Looking for a dove grey waistcoat

[Slim Portly]

I am attempting to put together a suit that is an homage to the stroller and the morning suit. I want it be something that I can wear to the office without it appearing too formal, and to that end certain adjustments will be made. The coat of course cannot be a peak lapel single button cutaway but instead will be a charcoal or Oxford gray notch collar single breasted suit coat, the shirt may or may not be wing collar (depending on how dapper I feel that day), I may wear either a tie or ascot (again depending), the trousers can remain the traditional black, gray, and silver multistripe, but I'm thinking that a double breasted vest may appear almost as formal as the cutaway coat.

Therefore I am in search of a single breasted shawl collar full back dove grey waistcoat, preferably in wool. To my thinking this vest in combination with the elements mentioned above just captures the feel of the traditional suits in question while still being just acceptable as modern day office wear.

I have found a few full back dove gray waistcoats that have a plain collar, but the shawl collar is the look that I am going for. The ones that I have seen that don't quite meet my needs fall in the £35.00/$70 range which is a workable price for me. Can any of my friends here help me with this?

For the overall look of the suit I am envisioning, consider the chap here on the left, with minor adjustments in color and pattern here and there. Note especially the notch collar of the jacket and the shawl collar single breasted vest:

 

[LordBest]

http://www.tomsawyerwaistcoats.co.uk/subprod/grey-waistcoats-0002904.aspx

A tad more expensive, and I have no idea of the quality but it looks rather nice, in my opinion.

 

[Slim Portly]

Unfortunately that's one of the plain collar vests that I found, but thanks for looking.

Again,

1. single breasted
2. shawl collar
3. full back
4. dove grey
5. preferably in wool

 

[Josephine]

Note especially the notch collar of the jacket and the shawl collar single breasted vest:

I have to respectfully disagree that the vest on the gentleman on the left has a shawl collar. You can't be sure of that. I do not believe that shawl collars come down to such a point where they meet with the buttons. In addition, I think matching a shawl collar vest with a notch collar jacket would be similar to mixing plaids and stripes.

However, if you definitely want to get a shawl collar vest, USHist.com has a Victorian Vest section (scroll down a bit) that has these types of vests. They are custom made, though, and are a little more than the $70 you mentioned.

 

[Slim Portly]

I have to respectfully disagree that the vest on the gentleman on the left has a shawl collar. You can't be sure of that.

Indeed, I can't be sure of what he is wearing; I can only be sure of what I am looking for. Thanks for the link.

 

[Max Flash]

I agree - I don't think the waistcoat has a shawl collar as this would be quite strange as the jacket has notched lapels.

However, if you wanted to pursue it further, I can suggest contacting Baron in Piccadilly, London. They won't have a website as they are exceedingly old-fashioned, but I can almost guarantee that if it exists, they will know where to get it!

I have a tailcoat from them - I will look in the label for a phone number. In the meantime, try Google. Good luck!

 

[Josephine]

... I can only be sure of what I am looking for. Thanks for the link.

I know what you mean, and like a man who knows his mind. I have a hard time settling for something that isn't what I want too. The USHist site is neat, I liked looking at all the vests and other clothes. I hope you find something that is what you want.

Have you thought about contacting a seamstress in your town? McCall's 4321 looks like it would meet your requirements, as does Vogue's 7488, though the notch collar will have to be made into a shawl, but any competent seamstress should be able to do that for you.

Good luck!

 

[Slim Portly]

My dilemma is trying to capture an elegant feel while not going too over the top for the office. Hence a shawl collar waistcoat (elegant) with a notch collar jacket (office appropriate). However, with a jacket on it is all but impossible to tell if a waistcoat has a shawl or a notch lapel (see illustration above), so perhaps it doesn't make that much of a difference. Regardless, I have searched the Internet using multiple search engines to no avail. Using a seamstress or tailor would put the item outside of my budget, I'm afraid. I am picking up two jackets and a waistcoat today that my seamstress altered for me, so I'll run the idea by her and see what kind of an estimate she gives me.

 

[Josephine]

I am picking up two jackets and a waistcoat today that my seamstress altered for me, so I'll run the idea by her and see what kind of an estimate she gives me.

Never hurts to ask. You will be posting pictures of your finished ensemble, right? Pleeeease?

 

[Slim Portly]

Never hurts to ask. You will be posting pictures of your finished ensemble, right? Pleeeease?

But of course, although it may be awhile.

 

[Slim Portly]

I was pleasantly surprised today with a quote of $80 for a bespoke waistcoat. This after she said that she doesn't normally do this kind of thing, plus she's been really busy lately, but after all I am such a good customer, and she can work on it on days that she is caught up on everything else, if of course I'm not in too much of a hurry...


It will still be a couple of weeks at least before I can set aside the money, but it's a load off my mind knowing that I can get what I want.