Stiff Waistcoat

[Creag]

I bought a black barathea wool jacket and waistcoat with my kilt - The "Wallace Collection" from USA Kilts. It's a very sharp looking get-up.

The jacket is soft and supple, but the front of the waistcoat is quite stiff. Does anyone have advice on softening it up? Should I steam it?

[brewerpaul]

The front of a waistcoat usually has a fuseable or sewn in interface to give it stiffness/body. To me this interface keeps the waistcoat from getting quite wrinkled during use. A coat does use interface but you also want a drape or fall of the coat body, not near the stiffness of a waistcoat. I doubt you can beat it, wash it, steam it or employ any other method to make the interface softer. Other more experienced can add to this or tear my reasoning appart.

[Chas]

I have just checked two of my waistcoats and found that you are quite right they are stiffer than the corresponding jacket. I think I agree with brewerpaul's reasoning. A man might remove his jacket during the course of the day, but would seldom remove his waistcoat.
Continual wearing might soften the fabric, but I am not sure that it is supposed to be softer.

[MacLowlife]

Bearing in mind the question BP has asked- do you really WANT a softer waistcoat?- there is a good chance that you can make it more flexible by flexing it. Before you start, see if you can remove the buttons easily, as they will be in the way. If you have a handy horizontal bar (the back of a chair, the foot rail on your bed, the edge of a table) you can bend the waistcoat over it and "work" it for a few minutes. Other than that, you could turn it inside out, put it in a bag and stomp on it. I would avoid steam or heat, as the interfacing might have been attached by some kind of glue and bubbling or puckering might result.

[Riverkilt]

Easiest way - IF....you want to soften it up and it is able to soften up....is to sleep in it for a few nights. Should do the job.

[Creag]

Thanks for the replies, gentlemen. I suspect it does have an interface and based on the replies the stiffness is perfectly normal. Riverkilt - it's been a while since I regularly slept in my clothes, but I like your idea.

[Liam]

Easiest way - IF....you want to soften it up and it is able to soften up....is to sleep in it for a few nights. Should do the job.

Or wear it on a river rafting trip or two!

[Pleater]

How does it feel when worn? That is the moot point.

I think that we have grown to expect garments to be 'casual' in fit and feel, and a waistcoat is fairly formal clothing. However - if properly made and fitted it should be comfortable enough to wear all day.

Anne the Pleater :ootd:

[Creag]

Father Bill - I don't plan on sleeping in it. At least not intentionally.

Pleater - Quite right. I do need to get it tailored to fit more snugly.

Thanks again, all.

[Livercunian]

I would also suggest sleeping in your waistcoat!