Modifying my grandfather’s late 1970 sportscoat

[Rogerson785]

Alright, I have my grandfather’s late 1970 or early 80’s sportscoat and my work wife is willing to help me with the sewing. I went to two different stores in town and the selection of buttons is not the best, these are the two that I presently have, and which doses the rabble prefer, and is the tail of the coat a problem? Oh, and the pockets in front are NON-functional.

This is NOT the proper way to wear your kilt, ignore the sandals and t-shirt, FOCUS only on the sportscoat fit and functionality for the kilt. The coat is a little tight in the chest, but other than that it fits fine, and since these kilt jackets are not meant to be buttoned up should pose no problem.



Non-functional pockets.




I have the coat tail pined up so you can see the details.




These are close-ups of the two buttons, the gold ones are off a Blackwatch sportscoat I have that no longer fits. The sewing shop has some thistle buttons and a few others that may be suitable, I guess the real question is weather or not gold buttons would be appropriate for this style of jacket?



The sleeve buttons.

[Bugbear]

Hope it all goes well.

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

It's a great looking jacket, and I suspect the reason the pockets are non-functioning is that they haven't been "opened up"-- jackets are quite often shipped from the manufacturer with the pockets stitched closed.

That said, if it fit (which it doesn't) it would make a smashing kilt jacket. Cutting the skirts off will only accentuate the fact that the jacket is a size or two too small and I doubt you'd be pleased with the final result.

Probably your best bet is to offer to trade it for a jacket in your size, in which case both of you would benefit.

[Carolina Kiltman]

I agree that it is too small, and no matter what you do it will never fit correctly.

I might also add that while modifying a sport jacket into either an Argyle or Crail can be done, it is quite a job. Good luck

[svc40bt]

I will agree with the others who have answered that it does look a bit snug. As far as your other questions, the side vents are actually appropriate, and I would go with antler or bone buttons with the tweed. My tweed trouser sportcoat has leather covered buttons, but all the tweed kilt jackets I have seen have real or imitation antler or bone buttons.

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

I will agree with the others who have answered that it does look a bit snug. As far as your other questions, the side vents are actually appropriate, and I would go with antler or bone buttons with the tweed. My tweed trouser sportcoat has leather covered buttons, but all the tweed kilt jackets I have seen have real or imitation antler or bone buttons.

Actually, leather buttons are perfectly acceptable for day wear and in mind they are preferable to plastic (read fake) "horn" or "antler" buttons.