The timeless fashion of the Cummerbund

A cummerbund is a broad, waist sash that is worn around the waist. It is often  pleated and worn with single breasted dinner tuxedos. Originating from ancient Persia, it was worn as an alternative to the waistcoat by military men and was later adapted to civilian use. The cummerbund is usually a part of a black-tie outfit and it is usually common to find the cummerbund in a predominately black colour.

The pleats of the cummerbund are usually worn facing up. When wearing a tuxedo, attention to details and immaculate presentation is important. As such the classy fashion piece covers the waist region of the body and prevents the shirt from ruffling. The timeless piece makes you feel more masculine and you don’t have to worry about a thing.

While wearing a cummerbund is not obligatory, however, if you intend to wear a tuxedo without the waistcoat it is necessary that you wear a cummerbund.

• Look trendy in stripes

Cummerbunds are traditionally worn with a bow-tie and pleated front shirt. Aside from being the traditional tuxedo line up, a long tie may overlap awkwardly with your cummerbund. When selecting your bow tie, you should pay careful attention to the material which the bow tie is made from. Your bow tie and cummerbund should be made from the same material. Avoid bow ties that are pre-tied, they are quite easily spotted and come off as immature.

You are not expected to wear a belt under your cummerbund. For better support, you could wear suspenders alongside your cummerbund. While your suspenders may not be visible from the outside, you should stick with the white or black suspenders to keep your colour scheme stable. Your jacket might slip, you never can tell.

Another point to note lies in the fact that your cummerbund and your tuxedo lapel fabric must be the same. When shopping for your cummerbund, ensure that it is of the same material as your tuxedo lapel. This allows for consistency and makes your overall outfit balanced.

Never should you combine a cummerbund with a waistcoat, the two pieces serve the same purpose. Wearing both at the same time is a waste. You have to make a deliberate choice to go for one or the other.

When it comes to cummerbunds, they can get as dressy as possible. If you would be wearing a cummerbund that is patterned or any other colour aside from black, you should leave your bow-tie as the traditional black. Events are not called black-ties for nothing.

It’s time to step out and make a bold fashion statement.