Quote Originally Posted by fluter View Post
That's a wonderful idea. I have not seen the formal waistcoat listed for sale apart from a PC, though. Any pointers?

Some of the budget formal-wear outfits have a "backless" one like the white pique vest... I'm considering making a full-back version, using a suit vest and a white one for a hybrid pattern.
PC waistcoats should be available from any kilt rental store. If that fails try Gaelic Themes (www.gaeilcthemes.com) or some of our X Marks advertisers. You should be able to get a black 3 button from Marlow White uniforms (sorry, don't know their web address off the top of my head) or from your local tux shop. You can get the silver buttons from some of our X Marks guys. I'd avoid silver buttons on the six button waistcoat as this is way too flashy for daywear or evening wear with a four-in-hand tie.

Despite what you may see at the Oscars or on this site, scrunchy ties really don't work with a low-cut waistcoat. The lines are all wrong, destroying both the symmetry and balance of the look. There are two basic fashion rules here (and they are rules, not merely opinions) :

(1) high-cut waistcoats should not be worn with low-cut jackets.
(2) four-in-hand ties should not be worn with low cut waistcoats.

The purpose of the low-cut waistcoat is to display as much white shirt as possible. Adding a four-in-hand tie covers up the middle of the shirt (hiding a beer stain, perhaps?) and creates a striped effect, which is far from flattering to the male figure (especially if one is chubby, fat, or obese).