Should have been a kilt jacket...

**MacLowlife** · 10th March 11, 04:07 PM

Slacker D, you offer at least two important points. The first is explicit- sometimes " 'cause I want to" is plenty of reason. The second one is implicit, but might be called the rule of If It's Too Loud, as in

If it's too loud,
you're too old.

CMcG wisely posted this thread on the modern forum. Being traditional is fine, especially for us old guys, but for modern, I think just about anything goes. And, like they say, if someone doesn't agree, they don't have to look.

**Whidbey78** · 10th March 11, 04:13 PM

Originally Posted by MacLowlife

Slacker D, you offer at least two important points. The first is explicit- sometimes " 'cause I want to" is plenty of reason. The second one is implicit, but might be called the rule of If It's Too Loud, as in

If it's too loud,
you're too old.

CMcG wisely posted this thread on the modern forum. Being traditional is fine, especially for us old guys, but for modern, I think just about anything goes. And, like they say, if someone doesn't agree, they don't have to look.

All very true. Isn't age just a state of mind though?

**SlackerDrummer** · 10th March 11, 08:24 PM

Originally Posted by Whidbey78

All very true. Isn't age just a state of mind though?

Youth, as far as I can tell, is a state of mind. Age, it seems, is increasingly a state of disrepair.

**CMcG** · 11th March 11, 06:01 PM

Originally Posted by MacLowlife

<snip>
For my money, the best repurposed jackets are dress mess jackets and their civilian counterparts.

I did a bit of searching for mess dress jackets and came up with a couple that look interesting. My only concern with these in a civilian context is somehow disrespecting the military unit they come from. I seem to recall reading somewhere that it would be sufficient to put on non-regimental buttons and remove any patches, braiding, or other insignia?

Royal Artillery, I like red lapels.

Gurkha Rifles, I like the cut, colour and cuffs. Imagine it with buttons up both sides of the front, like on a Sheriffmuir...

And by "civilian counterpart" I assume MacLl meant the Spencer/Eton/bumfreezer/waist coat?

**MacLowlife** · 11th March 11, 09:56 PM

C McG,

Once again, you are spot on. You might try looking for jackets both under "Dress Mess" and under "Mess Jacket".

I agree with you on the red lapels. I believe the Royal House of Windsor livery includes red lapels, even if I have botched the reference or phrasing. Somewhere there are pics of the Duke of Edinburgh and the Duke of Rothesay in jackets with contrasting lapels ( and kilts). Chances are, they would be too polite to observe the faux pas of your wearing such a jacket in their presence. The US Army uses red lapels for certain units and gold ones for others. The US Air Force has/had a solid blue jacket with shawl lapels. Some British units use all red jackets or red jackets with black or green lapels and cuff facings.

Some American jackets delineate rank with braid and/or knots at the cuffs and I believe it would be more polite to remove this, along with any other insignia that might be present.

Not to disparage anybody's clothes, but I find the Spencer/Eton jackets sold new for under $50 to be, well, a little too waiterly, if you will. Better to buy a used one that originally cost a little more, if the choice is available.

**CMcG** · 11th March 11, 10:22 PM

Originally Posted by MacLowlife

<snip>
I agree with you on the red lapels. I believe the Royal House of Windsor livery includes red lapels, even if I have botched the reference or phrasing. Somewhere there are pics of the Duke of Edinburgh and the Duke of Rothesay in jackets with contrasting lapels ( and kilts). Chances are, they would be too polite to observe the faux pas of your wearing such a jacket in their presence.

And there lies the rub... if a mess jacket is too distinctive, even without insignia, one could make a faux-pas? Not that I have any chance of dining with a Duke anytime soon

Here's some royal examples:

Originally Posted by MacLowlife

<snip>
Not to disparage anybody's clothes, but I find the Spencer/Eton jackets sold new for under $50 to be, well, a little too waiterly, if you will. Better to buy a used one that originally cost a little more, if the choice is available.

Yes, the polyester bumfreezer is usually a waiter's jacket and not optimal. The 100% wool ones marketed as dinner jackets would be a much better choice and can be had cheaply as ex-rentals. I've had some luck finding them for sale on eBay by searching "tuxedo waistcoat" or at my local thrift shop.

**MacLowlife** · 12th March 11, 10:31 AM

Anytime I find myself in the company of Old Regiment types who might recognize my jacket, even without insignia and with new buttons, I reach into my sporran for the Old Standby and attach a little metallic silver decoration to the lapels. Even its own mother wouldn't recognize it when I am finished.

It hasn't failed me yet.

**The Barry** · 18th March 11, 09:54 AM

Originally Posted by MacLowlife

If it's too loud,
you're too old.

Words to live by

**3fingerslinger** · 5th April 11, 06:45 PM

I think it's pretty cool, I'm definitely picturing it with a black kilt and not a traditional tartan......just my opinion, I'm looking it up for a price.