Prince Charlie Vest

[Chef]

This is exactly why I started the thread. To find out if it would be OK to have a backless vest as a formal vest vs. a PC vest. I wasn't sure if the back/backless vest option would be more appropriate if/when a jacket was removed.

The backless waistcoat was developed partialy to allow people to NOT remove the jacket. They are cooler than a full waistcoat for obvious reasons. However, they usually look like a mess when the jacket is removed.

I always suggest to my clients that if they expect to be removing their jackets that the wedding party should always wear a full waistcoat. Personally the only backless waistcoat I own is a white one, worn with my PC jacket for white tie affairs. Obviously at such an affair I would not be removing my jacket so the fact that is backless is not a problem. All the rest of my waistcoats are full back. So if you are not sure whether you will want to remove your jacket or not, then find a full backed waist coat.

[beerbecue]

Obviously at such an affair I would not be removing my jacket so the fact that is backless is not a problem. All the rest of my waistcoats are full back. So if you are not sure whether you will want to remove your jacket or not, then find a full backed waist coat.

Pardon my naivete, but it is inappropriate to remove your jacket at a formal function?

[Chef]

Pardon my naivete, but it is inappropriate to remove your jacket at a formal function?

This is one of those times when what is common place and what is appropriate are not necessarily the same.

However, how formal an event is matters as to how much of a faux pas it is to remove your jacket. Certainly at a white tie event it would never be considered appropriate. At most black tie events it would also be crass to to remove the jacket however in hot weather it may be acceptable if you are wearing a full waistcoat.

Now that said the majority of people dress in formal attire only at weddings and while the rules still apply most people don't go by them. So what should you do...well I tend to go with this advice at a wedding follow the wedding party, it is certainly not appropriate to remove your jacket before they do. If they keep them on then so do you. Other formal events are dictated by the host, if it is quite warm the host should remove his jacket to signal others that it is appropriate to remoe theirs. If he keeps his on, so do you. This is particularly true if this is a business function. However when you get away from weddings and formal occaisions where there is dancing, expect to wear a jacket at all times.

[switchblade5984]

okay no one answerd my question! unless i missed it...

wearing another color vest under PC

black pc with green vest...

of red vest?

just to change it up!

[macwilkin]

okay no one answerd my question! unless i missed it...

wearing another color vest under PC

black pc with green vest...

of red vest?

just to change it up!

The only time I have ever seen another colour of waistcoats with formal wear is the tartan waistcoats cut on the bias, and worn with a Montrose style jacket, like this photo on the J. Higgins web site:

http://www.jhiggins.net/sf_proddetai...E4BMT07NIPU4DL

Since the PC is "less formal" than the Montrose and its ilk, I would keep it elegantly simple with a black waistcoat.

Regards,

Todd

[Bob C]

okay no one answerd my question! unless i missed it...

wearing another color vest under PC

black pc with green vest...

of red vest?

just to change it up!

Don't.

[McClef]

Once you put the tartan at a diagonal angle it gets very clashy, the same reason why tartan ties don't look good with a kilt.

[switchblade5984]

Once you put the tartan at a diagonal angle it gets very clashy, the same reason why tartan ties don't look good with a kilt.

yeah im not for that vest at all....

im talking solid color to accent the tartan!

i do like flashes cut at an angle

[macwilkin]

Once you put the tartan at a diagonal angle it gets very clashy, the same reason why tartan ties don't look good with a kilt.

I've seen it done in person, and depending on the tartan, it can look very natty...horses for courses, really. What might not look good to one looks pure dead brilliant to another.

Of course, the waistcoat should ideally be made at the same time and from the same fabric as the kilt, so the tartans "match" as much as possible. The problem with tartan ties are that many times, the tartan of tie does not match the tartan of the kilt.

T.

[Panache]

Once you put the tartan at a diagonal angle it gets very clashy, the same reason why tartan ties don't look good with a kilt.

Check out the kilt and matching tartan vest Matt Newsome is wearing on this page of his web site:

http://kilts.albanach.org/kiltmaker.html

I think it works pretty well.

Cheers