Black tie dress code: cummerbund or waistcoat for a formal party?

[OneLimeDuck]

I have been invited to a birthday party where the dress code is formal, so dinner jacket, black tie etc for men.
The whole dinner suit thing is no problem, even I can manage to buy one of those.
My issue is around is it better to wear a cummerbund or a waistcoat?
I have asked my usual source of fashion advice but my mother in law just shrugged her shoulders, laughed and said I was on my own.

So which do you think is the best option

Cummerbund

Waistcoat

Say I can't attend as I have fallen into a timewarp and been transported to the 11th Century.

Definitely a cummerbund - key thing is to cover your waist. You can wear a waistcoat as well if you wish but that is optional, however you shouldn't remove it if no cummerbund as then you would show the top of your trousers... if you wear the cummerbund correctly your waist is always covered.

Definitely not a waistcoat and cummerband is optional. My husband loves black tie and we go regularly to black tie events. I would say cummerbands are in the minority. He doesn't wear a cummerband. Black patent shoes look good.

What is essential is a proper bow tie you've tied, not a ready tied one.

I would say neither.

Last black tie event I went to had just over 600 people there. Probably slightly over half were men but I can't say I saw more then one cummerbund.

Agree - cummerbands can look nice on someone slim (my husband, but he doesn't like them) - on larger men they can have an unfortunate look of emphasising the stomach.

A dress shirt, double cuffs and cufflinks are essentials and shiny shoes, preferably patent.

I thought cummerbunds were a bit naff. Jeeves wouldn’t have it.

Neither. Waistcoats aren’t required for black tie and tend to look naff.

Cummerbunds are old fashioned.

Yes to cummerbund. No to vampire.

What do the King and Prince William wear to such events? Whatever they wear may not be the height of fashion, but can't be wrong.

Thank you for your comments and advice.

I think I will probably go the waistcoat route.

Dress shirt and shoes, yes had forgotten about those, so good reminding.

I used to go to a lot of black tie events, and I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone wear a waistcoat.

IMO waistcoats tend to be worn for formal business meetings or weddings (with morning coat) rather than black tie events - unless you are uber stylish and making a fashion statement, in which case crack on.😉

I have but it's only a few. I think it detracts from the black and white.

Dh just wears a belt, very few wear cummerbund these days, jazzy braces are a thing to match colour of bow tie with the young ‘uns. Try and learn to tie a real one. Wing collars aren’t a thing now but definitely cuff links. We are in dinner dress fairly often due to concerts, but overall don’t stress, just do make sure your shirt fits, the worst look is gaping shirts because the wearer is now larger!

I do lots of formal nights on cruises so I don’t know if that counts. Rarely see a cummerbund, there will be the odd one or two out of hundreds, and to me they look very dated.

They aren’t naff, they are still correct for black tie attire. Alternatively a low fronted waistcoat or a double breasted jacket worn buttoned up. If worn, black cummerbunds are preferable, and if another colour is chosen it definitely shouldn’t match the bow tie. That would be naff.

The low cut waistcoat is what the OP means - not the same shape as ones for three piece suits or under morning coats.

Jeeves disapproves of the cummerbund.
Debrett’s says it’s ok. I’m still with Jeeves. He also disapproves of monogramming.

What would Bunter allow Lord Peter to wear?

I think the starched shirt front was discussed in Gaudy Night, wasn't it?

Both are naff. A decent pair of trousers with side adjusters is best.

To be fair the cummerbund in question was scarlet if I remember right.

Thank you all for the comments and advice.

Have gone the waistcoat route.

Also bought a proper bow tie, but given I can barely tie my shoelaces learning to tie that should be interesting 😀

It’s a sort of low-cut waistcoat, so you can’t clearly see it under the jacket.