blacktieguide.com has a section on were to buy on various budgets.

 

I have not ordered through any of those so I cannot be certain of quality, but of the vest links you provided, I would personally pay the extra few bucks to get the wool version of the vests. I have a wool/mohair blend jacket and vest, and I think they work better together, especially if the vest is work without a jacket. The lapels on the vest should be satin to match the jacket's lapels. When is your wedding? If it's going to be in a cooler month and your fiance keeps his jacket on the whole time, the quality of the vest may not be a huge factor. I would suspect you could go into a local rental place and see if they have similar vests in stock to compare them to the Jos jacket.

 

Go with door number two!

Uniformal is one of the sites cited on the Black Tie Guide's buying list. The backless version that is similar in cut to the white tie vest, with satin lapels, looks like it would do the trick. At least it's all wool (except for the lapels), and you can't expect silk at those prices, of course, but it would probably look fine. After all, your coat will be buttoned up in all the wedding pictures.

All the best to you and your bride:icon_smile:

 

I would absolutely not buy a black vest from anyone other than the maker of the tuxedo, unless the vest is significantly different in some way (pattern, embroidery, sheen, etc.) from the jacket; matching black to black is a nightmare.

If it's a different color, then maybe. But I have a yellow tux-intended vest from JAB (probably higher-end than the merchants you mention) and it's so garish that it's only use is pirate costumes on Halloween (got it for $5 on eBay, so got my money's worth).

I'd suggest going to JAB while they have their mega-sales, and see if they have anything you like.

d

 

I would absolutely not buy a black vest from anyone other than the maker of the tuxedo, unless the vest is significantly different in some way (pattern, embroidery, sheen, etc.) from the jacket; matching black to black is a nightmare.

If it's a different color, then maybe. But I have a yellow tux-intended vest from JAB (probably higher-end than the merchants you mention) and it's so garish that it's only use is pirate costumes on Halloween (got it for $5 on eBay, so got my money's worth).

I'd suggest going to JAB while they have their mega-sales, and see if they have anything you like.

d

JAB doesn't make an appropriate vest, so if the OP wants to wear a vest he'll have to look elsewhere. Matching black wool isn't recommended, but a black poly satin vest would match with the lapels close enough. I don't believe the JAB lapels are actually silk anyway. Even if they are silk, there really isn't much of a problem. A 3-button waistcoat that's a little off is better than a 5 or 6-button waistcoat that matches. You'd be fine with the black satin 3-button waistcoat from Uniformal.

 

I'd avoid an all satin number. Looks cheap imho.

I have several black tie waistcoats, that are not 'matches' for the dinner jackets, but as they are generally all pre 1960s very heavy wool, they are pretty much all the same. Modern fabric is not of this quality and can look vasty different (and of course so can vintage, but I'd say less so). Try and see the item if you can, before purchase.

 

I'm having a very similar problem. I got the JAB Sig PL, grosgrain, etc..., and I've been looking for a low-cut vest. I'm considering just sucking it up and splurging on the BB vest, but part of me is having a difficult time with that. I might call a few rental places and see if they have any low-cut vests that I can rent for this weekend's wedding while I make up my mind. The whole matching blacks consideration is driving me away from going with any of the solutions mentioned in the OP even for a quick fix (though it's January in Chicago, so my jacket won't be coming off)...

Ugh.

 

Also, am I correct in thinking that since my DJ's lapels are grosgrain, that the lapels of the waistcoat should absolutely not be satin?

 

Yes indeed! Better all wool than any satin. In fact, I think all wool looks great personally. Try and find a vintage one! As you suit is quality must be for grosgrain), old heavy wool should be ok.

 

Glad that intuition was correct. I have yet to decide what to do for this weekend. Perhaps I'll just go with the cummerbund, though I had my hopes up for a waistcoat.

Or I'll spend way too much money on the BB silk waistcoat...

le sigh

 

Perhaps I'll just go with the cummerbund, though I had my hopes up for a waistcoat.

C'mon Scotch, you live in Chicago. You're an American. Call it what it is, a vest. :icon_smile_big:

Cruiser

 

C'mon Scotch, you live in Chicago. You're an American. Call it what it is, a vest. :icon_smile_big:

Cruiser

Enough of your heresy and jibba-jabba!:icon_smile_wink:

 

Thanks for your replies, guys.

The way I see it, my fiance's options are two imperfect choices, either go with cheap looking and mismatched poly satin or the wool vest which still has the poly satin lapels, but also introduces another black in its wool. It seems that the all poly satin vest is the lesser of two evils.

As Matt S. said, Jos. A. Bank doesn't carry a low cut vest. And I've been to every tuxedo rental place in my city, none of them carry this type of vest for rent or purchase. I even got yelled at by a cute little Italian man for wanting something he doesn't sell. In short, there is no way for me to see one of these vests to examine its quality or shade of black before purchasing.

As for the lapels on my fiance's dinner jacket, we were assured at the store that they are silk.

The wedding is in April. My fiance plans to keep the jacket on all day but will unbutton it for sitting down, probably. And it would be uncharacteristic of him to complain about being hot.

 

Well, if he keeps the jacket on, to be honest, there's not a big deal regarding mismatched colors with the wool. The low cut vest body is actually quite difficult to see when the jacket is buttoned, usually only the lapels are visible. When I wear mine, people don't actually know I'm wearing a vest unless I have the jacket unbuttoned, though I have a more U-cut vest, but any low cut vest is not going to show as much fabric as your high 6 button one. Of course, because of this, an all poly-silk vest can be okay as well.

 

Have you considered the white cotton pique vest route or are you not going with a wing collar?

 

Glad that intuition was correct. I have yet to decide what to do for this weekend. Perhaps I'll just go with the cummerbund, though I had my hopes up for a waistcoat.

Or I'll spend way too much money on the BB silk waistcoat...

le sigh

RL does a good grosgrain cummerbund, which I have (but never wear due to the waistcoats I have)

 

RL does a good grosgrain cummerbund, which I have (but never wear due to the waistcoats I have)

Wanna do a rental?

I think the money that would cost would cost the same as the BB waistcoat that I want.

 

Wanna do a rental?

I think the money that would cost would cost the same as the BB waistcoat that I want.

I actually got it on ebay, new (or unused anyway), for under $60! Postage to UK was $30. Try looking for RL cummerbund on Ebay.

 

I actually got it on ebay, new (or unused anyway), for under $60! Postage to UK was $30. Try looking for RL cummerbund on Ebay.

Things I wish I had known about a week or two ago...oh well, maybe for next time

Is this the one you speak of?

 

As the Robert Talbott Black Faille Bow Tie & Cummerband from Hansen's Clothing are good matches for the grosgrain on the JAB signature tux (this is what I have), I recommend the Talbott White Pique Formal Vest, also from Hansen's. Pricey, being almost the "real" price of the tux (got mine during the recent buy 1 get 2 free sale, so ~$265) but is a good match nonetheless. Come to think of it, the Talbott is more than the BB vest, so probably not an option then.

 

C'mon Scotch, you live in Chicago. You're an American. Call it what it is, a vest. :icon_smile_big:

This. We won the war.

 

This. We won the war.

Not the clothing war...

 

To the OP. I would definitely check ebay. I actually have what was advertised as a BB vest/waistcoat (everybody happy) in the mail. Paid 32, keeping my fingers crossed. Unfortunately the picture quality was poor so we'll see.

https://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?VISuperSize&item=170429180723

https://www.brooksbrothers.com/IWCa...=1383895&Parent_Id=1032&default_color=BLACK&sort_by=&sectioncolor=&sectionsize=

...Tried to post the pics directly, but it wasn't taking... Oh well, but like I said, ebay is an option. If all goes well on this one I'll have snagged a Zegna tux and BB vest for 430. (did cough up 150 to the tailor though)

 

As an aside, since my formal watch is stainless, should I avoid black onyx studs set in gold (or in my case a gold colored metal)?

 

Things I wish I had known about a week or two ago...oh well, maybe for next time

Is this the one you speak of?

Yes, looks like it. I bought it from a different sller, and it had a large photo where the grosgrain was more clearly visible.

As an aside, since my formal watch is stainless, should I avoid black onyx studs set in gold (or in my case a gold colored metal)?

I'd say black with silver looks better than gold for black tie, gold looks too flashy against the white shirt imho.