You should re-read before you post in. I never said that people should dress to military regs. I made reference to how in a group where many people were made to dress to standards, there seems to be a prevailing attitude that one can dress how they please, regardless of proper etiquette. This is the traditional tread after all. Also Thompson never said that waistcoats and belts go together, he said "worn with either a waistcoat or evening belt", he did however consider that people were wearing them together, and offered suggestions on how to make this look better. You should re-read his book too.

Frank