Prince Charlie Vest

[David Dalglish]

Your jacket looks great Panache--I prefer the belt, but the cumberbund looks ok.

[Matthew Siegmann]

Ok, I'm not a big fan of the cumberbund and never have been. It rides up first chance it gets, if you're a large man it accentuates your stomach, and after seening the picture, I like it even less with a kilt. Cumberbunds were invented sometime in the 1920's and I'm not exactly sure why, perhaps because it wasn't as hot to wear as a waistcoat. Anytime I wear formalwear I go for the waistcoat. It's more traditional and if you get one that is the right size (long enough) and wear your tux pants/kilt where you're supposed to (at the waist) then the shirt should not show through anyway.

Now back to this cumberbund issue, while I don't think it looks all that good with the kilt, I did have a thought, what about instead wearing a colour coordinating sash around the waist like the officers on both sides of the American Civil War used to wear? And remember, I mentioned to have them coordinate with the colours on your kilt.

Union Officer Dress Coat w/Sash

[Robin]

Hey Panache! that jacket is a winner! well done

I don't like the cumberbund with a kilt...I like the vest without a belt best, without vest + belt...second best.

Just my humble silly opinion

[Chef]

Honestly I don't like either look for formal. First a cumberbund is not worn with tails because it is visible below the line of the jacket, they should always be worn with a tux jacket (assuming you wear one at all, personally I don't like them and prefer a waistcoat). Second, the belt loks out of place with that type of formal jacket. Doublets and certain other kilt jackets are meant to be worn with belts but not the PC style. While the waistcoasts with PC jackets have a full back most formal waistcoats do not. Find yourself a nice waistcoat it will look better in the long run. Try a rental store if price is a problem; many will sell used ones.

[beerbecue]

This is exactly why I started the thread. To find out if it would be OK to have a backless vest as a formal vest vs. a PC vest. I wasn't sure if the back/backless vest option would be more appropriate if/when a jacket was removed.

While the waistcoasts with PC jackets have a full back most formal waistcoats do not. Find yourself a nice waistcoat it will look better in the long run. Try a rental store if price is a problem; many will sell used ones.

[Panache]

I think I will wind up ordering a three button formal vest (backless) from uniformal warehouse (like Alan H. has recommended in other posts) and change the buttons. One of the great things about X Marks is that you can have an idea and try it out here before heading out into the world. I thank you all for the feedback, and hope the visuals were helpful.

Cheers

[beerbecue]

I have seen PC vests on clearance for $45 CDN each.

I was thinking of uniformalwearhouse, too, but am thinking of the PC vests... The one size fits all is OK, I just don't know how 'nice' an adjustment strap will look....

I just want to be more confident into which would be more appropriate...

[Panache]

beerbecue,

If you plan on spending a fair amount of time at formal events with your jacket off, you should get a waistcoat with a full back. As for me, most of the occassions I wore my tuxedo I seldom removed the jacket. Therefore in the interest of thrift I'm going for the less expensive option.

Cheers

[MacTavishOfJapan]

Not too keen on the cumber thingy. Thinks the belted PC looks a little odd to me too but that may just be my traditionalist eyes!

[beerbecue]

Unfortunately, that is a tough call, different venues=different comfort levels. I do tend to get hot......

beerbecue,

If you plan on spending a fair amount of time at formal events with your jacket off, you should get a waistcoat with a full back. As for me, most of the occassions I wore my tuxedo I seldom removed the jacket. Therefore in the interest of thrift I'm going for the less expensive option.

Cheers