Cummerbund or waistcoat?Huh? You ask. Okay, maybe not. Most people have at least heard of the cummerbund, that pleated broad silk or satin belt-thingy worn with a tuxedo. But "waistcoat?" Not to worry: it's just another word for "vest."
Okay. Now we have our terms straight. Is one better than another? Nope. Is one more formal than another? Not really. Traditionally, it's a matter of timing. Tuxedos (with cummerbunds) are worn after six. Morning suits (with vest/waistcoats) are worn (surprise!) in the morning. (And you do remember that the pleats of a cummerbund face UP, the better to catch crumbs, say some, or -- this one came as a surprise to me -- to hold theater tickets!)
However, vests are also worn with a less-formal suit, which suits a lot of weddings just fine. And though the cummerbund has been traditional at North American weddings for quite some while, these days the fashion-savvy are leaning to vests, especially for daytime weddings.
Cummerbund or waistcoat, they both offer the possibility of color, and so can be co-ordinated with the bridesmaids dresses. Pick the one you and your bride prefer, and enjoy your (once-in-a-lifetime?) elegance!
Reader comments (Page 1 of 1)
Thank you for this post! My wedding next May is a formal evening wedding, but the thing is, I really like the look of black suits over tuxes. but, both of our mothers think the men need to be in tuxes. Any suggestions of how or when a black suit can be just as formal as a tux?
ReplyHello!
ReplySorry for the delay in response. I took the time to confer with two of my colleagues (thank you Susan and Kristen!), and here's our bottom line:
Your mothers are correct. A tux is more formal than a suit. If the bridesmaids are in formal, full-length gowns, the men need to be equally formal. If they're wearing cocktail-length dresses, the men could wear suits. But even then: will they rent identical suits? Because if they're not, and each is wearing his own "dark suit", that could mean a range of colours, from navy through charcoal to black.
But all is not lost! There is a surprising range of options in tuxes. As this post says, it's increasingly acceptable to use a waistcoat with a tux, instead of the cummerbund. A dark waistcoat could give a "suit feel" to their attire.
There are lots of other choices. Shirts can have full collars instead of tabbed; jackets can be any length; jackets can have a variety of buttons and lapels; there are also varieties of shoes that can be worn - so long as they're black!
I'm thinking there's probably a compromise here. With a little research, you should be able to find tuxedos that look a whole lot like suits!