Grosgrain vest?

[zjpj83]

I am going to order a one-button peaked lapel evening jacket with grosgrain lapels. I want to get a three button vest too. Should the vest be in grosgrain? Silk brocade? Something else?

Thanks,
Z

 

[grimslade]

I think it should match your lapels.

 

[zjpj83]

Originally Posted by grimslade

I think it should match your lapels.

Thanks. Do you do the entire front of the vest in grosgrain, or just the vest's lapels?

 

[grimslade]

My vests are done in the same material across the entire front. And for those three-button formal vests, I can't recall seeing it done differently, but I'm sure one of our soi-dissant rule-enforcing experts will weigh in shortly.

 

[needshoehelp]

I bought a Purple Label vest off eBay, and the whole front is grosgrain, for what it's worth.

 

[zjpj83]

Originally Posted by needshoehelp

I bought a Purple Label vest off eBay, and the whole front is grosgrain, for what it's worth.

thanks

 

[zjpj83]

Style like this, right? Please excuse attrocious Microsoft Paint skyllz.

 

[grimslade]

I have one like that and one with a kind of inverted shawl--very similar, but rounded corners. I use them interchangeably.

 

[lordofpi]

Mine too has grosgrain peaked lapels on a worsted jacket, and the formal waistcoat is the same: worsted with peaked grosgrain lapels. A complete grosgrain vest might be nice, but off the top of my head it sounds to be a bit much.

 

[jkw]

Isn't that a formal vest? I'm not completely sure about vests with black tie, but is it appropriate?
edit: Yep, I've never seen this style of vest in anything other than the white pique material...

 

[Eccentric]

A vest is the more formal of the two accepted waist coverings for black tie. They are not widely sold off the rack, usualy being made by a tailor on a per order basis.

 

[Manton]

SR typically makes a black tie vest from self cloth. I've seen them all self, and self with grosgrain lapels. I believe all self is more common. I've not seen an all grosgrain vest from SR, though I have seen them at Favourbrooke and those other little vest shops in the West End arcades. BB also sells them, or used to.

 

[zjpj83]

Originally Posted by Manton

SR typically makes a black tie vest from self cloth. I've seen them all self, and self with grosgrain lapels. I believe all self is more common. I've not seen an all grosgrain vest from SR, though I have seen them at Favourbrooke and those other little vest shops in the West End arcades. BB also sells them, or used to.

And the style I pictured is appropriate with "black tie", yes? If not, what is the alternative you prefer?

 

[Manton]

Originally Posted by zjpj83

And the style I pictured is appropriate with "black tie", yes? If not, what is the alternative you prefer?

That's the right cut, yes.

 

[Concordia]

Originally Posted by zjpj83

Thanks. Do you do the entire front of the vest in grosgrain, or just the vest's lapels?

I suppose you could do either. Just the lapels/lapels is more traditional by now and will signal that you went to a Serious Tailor. Nevertheless, I'm sure there is precedent for doing up the whole vest in silk and it wouldn't look too bad. Especially when the jacket is on and buttoned (or just closed, if it is well cut), the vest is just an accent piece. So feel free to take a few chances if you like.

And yes, the low-cut variety with 3 buttons and squared-bottom lapels is correct.