Cummerbund with Eton Jacket?

[MisterGrey]

I've read that there's some vague association between the Spencer/Eton jacket and the mess jacket; so does one wear a cummerbund with the Eton jacket?

 

[Marc Chevalier]

No.

You can wear a waistcoat with it.

 

[MisterGrey]

Thanks! You've really saved me some trouble.

Is there any kind of resource about proper wear with an Eton/Spencer jacket? I did a search on the lounge but didn't turn up much, and the segment on Black Tie Guide didn't elaborate as much as I'd have liked.

 

[Midnight Blue]

The modern spencer jacket is a fashion innovation, not a black-tie tradition. As such there are no set rules as there are for dinner jackets and tailcoats.

I'll be the first to agree that there is very little info about this jacket on my site but that's because I have not found a single reference to it in the dozens of contemporary etiquette book and menswear books that I researched.

The most I have been able to find is a feature article in the February 1985 issue of GQ which was around the time the modern spencer was introduced to formal wear. This article links the history of the spencer with the history of the mess jacket and describes it as a contemporary "alternative". The accompanying pictures all show the jacket closed which makes it hard to know exactly what's underneath but there's no reference to waistcoats and in one circumstance it's obvious there is no waist covering at all.

Marc, if you're aware of a general dress code for the spencer I'd love to know about it!

1985

modern

 

[Edward]

Euuuuuwwwww.... that second photo looks nasty. The one in the top photo I do quite like; definitely looks like a civilian take on a mess jacket. Were I going to opt for tartan trousers as a kilt alternative, I could see that working well for civilian purposes.

What is the norm with the mess jacket? Could that be adapted for civilian use?

 

[Midnight Blue]

Euuuuuwwwww.... that second photo looks nasty. The one in the top photo I do quite like; definitely looks like a civilian take on a mess jacket. Were I going to opt for tartan trousers as a kilt alternative, I could see that working well for civilian purposes.

What is the norm with the mess jacket? Could that be adapted for civilian use?

you can get the lowdown at http://www.blacktieguide.com/History/05.htm

 

[Marc Chevalier]

Marc, if you're aware of a general dress code for the spencer I'd love to know about it!

I'm not aware of such a dress code. In my response, I was referring to Eton jackets. See MisterGrey's original question, below:

...so does one wear a cummerbund with the Eton jacket?

A photo by way of response. Note the waistcoats:

.

 

[Midnight Blue]

Ahh, I knew there would be a logical explanation for the difference of opinion. So basically Mr. Chevalier and I are both correct and MisterGrey has the option of dressing like a (1) 19th century school boy, (2) New Wave formal dresser or (3) 21st century cruise waiter.

Personally, I'd recommend sticking with the classic tuxedo.

 

[MisterGrey]

Ahh, I knew there would be a logical explanation for the difference of opinion. So basically Mr. Chevalier and I are both correct and MisterGrey has the option of dressing like a (1) 19th century school boy, (2) New Wave formal dresser or (3) 21st century cruise waiter.

Personally, I'd recommend sticking with the classic tuxedo.

Thanks to Midnight Blue and everyone else for their responses!

I was actually exploring inexpensive alternatives for my wedding that I could maintain some level of "control" over. My best man/groomsmen are all awesome guys, but their style sense isn't anywhere near what I'd have in mind for a wedding, and to my knowledge none of them own suits. Whatever they're going to wear I'm going to end up picking out-- and buying-- and I kind of need to keep it relatively, shall we say, manageable, while still possessing some modicum of classic elegance. In looking at BlackTieGuide for possible ideas, I stumbled across the Eton jacket segment, and after googling Eton Jackets, and seeing what a nice one can be had for, thought that it was the perfect combination of style and affordability. Also, the association with bands made me think for a moment because two of my groomsmen are, in fact, in a band that performs regularly.

IMO, this is actually rather sharp looking...

 

[thunderw21]

I'm not aware of such a dress code. In my response, I was referring to Eton jackets. See MisterGrey's original question, below:






A photo by way of response. Note the waistcoats:

.

Forget the waistcoats, check out those collars/wings!

 

[MisterGrey]

This here is something along the lines of what I had in mind, albeit proper fitting, and with a shirt with studs/visible cuffs:

 

[Marc Chevalier]

Forget the waistcoats, check out those collars/wings!

Mr. Thunder, meet the Eton collar.

.

 

[Edward]

This here is something along the lines of what I had in mind, albeit proper fitting, and with a shirt with studs/visible cuffs:

I think I would avoid it in white, though, unless you're from Barcelona...

 

[David V]

These all look like "service" wear. And I don't mean military service. Think wait staff bus boys and bartenders.