The Prince Charlie
First advertised in 1920s tailor catalogues as the trendy option for daring young men, the Prince Charlie is the most formal kilt jacket worn today - the glamorous highlandwear take on black or white tie.
Made from a heavy-worsted black wool cloth known as barathea, the Prince Charlie is an elaborate affair, rich in period detail. Distinctive for its tails, it is both shorter (at the front) and longer (at the back) than any other kilt jacket. It features ornate diamond-shaped buttons on the front, sleeves, shoulders and tails, as well as satin lapels and silk braided epaulettes. Its three-buttoned vertical scalloped cuff is also known as the Prince Charlie.
The Prince Charlie is the perfect option for momentous occasions like weddings, grand dinners, dances and graduations. It’s a popular choice for a ‘first kilt outfit’. After all, dad will remember wearing one himself (perhaps in velvet, with a lace cravat, if it was the seventies).
How To Wear It:
Paired with a matching three-buttoned waistcoat, the Prince Charlie should be worn with a bowtie and wing-collared shirt. Because formalwear has rules, tradition dictates accompanying black, cream or matching tartan hose, a dress sporran and well-shined black ghillie or buckled brogues. For those seeking a slightly less ‘polished’ effect, the traditional chrome buttons can be replaced with antique-finish ones (just be sure to match the cantle on your dress sporran accordingly). For a still more modern look, some renegades may opt for a five-buttoned waistcoat, which will allow them to wear a cravat or straight tie.
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