formal evening dress: vest or no?

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

This whole thread does make me wonder why Prince Charlies are nearly always sold and worn with a waistcoat, while at least around here Tuxedos are usually worn with a cummerbund instead.

The simple answer is that before the cummerbund became common place, gentlemen always wore waistcoats with their dinner jackets, and this applied with equal measure to wearing a waistcoat with their Prince Charlie coatee.

It matters not that tuxedos are worn with cummerbunds because tuxedos (like a cowboy's woolly angora chaps) are not part of traditional Highland attire-- even if the cummerbund and bow tie are tartan. If a kilted gentleman chooses to not wear a waistcoat on formal occasions, then it is properly replaced by a dirk belt with a silver, or silver coloured, belt plate.

If one is going to wear a PC then one should stick with wearing a waistcoat. If one is wearing a dress Argyll jacket the choice is either a waistcoat, or dirk belt. The cummerbund properly belongs with the dinner jacket and trousers of the country club set, or as part of a mess kit worn in accordance with military or naval regulations.

[CMcG]

<snip>The cummerbund properly belongs with the dinner jacket and trousers of the country club set, or as part of a mess kit worn in accordance with military or naval regulations.

Such as the Australian Army Scottish Mess Dress White Jacket, which specifies a Corps cummberbund. Click on the image for more info or larger pics: