Prince Charlie Coatee

[Macman]

Sandford, you've no idea how many times I've wanted to quote Dunakin's little book, but resisted! I love the part where he comments on the trends in ladies' skirt lengths (something about no woman having legs worth looking at above the knee . . . )!
I agree to an extent with what he says about the PC, and the same applies to the Montrose doublet as well. I go against his advice and wear a PC because I feel that it bridges the gap between regular black tie and highland wear, and looks at home with the tuxes. That and the fact that it was given to me and I can't justify buying another formal jacket! I'd love to wear one of the other doublets I've seen, but for the occasions that I go formal, I feel more comfortable in a PC.

[Panache]

Sandford,

Another factor to consider is body shape. Thinking about the different options for formal jackets and doublets it strikes me that some styles are going to look better on some than others.

I think that the PC Coatee strongly favors those of taller and slimmer builds (as does a regular tail coat).

Taking Glen as an example, looking at his formal pictures I must say that he really looks smashing in his montrose, far more debonair than in his PC. Don't get me wrong, he wears the PC very well. But he has broader shoulders than I and is proportionally more solid and compact in the chest than I. That doublet just suits his shape perfectly. With my longer torso I'm not sure I would look nearly as good in a montrose as he.

As much as I really love the look of the montrose doublet I bet that I personally would look better in a sheriffmuir doublet which is has a longer body.

Just another consideration

Cheers

Jamie