"U" Shaped Waistcoat Versus a "V" Shaped Waistcoat

[creagdhubh]

Greetings,

I have always been rather fond of "U" shaped waistcoats worn with black/white tie attire for quite some time now. You tend to see this particular style worn by men during the early 20th century and before. They've made a resurgence in men's fashion today; where everything old is new again, especially with the current vintage craze in which many men with even a slight inclination towards sartorial elegance, style, and attention to detail come to appreciate. With extremely popular television programming such as Mr. Selfridge and Downton Abbey, which exemplify and arguably amplify men's sartorial style (though of a different time period), it's no wonder that certain aspects of modern men's fashion has evolved to become reminiscent of a bygone era - and rightly so. You will hear no disagreement, nor argument from me. Honestly, I am pleased to see the resurgence of men, especially young men, wishing to dress in a similar, smart manner just as their grandfathers and great-grandfathers did when they were young men when it was considered de rigeur.

I'm quite keen on wearing a "U" shaped waistcoat, complete with rounded lapels and a 4 button front, with my Highland Dress for black/white tie occassions. I think this particular cut sets off the formal shirt rather nicely, especially when you own a stiff, bib front (with studs) shirt as I do. It's definitely a cut that you don't see worn too often with Highland Dress. I have seen various photos of men from the Victorian era, and well into the Edwardian era wearing such a waistcoat with their Highland evening attire, and always admired the look. It definitely sets itself apart from the more ubiquitous "V" shaped waistcoats.

I think the "U" shaped waistcoat would look smart with a high waisted coatee and the Regulation Doublet. I'm not entirely sure how it would look with the Sherriffmuir Doublet, since that particular doublet tends to look best with a 5-6 button waistcoat, versus its 3-4 button counterpart. Another thing to consider is the fact that the "U" shaped waistcoat doesn't really add any "length" to the wearer like the "V" shaped waistcoat does. Even though this is purely an optical illusion; much along the lines of wearing pinstripes, which tend to make the wearer appear taller, I think the "U" shaped waistcoat could make the wearer appear more rotund due to its more horizontal nature, whereas the "V" shaped waistcoat is quite obviously more vertical. This is why I believe the "U" shaped waistcoat would not work for every man. In my opinion, men that tend to have considerably more girth around their midsection would probably fair better with the more standard "V" shaped waistcoat.

So, what are your thoughts on the subject?

"U" shaped waistcoat.


Yours truly wearing the more commonly seen "V" shaped waistcoat.


And a rather comical, yet pretty neat image of another "U" shaped waistcoat; this time patterend, and worn with a suit. I love this "action shot." The first thing I thought of when I initially saw this was, "By God...it's Tobus!"


Cheers,