semi-formal, what did it cost me?

[Alan H]

In addition to being relatively short-waisted and cutaway at the front, the lapels on a kilt jacket usually intersect somewhat higher up the chest than a standard sportcoat. This is the one thing that is difficult to recreate in an altered sportcoat because the crease that forms the lapel is very solidly stitched and pressed into place with a whole lot of inner facing material. Half an hour with your iron will not re-locate your lapels, it will just give you a really sloppy looking, indeterminate lapel edge.

Also, the side pockets (not the breast pocket) are rather higher on a kilt jacket than a sportcoat, particularly so on the Argyll.

The little touches, epaulettes at the shoulders, Gauntlet cuffs, and adorned pockets are more-or less tricky, depending on your skill and how much extra material you have.. My altered $7.50 jacket has regular cuffs, like a Crail jacket.

The Crail is somewhat different from the Argyll..



Note the non-gauntlet cuffs and the relatively simple side pocket flaps. Those flaps are not too far off from where a sportcoat would locate them. The Argyll jackets that I have seen have pockets rather higher on the torso, though I expect that's up to the individual tailor. The Crail still has the epaulettes, though. The epaulettes are usually braided material, of the same stuff that the jacket itself is made from.

OK, so my jacket has simple cuffs like the Crail, no pockets, but ersatz simple, rectangular pocket flaps in about the same location as the Crail jacket, and no epaulettes. I could have made ersatz epaulettes and buttoned them in, but it just wasn't worth the effort.

Comparing the picture of the Argyll, above, to the Crail picture I posted here is informational. I'm sure Hamish will have more to say concerning the different styles of jacket, but I think we should not be slaves to only two styles...Argyll and Prince Charlie.

[Andrew Breecher]

Actually, I posted a photo of a "Braemar" style jacket. The cuffs are different; below is an Argyll:


Andrew.

[Shane]

Is it just me, or is that guy everywhere?

[GMan]

Is it just me, or is that guy everywhere?

Triplets?

[Jimmy Carbomb]

Is it just me, or is that guy everywhere?

He's "The Kilt Clone".

I like the choices for the ensemble. The tight pleats and dark tartan of the Stillwater are a wonderful base to work with. The money side was a good choice too.

[Colin]

He's "The Kilt Clone".

I like the choices for the ensemble. The tight pleats and dark tartan of the Stillwater are a wonderful base to work with. The money side was a good choice too.

Haven't you seen The Island yet??

[Alan H]

OK, It's taken me FOREVER to get a picture of this getup, but here you go. The shot was taken at a late afternoon reception at the Monterey Bay Aquarium



A few things have changed from my earlier post, so here's a run-down of the changes....

I made the green flashes for about $3 in materials versus the Locharron flashes I originally wrote about that were $12

This is a new belt buckle since I wrote the original post. It's flippin' GORGEOUS, but the old one works fine with this outfit, too. New buckle is $35, old one was $15 if I remember rightly

The jacket is the killer. It's a very nice Woolrich tweed jacket that I bought for $7.50 at the Society Saint Vincent de Paul secondhand store. I spent a long Saturday altering it myself to the shape that you see above.

Now that I look at this picture, I think I want a dark green tie.

[Alan H]

Oh, and how could I forget?

The X-Marks kilt pin!

[GMan]

Alan,

Your frugaliity is to be commended! I love that.

Now one question, did you get a deal on the sporran also?

[MacMullen]

Sporran off of ebay white hair, "leather cantle" (riiight) , three chrome-topped tassels:
$35

That's a very dapper outfit, rivaling Sean Connery for coolness! And the price was right! I don't see where you couldn't go wearing an outfit like that. I agree, though, a green tie would go well with it. Or, perhaps a wool tie in matching tartan?

Is the X-Marks kilt pin still available anywhere, or did I miss out as a latecomer?