Argyll Tweed Jacket with Waistcoat

[Randycan]

My wife and I will be in Scotland July 26-August 9th on vacation. Our trip starts with 3 days in Edinburgh, and then Stirling and beyond.

I enjoy sharing my Scottish heritage by going kilted to church functions and eating out.
I am wondering if anyone knows of a place to get a argyll tweed jacket and waistcoat without breaking the bank.
Worst case scenario, get fitted properly and have it shipped home.

Any ideas?

If I were to wear these items all the time, I would go top shelf, but not ready to spend $400 or more.

Thanks!

[kingandrew]

Do a search on thrift stores and vintage clothing stores in Edinburgh. The most famous place is called Armstrong's, but there are a number of shops. I have read that it is not unusual to find used kilt jackets in good condition if you are willing to spend some time searching through the various second-hand shops.

Ebay, especially the UK version, is another good resource. And finally, there is the "For Sale" section of this site, which generally offers good prices, although selection is limited.

Happy hunting!

Andrew

[Karl R]

I am wondering if anyone knows of a place to get a argyll tweed jacket and waistcoat without breaking the bank.
Worst case scenario, get fitted properly and have it shipped home.

Any ideas?

If I were to wear these items all the time, I would go top shelf, but not ready to spend $400 or more.

I know Kilts4Less.com sells Argyll tweeds within that budget. I'm not sure whether they have a storefront you could visit while there. I purchased an ex-hire black barathea Argyll jacket & waistcoat from them, and I'm considering them as a possibility for a new tweed jacket & waistcoat.

[Mike S]

I know Kilts4Less.com sells Argyll tweeds within that budget. I'm not sure whether they have a storefront you could visit while there. I purchased an ex-hire black barathea Argyll jacket & waistcoat from them, and I'm considering them as a possibility for a new tweed jacket & waistcoat.

Plus one on that suggestion. I've purchased a number of jackets from them, including some Jim Dandy Harris Tweeds, and all were really nice at a more than reasonable cost.

[bodhran4me]

Checkout gumtree, which is like kijiji or craigslist. A savvy shopper can find plenty of bargains, kilt related and otherwise.

https://www.gumtree.com/search?searc...=kilt%20jacket

[Tomo]

Not quite an Argyll - doesn't have a gauntlet cuff - but I picked up a nice green checked tweed jacket and vest from McCalls a couple of weeks ago for £150, that's 1/2 their normal price and they have a couple of other styles on offer for about £200. Really happy with the quality, style and fit.

McCalls have various stores in Scotland. I went to the Edinburgh store to try on and then bought online as they didn't have the particular colour I wanted in store. Pretty sure you could order online and then collect from which ever store is most convenient or visit a shop and get them to order it in or to another shop that fits in with your travel plans if not stocked.

https://www.mccalls.co.uk/products/j...istcoats/tweed

[Miller6582]

I actually live in Edinburgh, if you give me an idea of the jacket colour/ style of cuff I can have a wee look around the usual suspects when I'm next in town. Also regarding sizing, a lot of the places will stock the same jackets for example House of Edgar most of these are just off the rack chest sizes and short, medium and long versions for the arms. You may find it easier (and cheaper) to get one of these and have a tailor back home do some alterations if its not a perfect fit. I actually have one of the House of Edgar crail jackets, slightly different cuff and twisted braid on the epaulettes, they use faux stag horn buttons but I think you can buy real stag horn ones separately.

http://www.houseofedgar.com/acatalog/Kilt_Jackets.html

[OC Richard]

an Argyll tweed jacket and waistcoat without breaking the bank... not ready to spend $400...

For that price you just might find a new Argyll tailored in the UK out of UK-woven fabric.

If you find new Argyll jackets priced, say, in the $100 to $200 range you're looking at jackets made in Pakistan or India.

The "overseas" jackets can be quite nice, don't get me wrong, but there's always something that seems "not quite right" about them to people who are experienced Highland Dress watchers.

With most it's the fabric. Pakistani-made tweed just feels different. Feel hundreds of vintage and new jackets made from UK-woven tweed, and hundreds of jackets made from Pakistani tweed, and you will be able to instantly distinguish them. The difference is not subtle.

But! Some firms export UK-woven tweed, even Harris tweed, to Pakistan or India to have jackets made there. In this case the "cut" is the giveaway. It's quite obvious, when you see an Argyll jacket with a strange cut which you wouldn't see in a UK-tailored jacket. That and the too-good-to-be-true price.

In most cases the label will be a guide. It won't say "Made in Pakistan". But it won't say where it was made. The label might have some obfuscation like "Authentic Tweed" or "Designed in Scotland".

Jackets from leading firms like Lochcarron or House Of Edgar will have labels that so state, and "Made in Scotland" or "Made in the UK".

The only low-cost way to get authentic UK woven and UK tailored jackets is to buy vintage/used. I have a number of fine UK-made jackets (one Prince Charlie, two black Argylls, two Lovat tweed Argylls) which were all bought used, for around $100 each, on Ebay. (Due to my size, US 50, a jacket that fits me comes up on average about once every two years.)

But, as people have pointed out here, it's fairly rare to come across vintage jackets complete with the original matching waistcoat. For that you might end up having to buy new. For a new tweed Argyll jacket & waistcoat of high quality for a reasonable price it's hard to beat USA Kilts.

Not that the waistcoat has to match! Waistcoats in tartan, buff, red, etc have always been worn with tweed Argyll jackets.

Being in Scotland is a huge advantage due to the large Kilt Hire industry and the sales on used Highland Dress the kilt hire firms tend to have after the Christmas holiday.

BTW while I was staying in Glasgow for the Worlds I ventured into MacGregor and MacDuff's and there was a lovely Lovat Green tweed Argyll and waistcoat with a claret over-check. It was around 700 Pounds.

[thecompaqguy]

My wife and I will be in Scotland July 26-August 9th on vacation. Our trip starts with 3 days in Edinburgh, and then Stirling and beyond.

I enjoy sharing my Scottish heritage by going kilted to church functions and eating out.
I am wondering if anyone knows of a place to get a argyll tweed jacket and waistcoat without breaking the bank.
Worst case scenario, get fitted properly and have it shipped home.

Any ideas?

If I were to wear these items all the time, I would go top shelf, but not ready to spend $400 or more.

Thanks!

There's one here

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Green-Twe...edirect=mobile

That might be worth a look. Not sure if the seller would ship abroad, but the bidding is at £50 so far

[Benning Boy]

As OCRichard mentioned above waistcoats needn't match the jacket. I often don't wear matched vests. I match my hose to the waistcoat color, and it's a good look in my opinion. To use a silly term it is Fashion Forward to unmatch your kilt vest and jacket. Only stodgy kilters insist on a match.

I don't have an issue with the brown sporran. I almost always wear brown sporran and shoes no matter the level of dress. I do have black sporran and shoes I might wear for very formal occasions -- but maybe not. Right now brown shoes worn with business suits are in. I was doing it 30 years ago. Kilting can parralel "Saxon" dress with out being gauche.