Picking out a Waistcoat for the Groom’s Outfit

The Important Extras! On Feb 27th, 2017 2282 0

As challenging as they are to incorporate into any outfit, let alone a wedding outfit, get them right and waistcoats make for a great way to make a distinguished and lasting statement. Menswear retailer Noose & Monkey shows us exactly how to make a waistcoat work.

Fit

When picking out a waistcoat, one of the most important factors to take into account is how it fits. A waistcoat that doesn’t fit perfectly can ruin your entire outfit and will linger in your wedding snaps forever, as is the case with a suit that’s not tailored.

The key to choosing a waistcoat that fits perfectly is picking one out that has high armholes and it must fit closely around your torso and shoulders. It mustn’t be too much of a tight fit though, so the material should not pull across the back and around the buttonholes. It mustn’t be too big a waistcoat either.

Lengthwise, the waistcoat should do its job of covering your waist, and your shirt shouldn’t be showing in between your trousers and the waistcoat.

Material

A waistcoat doesn’t have to be made from shiny, polyester material and can indeed be used for experimentation with different materials. Velvet, tartan and tweed make for some great options for the addition of depth to your look.

You can make a great statement through the pairing of contrasting colours or textures, such as a grey tweed waistcoat paired with a navy blue jacket and trousers or a much lighter almost white silver or powder blue to come as close to matching or contrasting the bride’s dress as possible.

Types of waistcoat

Waistcoats come in many different varieties and the colour you’d choose would naturally be governed by the look you’re trying to achieve for the big day.

Single breasted

As suggested by the name, single-breasted waistcoats bear a single row of about four to five buttons, making for a popular choice because of the versatility they offer, but these could perhaps be for the groomsmen.

Double breasted

Double breasted waistcoats usually have two rows of overlapping buttons, usually worn with cravats at weddings since they are indeed formal, so you’d probably go with a double-breasted one for your wedding.

Necklines

Waistcoats come with three main collar types, including the High V, Shawl, and Horseshoe. The V-neck waistcoat shows a small part of the shirt and tie, while the shawl neckline which is softer than the high V doesn’t bear a spiked collar. The horseshoe is perhaps the most formal variation of the waistcoat, featuring a large scoop to show off a huge chunk of the shirt. You’d normally wear this with a bow tie.

Button up

You don’t want to lose the waistcoat’s tailoring shape by leaving it open, which could also make you appear to be bigger as well. Always button up, apart from the very last button of course as it’s tradition to leave it open.