Vest Lapels - Satin or Plain?

[cavscout]

I'm looking at a couple of different vests for my eton jacket conversion. One has the typical wool body with satin lapels and pocket trim, the other is the typical wool all-over. The eton jacket has satin lapels. The plain vest would end up about $10.00 cheaper, I'm not sure the savings is worth it if the satin lapels give a nicer look.

Which is more traditional for PC attire?

[Moosehead]

Sadly, I had to chuck my old RAF mess kit, the moths had had a field day with it. If memory serves, the lapels were simply the same as the rest of the waistcoat, solid wool while those on the jacket were silk on the lower, wool on the collar part.

Is your Eton one or three button?

[cavscout]

It had 1 on it when purchased but I have added 3 pewter buttons to each side. I still need to add the cuff buttons which is another issue all together. Without the gauntlett cuff look would the buttons look odd running up the sleeve? There is a Tux Outlet near my house where I could pick up some material to make the cuffs if need be.

[possingk]

Cavscout,
I am really glad to see someone else modify a tux jacket, I bought one for Hosehead's wedding, and as I look at the pictures the only real difference between his and mine is the cuffs and the buttons, the length even seems to be the same.

Thanks for sharing the knowlege, what a great and helpful forum

[Moosehead]

I wouldn't bother actually making cuffs. What you can do, is simply get some matching colour braid (the twined, ropy stuff), running several pieces vertically from cuff end, up to where a cuff top might be. Then, attach your buttons on the top part of each braid. That will give you the double-cuff look. Now, did that make sense at all?

As for the vest, with the peak lapels you have, I would go for a vest with no lapel, or one with a shawl lapel without the satin. It should be one of the styles with only 3-4 buttons on it, so that more of your shirt is showing for formal. For less formal, get a second vest with more buttons, same as you might have with a 3-piece suit(do they still make those?)

[cavscout]

Thanks for the insight. Would you bother with shoulder epaulettes?

Also Keith, I've found this eton is even a good length for a casual kilt so I won't have to wait for my traditional if an event comes up.

[Moosehead]

Absolutely. And thats the type of braid I was talking about on the cuffs.

[Alan H]

Cavscout we have done almost the EXACT same thing with those jackets. My lady had some faux silver buttons she's inherited from grandma, and they're now adorning my Eton. I orderd some smaller round, pewter celtic tri-horse buttons off of ebay. There are three on each cuff, now. I ordered a wool, cutaway three button bare-backed vest from the Uniformal Wearhouse last week, it should be here any day, now. It was about $40 including shipping and has satin lapels. I will pull the black buttons off of the vest, replace them with some of these smaller pewer celtic buttons and the formal getup is all set.

.....pretty much *exactly* what you're doing.

[cavscout]

You're right Alan. Let me know how the uniformal vest turns out. That's one of the ones I'm considering. The other is TUXXMAN on ebay but his doesn't have the satin lapels and is $10 cheaper That would assist with the epaulettes.

[646guy]

I guess for me it woudl depend on how it went with the jacket....If the vest doesn't look like it will go with the jacket or is shinier than the jacket, I wouldn't do it...but that's me and the aesthetic I find pleasing...