Do you always need a cumme*rbund when you wear a tux? Can you replace it with a vest? And is there a certain way to wear one? Wearing a cumme*rbund can be confusing sometimes. Don’t worry! We’re here to give you the important details on when to wear a cumme*rbund and how, so you can look appropriately stylish for your formal event.
What’s a cumme*rbund for?
The main purpose of wearing a cumme*rbund is to cover your waist. Your shirt can bunch unattractively at your waist where it meets your pants, and a cumme*rbund covers that up. Your waist looks smooth and narrow with a cumme*rbund, making your upper body look proportionately broader. In short, wearing a cumme*rbund makes you and that tuxedo you’re rocking look sleek and stylish.
When to wear a cumme*rbund?
Generally, you wear a cumme*rbund along with a tuxedo to black tie events. If you choose not to wear a cumme*rbund, you can wear a formal waistcoat (aka a vest) instead. A waistcoat can provide a little more warmth in cooler temperatures, and sometimes it coordinates better if your jacket has peaked lapels. A cumme*rbund can keep you cooler when it’s warm, and it matches well with shawl-collared jackets.
You should wear either a cumme*rbund or a waistcoat to a black tie event. Black tie events are quite formal: awards ceremonies, grand weddings, charity balls, and so on. It’s important to match the dress code and formality of the event with your outfit. If you’re attending an event where you don’t have much room for personal expression (like wearing bright patterns or colors) it’s best to stick to a dark cumme*rbund. Black is the most versatile color and will look appropriately formal if your bow tie is black as well. When in doubt, go with black.
Attending a slightly less formal black-tie event where it’s okay to experiment with your look? Feel free to choose a patterned cumme*rbund or one in fun colors. There is some disagreement on the subject of matching your cumme*rbund with your bow tie. Some say that it should always match, while others say that matching looks too prepackaged and that a contrasting cumme*rbund makes a nice statement. Our advice is to go with one that suits your style as long as it fits the event’s dress code. If you’re a classic guy, choose a black cumme*rbund. If you like to experiment and break style rules, choose one in a more adventurous color to contrast your black bow tie.
How do you wear a cumme*rbund?
Whichever color you choose, be sure to look at the following details:
- The pleats. If it has pleats, wear it so they’re facingupwards.
- The positioning. They’re meant to cover your waist. Half the cumme*rbund should cover your shirt, and the other half your pants.
- The fabric. Whether it matches your bow tie or not, it should be cut from the same material. You’ll look more elegant when the material is the same.
Now that you know when to wear a cumme*rbund and how; get started on shopping for your own! With our Build a Tux feature, you can check out the many different styles of cumme*rbunds we offer. Jim’s Formal Wear also has a variety of classic and fun tuxedo looks available online if you need to shop for a complete black tie outfit.
FAQs
Today, a cumme*rbund can be worn for any formal occasion that you would wear a tuxedo. Black tie events, weddings, prom, galas. These are all appropriate times to wear a cumme*rbund.
Do men wear Cumberbunds anymore? ›
As this new “Black Tie” dress code developed, the aristocracy borrowed a page from the British military's book and added black cumme*rbunds as an appropriate waist covering. They have remained a staple in men's formal wear ever since.
Do you need to wear a cumme*rbund with a tux? ›
Generally, a cumme*rbund is traditionally worn with a tuxedo, not a dinner jacket. Due to the sense of formality that accompanies cumme*rbunds, they definitely have a tendency to make regular suits look overdone.
Do you wear a cumme*rbund to prom? ›
You can wear either a vest or a cumme*rbund. Either one is fine, but plain black satin is preferable for both. You can wear a colored cumme*rbund, but if you do, stick to very dark and sober colors.
Does James Bond wear a cumme*rbund? ›
Though the cumme*rbund is a well-known part of black tie, Bond has only worn a cumme*rbund on a handful of occasions. Traditionally, one isn't wearing a cumme*rbund because he's wearing a waistcoat or a double-breasted dinner jacket, but those situations do not make up the rest of Bond's black tie outfits.
Why do men wear a Cumberbund? ›
The primary purpose of the tuxedo cumme*rbund is the preserve the immaculate presentation expected when wearing formal attire. Serving as a waist covering, a tuxedo cumme*rbund prevents your shirt from showing below the buttoning point of your jacket, maintaining a much neater appearance.
Is it OK to wear suspenders with a cumme*rbund? ›
We often get this question concerning tuxedos, because people think of the cumme*rbund as a type of belt. It isn't, so don't worry. It's also the one garment that goes on the outside of your suspenders. Black suspenders are never wrong.
Can you wear a tux without a cumberbund or vest? ›
Wear a cumme*rbund or vest.
Unless you're wearing a double-breasted jacket that you keep buttoned at all times, you'll likely expose your shirt. Your tux will look incomplete if you're not wearing a cumme*rbund or vest.
Does a cumme*rbund make you look slimmer? ›
cumme*rbunds also streamline and elongate your look. A well-designed and properly worn cumme*rbund can slim your waist and make you look taller, as long as you are wearing it properly. Those British military officers were onto something – because cumme*rbunds can also keep you cool.
Do men still wear cumberbunds with tuxedos? ›
Generally, you wear a cumme*rbund along with a tuxedo to black tie events. If you choose not to wear a cumme*rbund, you can wear a formal waistcoat (aka a vest) instead.
For a more formal prom, choose a classic black tuxedo with a white shirt and black bow tie. For a more casual prom, you can choose a colored tuxedo jacket with a white shirt and no tie. Another classic prom look for men is the suit.
Do you wear a Cumberbund with a long tie? ›
cumme*rbunds are traditionally worn with bow ties, since longer neck ties overlap awkwardly. A bow tie, tuxedo jacket, and cumme*rbund, in contrast, creates a clean, classic look. Try to choose a bow tie that's the same material as your cumme*rbund. Don't worry if you're not a bow tie person.
What color of tuxedo is not to be worn during the day? ›
Black Tie Is Not Daytime Wear
The trend is unlikely to stop, but for people who are serious about getting their formal and semi-formal dress right, tuxedos are evening wear only. The usual rule of thumb is that you dress for the end time of an event.
Do you need a Cumberbund? ›
A tuxedo with cumme*rbund makes the most sense if you will be attending a formal event when the temperatures are higher, making a vest more uncomfortable. A cumme*rbund allows for more airflow, and limits the amount of fabric on your body.
Why are suspenders not used anymore? ›
Metal clasps were invented in 1894 so that suspenders could be clipped on rather than buttoned, meaning that pants no longer had to come with buttons sewn in the waist, as they commonly did at the time. Suspenders fell out of favor in the early 20th century, when lower-sitting pants no longer required them.
Do bow tie and cumme*rbund have to match? ›
Red cumme*rbund and black tie would be ok, but matching the tie and cumme*rbund isn't just traditional, it looks more pulled together. If you want to add a punch of color to your suit, go with the matching tie and cumme*rbund.
Can you wear a cumme*rbund with white tie? ›
Of course, you know better, and you should also know that a regular tuxedo should never be worn for white tie events. And if that's the only option you have, either wear a waistcoat or cumme*rbund. Never expose your waistband and never wear belts with evening wear.
Are cumberbunds out of style? ›
cumme*rbund or Vest (or Neither?)
If you want a more modern, effortless look, consider ditching the vest or cumme*rbund altogether. Going vestless is an increasingly popular, contemporary choice, and acceptable with either a tuxedo or a suit.
Do you wear a cumberbund with a bow tie? ›
The cumme*rbund is reserved for formal occasions and is only to be worn with a single-breasted tuxedo jacket and in tandem with a bow tie. To wear a cumme*rbund with a suit or with a necktie would be considered a fashion faux pas.
