The London Lounge

Two things, to which a prompt and knowledgable answer would be great:

1) I've brought a vintage waistcoat. I think the style is late 20s - it has 4 buttons, and quite deep points below. I'll try and upload an image, but in the meantime, I'll describe.
It fits perfectly around, but I wonder if anyone knows the right length:
The back is a lot shorter than the front - and at the sides, the waistcoat ends just above where my ribcage is. At the front the bottom button is just above my navel.
So... it is just above my natural waist.

The trousers I have are modern (ede and ravenscroft), so do not have a high back - and worn together there is a small (1-2cm) gap between the waistcoat at the back, but at the tront the points come down below. Is the waistcoat supposed to overlap with the trousers; and how high are 'high waisted' trousers supposed to be anyway?

(how do I post pictures)

So, if it is too short, how easy is it to have a waistcoat lengthened?

2) What material should gloves with white tie be?


Thanks,
P

Hello. The waistcoat should cover the shirt all around. In my opinion it is extremely difficult to lengthen a waistcoast if not impossible. I wouldn’t even try it to be honest.

Regarding the white tie combination I would have worn it with brown or black leather gloves. It all depends on the type of suit and topcoat of course.

James

I suppose what I should really have asked is:

'Is the waistcoat too short, or the trousers too low?'

The trousers should sit on your natural waist (if you do a ring around your waist with your hands your natural waist is the smallest ring). All classic suits should sit there. The waistcoat is made of six buttons...for the waistcoat to look good the bottom button should be left open and the 5th button should be where the waist of the trouser is.

Formally, gloves with white tie should only be white or light grey.

I thought the gloves should be white, but I don't know what material.


Waistcoats for white tie don't have six buttons, with the bottom undone - that's lounge suits!

Does anyone know how high a high waisted trouser should sit?

I believe the highest point a high waisted trouser must sit is just under the floating ribs at their bottommost point (which is on the sides of the torso).

Regrettably, P, your waistcoat is too short. It can't be lengthened. I ran into a similar problem with a purchase from eBay; my only consolation, that I'd spent but twenty-five dollars or so.

You should wear white kid gloves (preferrably, silk-lined, though my unlined wear well enough) with evening dress. Grey are for wear with a dinner jacket.

RWS

Does anyone have any pictures of evening trousers, and the correct rise?

Evening gloves should be white cream or lavender kidd. Sulka, of blessed memory used to do superb ones. I would respectfully suggest that they must be unlined and tight because if you're dancing in them at a very formal affair, you need to have a fair grip of your partner. Black gloves, I suggest, are for funerals only.

Oh yes - Budd nowadays for evening gloves.