'Kilt' Jackets

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

This photo of Mr. Brian Cox raises several questions: (1) Does he always wear mukluks with the kilt? (2) Why didn't he opt for trousers and have a decent tweed suit? (3) Was this taken on the balcony of the New Club?

[DWFII]

While you will find photographs from the mid 19th century showing some gentlemen wearing "sack suits" with kilts (the ghillies of the Balmoral estate and Prince Frederick William of Prussia, for example), I would agree with McMurdo that a "Saxon" jacket worn with Highland attire tends to stand out among jackets tailored to be worn with a kilt.Regards,

Todd

I'm not fond of the look, either. I don't think it works...in either example.

Of course the sack coat eventually evolved into the sports coat but it is my understanding that sack coats were originally a little shorter than a contemporary sport coat or blazer and had rounded rather than square corners. If so they might have worked a little better.

I might add that it was fashionable in the late 1800's to wear the sack coat buttoned at the top button only. Because the style was high gorge this allowed the rest of the jacket to spread in an inverted "V" from the button to the hips. You can see this a lot in photos of Civil War veterans in the 1880's and 90's when there were still enough of them to make photographing a reunion a snapshot of the larger society.

It's actually quite a conundrum because some of the nicest sports coats out there are Harris Tweed and they can sometimes be found for a song at SA or Goodwill, etc.. I have one I got for converting and haven't been able to bring myself to cut it. I had to get another that I liked a little bit less...which, fortunately, had some moth nips right in the area that was to be cut off.

[macwilkin]

One of these drawings from the Northern Meeting thread is a perfect illustration for this thread:



T.

[Bugbear]

Deleted

[The Barry]

I hate to dissent so radically, but Mr. Cox's outfit kinda works.

I don't think it's meant to be dressy, I think that it's meant to look more utilitarian. Hence the type of jacket and the boots. Looks like "farm work sheik". I don't think that he'd wear this to a Burn's supper, but I'll bet that jacket does better in the rain than a PC.

[macwilkin]

I hate to dissent so radically, but Mr. Cox's outfit kinda works.

I don't think it's meant to be dressy, I think that it's meant to look more utilitarian. Hence the type of jacket and the boots. Looks like "farm work sheik". I don't think that he'd wear this to a Burn's supper, but I'll bet that jacket does better in the rain than a PC.

That's what Barbour wax jackets are for.

T.

[campbell]

Poor people have always worn regular suit coats with the kilt. The BBC produced a show called Hamish MacBeth. On that show a piper named TV John wore a tweed blazer with his kilt. I remember seeing the great Kilt maker and historian Bob Martin in a regular suit coat as well. It is your choice. If you like the look or your father wore his kilt that way you should do so.

Today the Jacobite or Ghillie shirt is used by guys who cannot afford a jacket. Here is a link to a wedding on Flickr.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/5103562...7594338219789/

[Kiltman]

I was looking through a book with pictures from the 45. The illustrations (the photography was invented back then) show several different coats & kilts combinations. You don't have to have it cut away to get the sporran out. I do, however, believe it looks better if the coat is not too long.

[The Barry]

I would never wear a ghillie shirt to be married. Way too casual for such an occasion!

[wvpiper]

This photo of Mr. Brian Cox raises several questions: (1) Does he always wear mukluks with the kilt? (2) Why didn't he opt for trousers and have a decent tweed suit? (3) Was this taken on the balcony of the New Club?

I don't know him, but I believe it's in a calendar to raise money for charity, One city. I think the calendar is called 'Kilted Scots'