Waistcoat/Cardigan Gap

[alghul]

I have a few cardigans that I like to wear under my sport coats.

I like to unfasten the 2 buttons at the bottom since that IMO, it looks a bit more casual (I am not wearing a tie most of the time). However by doing so, there is a gap between the cardigan and the trousers where my shirt is visible. I am wearing medium rise trousers. If I fasten all the buttons, the gap disappears since the cardigan reaches just below the belt. However, I feel my outfits are too casual for this.

Normally, I think a gap looks very weird when we are talking about a suit & a proper waistcoat. However, with a cardigan & a sportcoat I don't mind that much.

Any opinions? Is a gap always weird?

Thanks

 

[Daniel Hakimi]

I have almost the opposite opinion. I unbutton the bottom button of my cardigans, and I never have a gap, cardigans are cut with a straight hem because they're never meant to show a gap. Waistcoats and vests are cut towards a similar end. But with a single breasted two piece suit... It's only natural that it would show a bit of shirt, maybe when you put your hands in your pockets, especially so for the average schmuck who wears a shorter jacket than the classic SF gent. This also depends on how exactly the quarters are cut, but... I think worrying about it is basically the antithesis of sprezzatura, it's worrying a whole lot over nothing.

 

[alghul]

I have almost the opposite opinion. I unbutton the bottom button of my cardigans, and I never have a gap, cardigans are cut with a straight hem because they're never meant to show a gap. Waistcoats and vests are cut towards a similar end. But with a single breasted two piece suit... It's only natural that it would show a bit of shirt, maybe when you put your hands in your pockets, especially so for the average schmuck who wears a shorter jacket than the classic SF gent. This also depends on how exactly the quarters are cut, but... I think worrying about it is basically the antithesis of sprezzatura, it's worrying a whole lot over nothing.

I guess you are right. Probably doesn't really matter in the grand scheme of things. I was mainly wondering that if I have to choose between the 2 options; butonned all the way with no gap vs unbottoned with a small gap; which one made more sense.

Although my cardigan is a bit longer, that's the kind of gap I was referring to.

Thanks

 

[adrianvo]

I guess you are right. Probably doesn't really matter in the grand scheme of things. I was mainly wondering that if I have to choose between the 2 options; butonned all the way with no gap vs unbottoned with a small gap; which one made more sense.

Although my cardigan is a bit longer, that's the kind of gap I was referring to.

Thanks

View attachment 1558566

This is dreadful. Too short waistcoat and too low rise on those trousers. Also, belts with waistcoats look terrible in my humble opinion.

 

[BPL Esq]

I have a few cardigans that I like to wear under my sport coats.

I like to unfasten the 2 buttons at the bottom since that IMO, it looks a bit more casual (I am not wearing a tie most of the time). However by doing so, there is a gap between the cardigan and the trousers where my shirt is visible. I am wearing medium rise trousers. If I fasten all the buttons, the gap disappears since the cardigan reaches just below the belt. However, I feel my outfits are too casual for this.

Normally, I think a gap looks very weird when we are talking about a suit & a proper waistcoat. However, with a cardigan & a sportcoat I don't mind that much.

Any opinions? Is a gap always weird?

Thanks

What about leaving only the bottom button unbuttoned?

This is dreadful. Too short waistcoat and too low rise on those trousers. Also, belts with waistcoats look terrible in my humble opinion.

Yes, this outfit looks absurd to me.

 

[alghul]

What about leaving only the bottom button unbuttoned?



Yes, this outfit looks absurd to me.

Yes that's what I am doing and it looks much better. As for the outfit, it was mainly to illustrate the gap I was talking about.

 

[BPL Esq]

Yes that's what I am doing and it looks much better. As for the outfit, it was mainly to illustrate the gap I was talking about.

Glad to hear you have found a solution.

Understood on the outfit. I think we all understood that it wasn't you or your idea, but rather an illustration of your issue.

 

[orangehaggis]

One should never show shirt beneath a waistcoat or cardigan. If your present arrangement results in shirt exposure, I'd strongly recommend you consider looking for a properly fitting cardigan or more traditionally cut trousers.

I'm a fairly rotund fellow, and so I have no choice but to wear high waisted trousers. As I am never without my midsection covered by waistcoat, double breasted jacket or chunky Arran pullover, nobody knows where my trouser waistband sits, anyway!

Mark -Northeast Ohio

 

[alghul]

One should never show shirt beneath a waistcoat or cardigan. If your present arrangement results in shirt exposure, I'd strongly recommend you consider looking for a properly fitting cardigan or more traditionally cut trousers.

I'm a fairly rotund fellow, and so I have no choice but to wear high waisted trousers. As I am never without my midsection covered by waistcoat, double breasted jacket or chunky Arran pullover, nobody knows where my trouser waistband sits, anyway!

Mark -Northeast Ohio

Thanks for the advice.

The cardigan is more or less the right size (I may size up go get some more length in my future purchases though). However, my trousers are a bit low. The few high rise trousers I tried, I was not really comfortable in them. Maybe I am just not used to them. Should maybe give it another go.

In any case, I think it looks decent enough with one button unfasten.

 

[orangehaggis]

Thanks for the advice.

The cardigan is more or less the right size (I may size up go get some more length in my future purchases though). However, my trousers are a bit low. The few high rise trousers I tried, I was not really comfortable in them. Maybe I am just not used to them. Should maybe give it another go.

In any case, I think it looks decent enough with one button unfasten.


View attachment 1562258

 

[orangehaggis]

I think you can *just about* get away with that. Other than the cardigan and trouser length issue, that's a pretty good looking casual ensemble.

One of my older waistcoats (which fit well 5+ years ago) finishes on me in a similar spot to where your cardigan finishes on you. I typically wear it under one of my Arran zip cardigans with the cardigan zipped halfway up my chest.

My closet must be especially humid as so many of my clothes seem to have shrunk on me. ?

Mark -Northeast Ohio