I get a bespoke jacket. Off the peg jackets simply do not have 8-10"
"drop" between the chest and waist. (I'm 44" chest and 35" waist)

But this eBay jacket is IMHO a fairly nicely made jacket and represents value-for-money given
the price.

Notes re the photos -- I've photoshopped them somewhat to show as much of the detail as
possible -- this has skewed the colour of the kilt somewhat -- but it's about the jacket, not
the kilt.

Wearing USA Kilt semi-casual in MacGregor Modern, Freedom Carry-all, sporran and the
eBay Jacket.



I have since discovered that I have a couple of bands of elastic that were packing from
something that make great sleeve-garters and hold up the skivvy sleeves so that I don't
have as much cuff showing. And, after some experimentation, I now wear my sporran on
my left hip when playing guitar to get it out of the way -- I generally shift the belt buckle
as well so that it doesn't damage the back of the guitar. But you can see here that the
sleeves ride up when I'm playing due to the small upper arm diameter and tightness
across the back of my shoulders.



Here, I'm standing with my arms down and the sleeve length looks about right, so I'm
thinking that the problem is the cut and not the sizing as such. Perhaps one of the tailors
in the rabble could comment on this. The other thing that I have considered is that I
can recall some casual tweed jackets that I saw that had a kind of pleat at or near the
shoulder seam -- I'm thinking that these were intended as shooting jackets. Certainly
the field jackets that I was issued in 1970 had that sort of construction to provide a
greater range of arm motion.

I hope that this is a useful addition to the discussion.

-Don

[Calgacus]

Posted elsewhere, but worth repeating.... This jacket looks outstanding:

Attachment 18163

I'm not familiar with the companyhttp://www.harristweedclothing.co.uk...d-kilt-jacket/, but the sales contact lives in Leeds. Not sure if that's a flag or just the way they're doing business. Haven't heard back from my initial inquiry about who stocks their stuff. They've been registered since 2012. I'd live to learn more - definitely looks like an improvement over what's out there now.

Ooh! They are lovely jackets.

[creagdhubh]

Cole you could always take the jacket & vest in to be tailored, I suppose.

Are there labels inside that indicate where they were made? I ask because I notice the Ebay listings on several of these similar-looking jackets (some of Harris Tweed) mention only where the fabric is made. Since all of these jackets are being sold by the same firm, and all have the same odd styling (which looks quite distinct from any UK tailored kilt jackets I've ever seen) the spectre is raised of a firm shipping British fabrics overseas, and shipping the finished jackets back.

Here's gorgeous Harris Tweed, but note no mention of where the jacket is made, and that same boxy cut, same very high pockets. It's a lovely jacket and quite tempting at the price, but the buyer will probably have to have it retailored. At least it has the body the correct length for kiltwearing

http://www.ebay.com/itm/HARRIS-TWEED...item20e2ebdf0d

This one not so much, having a very long Saxon-ish body

http://www.ebay.com/itm/HARRIS-TWEED...item20e4844c44

Now compare all those boxy funky jackets with this one, made by the Harris Tweed Clothing Company harristweedclothing.co.uk

Gorgeous tweed and cut!

[Flavia]

The plaid is not lining up - almost as if the pattern pieces had been laid out crookedly before even cutting them out! The pockets are not just higher than usual, the left one (right as you face the picture) appears not only about half an inch higher, but also crooked, especially compared to the other one. The welt on the breast pocket, however, is perfect. The only other explanation is that this jacket somehow got hung crookedly and warped. Possibly moving the button, so that when the front is fastened, the plaid will line up, might help that jacket.

It hurts to look at it, but that's only because I sew, & mismatched plaid sets me off (if I may be pardoned that horrible pun!)

[OC Richard]

Neither jacket comes in much at the waist. And I'm never going to see one that's sufficiently
tailored for me unless I get a bespoke jacket. Off the peg jackets simply do not have 8-10"
"drop" between the chest and waist. (I'm 44" chest and 35" waist)

Yes I wouldn't think an off the peg jacket would have that much taper, but a vintage one might.

What's odd is that I have a quite UNathletic build, my torso being a big cylinder (hips waist chest the same) but even so off the peg Argyll jackets are usually too loose around the middle. The two jackets I wear all the time, a vintage tweed Argyll and an ex-hire black Argyll, are loose, at the waist as if made for somebody with a belly even bigger than mine. I took another black Argyll jacket in to a tailor and had the waist brought in (which sacrificed the side vents).

Yes your point about sizing, when playing the pipes I don't want a tight restricting binding jacket so I wear jackets around a size bigger than I would if not piping.

[Kilted Cole]

No need for tailoring. They issued me a full refund. So at least their customer service is up there sort of......the seller however did INSIST that it is a kilt jacket, and that it was probably just a little too long for me. I think most of you know what I'm calling on that part. lol. Sorry but the cut, wasn't anywhere near what my other kilt jackets cuts are. Very "Saxon" in style. oh well. Like I said, I've been refunded. So I can't continue to complain much any longer. ;) I won some nice tweed off of ebay the other week and a friend of mine told me that she wanted to try her hand at making a kilt jacket....so all and all, I feel pretty good.

Tweed that shall be a Jacket and vest hopefully.