The Prince Charlie jacket is a formal black-tie jacket for Highland dress that was initially listed in tailor catalogs of the early 1920s as a coatee. Over the next couple of decades it became called a Prince Charlie (PC). When introduced, it was marketed as an alternative to the regulation doublet and was to be worn with a black or white bow tie, else white lace jabot, as well as a tartan or red waistcoat (vest). Today the waistcoat is usually made of the same material as the coat. It is a formal evening jacket and not suitable to be worn for day dress with a long tie.
It is a short-cut jacket with short tails in the back. Embellished with scallop cuffs and silver sleeve buttons, as well as silver buttons in the double-breast style on the front, the back tails also have scallop flaps and silver buttons.[1]
The jacket is named for Prince Charles Edward Stuart. There is a common belief the Prince Charlie was inspired by a tartan coat worn by its name sake, though there is little evidence to support this. Tailors in the early 20th century used the name Prince Charlie as a marketing tactic.[2]
