Tuxedo Vest or Cummerbund for Wedding?

[ENT]

I'm working on completing my wedding outfit. Would you go for a vest or cummerbund for your wedding outfit (also keeping in mind use for later events/occasions)? Do the tie and vest/cummerbund have to be the same fabric or is it OK to mix and match (i.e. grosgrain with satin)? Finally, should the fabric of the tie and cummerbund/vest match your lapels (i.e. grosgrain with grosgrain)?

 

[LabelKing]

A cummerbund works best with a shawl lapel. And yes, they have to match.

The only thing that I can think of that doesn't necessarily have to match is something that is rarely seen these days--braided trousers, instead of the silk stripe.

 

[Sator]

Yes with all forms of evening dress, including dinner clothes, the silk has to match. Another good option for both evening full dress and informal dinner dress is a white pique waistcoat. A cummerbund is also better for a night out at the opera when the folds are meant to hold an opera ticket. Otherwise in really warm weather when it remains hot well after sunset, a cummerbund will always run cooler than a waistcoat.

 

[Manton]

I wouldn't get too hard up about matching the tie to the facings. For instance, a lot of tailors use a house grosgrain that is never made into ties. What then?

 

[dopey]

Originally Posted by Manton

I wouldn't get too hard up about matching the tie to the facings. For instance, a lot of tailors use a house grosgrain that is never made into ties. What then?

I rarely wear black tie, but did last night. The relevant details: Peak lapel DJ with grosgrain facings; white voile body shirt with micro pleated voile front with thin pindot black stripes and turndown colar; white silk cummerband; black satin silk butterfly bow tie. Note the veritable riot of mismatched silks. Even if you didn't, house security did, and I would have been barred from entry had I not bluffed my way in by explaining that mismatched silk is native dress in the tropical country that is my home (I learned this trick on Styleforum).

 

[Lucky Strike]

If you're in doubt, you could go for something like AlanC's cummervest:

 

[dopey]

Originally Posted by Lucky Strike

If you're in doubt, you could go for something like AlanC's cummervest:

I need more of an explantion. A lot more. What is that and why? It looks like someone took a fancy silk vest and cut it into a cummerband shape. I bet they also took some buttons from the discarded upper half and add them to the cummerstein.

 

[Lucky Strike]

Originally Posted by dopey

I need more of an explantion. A lot more. What is that and why? It looks like someone took a fancy silk vest and cut it into a cummerband shape. I bet they also took some buttons from the discarded upper half and add them to the cummerstein.
Here's Alan's explanation, seems plausible:

My understanding is that the cummerbund began to be used during the Raj in India by the Brits because of the heat. It was an adaptation of an Indian sash ('cummerbund', if I'm not mistaken, is a transliteration of an Indian word). The 'cummervest' is an interesting idea, because it is actually a regression to a more transitional item, something more between the waistcoat and the cummerbund.

 

[FLMountainMan]

Interesting responses. I actually have a black tie event tomorrow night (up in Tallahassee, which is still pretty damn hot) and was bringing my vest. I just hate cummberbunds but had actually never thought of the temperature component. Pretty obvious though

and I'll bring the cummerbund.

 

[LabelKing]

I would like to find a full wrap-around cummerbund.

 

[ENT]

Thanks for all the replies. I guess I'm still not sure whether to go with the waistcoat or cummerbund. In either case, does anyone have recommendations where I can find matching ties and cummerbunds or waistcoats for around $100-150 or so a set? I'm having a hard time finding them.

 

[Nonk]

No offence intended to the owner, but that 'cummervest' is a pig of an item that should be written off as at best a misguided, failed experiment.

Wear a morning suit to your wedding.

 

[LabelKing]

The cummervest!

 

[N. McKay]

Originally Posted by Lucky Strike

If you're in doubt, you could go for something like AlanC's cummervest:

It looks vaguely like a bra...

Are the buttons functional?

 

[j]

How high is the button stance on your jacket? (Will a cummerbund be visible? Would a vest have to be very high to be visible?)

How warm is the material of the jacket? What will the weather/conditions be like? (A vest will be warmer for obvious reasons)