What Is a Jabot in Highland Dress?

A jabot is decorative neckwear that falls from the throat in layers of lace or other fabric. In Highland dress, you will often see it with a high-necked formal jacket such as a Sheriffmuir or Montrose, sometimes accompanied by matching cuffs. Choose the jacket, shirt and jabot as a complete outfit.

What are you looking at?

The name originally referred to frills on the front of a shirt. As Kinloch Anderson explains, a jabot can also be a separate accessory supported by a neckband or collar, or attached at the throat. Its decorative fabric hangs down the upper chest.

That explains why a photograph can be confusing: the neckband may be hidden, leaving only the lace visible against a white shirt. If you are buying or hiring one, ask how that particular piece fastens and which shirt it is intended to accompany.

Which kilt jackets go with a jabot?

Kinloch Anderson associates jabots with high-necked jackets or doublets, including Sheriffmuir and Montrose styles. Its Sheriffmuir doublet description identifies a high collar and curved cut-away front, and specifically suggests lace jabot and cuffs as one pairing.

Look at the actual jacket opening when planning your outfit. The visible area beneath a high collar differs from the lapels of an Argyll or Prince Charlie. A supplier's complete outfit photograph is a useful reference, especially if you are choosing an unfamiliar jacket.

For the more usual necktie and bow-tie combinations, our Highland-dress neckwear guide covers that separate choice.

Are lace cuffs part of the same accessory?

A jabot and cuffs may be offered as a coordinated set. The jabot belongs at the neck; the matching cuffs finish the wrists. Check the contents of a listing rather than assuming that a photograph includes the shirt, jacket or every visible accessory.

Ask how the cuffs attach to the shirt you intend to use. During a fitting, bend your elbows and move your hands as you would while eating. Check that the lace sits comfortably beneath the jacket sleeves and does not keep folding into your hands.

Does every formal kilt outfit need one?

No. Formal Highland outfits use different jacket and neckwear combinations. In its wedding outfit guide, Kinloch Anderson describes a bow tie with the Regulation doublet and lace jabot and cuffs as optional with the Montrose. Follow the guidance for the ensemble you choose.

For a wedding party or organised event, confirm the agreed outfit before ordering. The word “formal” alone does not tell you whether the host expects a bow tie, necktie or a more elaborate doublet ensemble. Our wedding-kilt guide offers a broader planning checklist.

Try the neckline before the day

Put on the intended shirt and fasten the jabot according to its supplier's instructions. Add the jacket and any waistcoat, then view the outfit from the front and side. Check that the decorative layers fall freely through the opening and that the fastening feels comfortable when you turn your head and sit.

If the collar, jabot and jacket crowd each other, ask the outfitter to check the combination. Avoid guessing that any white formal shirt will give the same result. Save the garment names and a photograph of the fitted outfit if you need to assemble it again later.

Quick questions

Is a jabot always made from lace?

No. Lace is familiar in formal Highland dress, but the term can include decorative neckwear made from other fabrics.

Can a jabot be bought separately from a shirt?

Yes. Check the fastening and shirt compatibility for the specific accessory before buying.