Waistcoats are traditionally the third piece in a gentleman’s formal suit – matching the jacket and trouser or as a contrasting colour. For a more modern dress down style, classic waistcoats can be teamed with casual trousers or jeans.
Bespoke Waistcoats
A Fitting Occasion
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Bespoke Double Breasted
Tailor’s Notes
We were asked to make this special waistcoat for a customer for his wedding. Special, of course, because it was his wedding, but special too because of the colour and the piping. The colour looks fantastic and the piping, all worked by hand and very hard to do, brings it to life very elegantly. It compliments the morning suit beautifully.
The Construction
Made and cut in London. As with every waistcoat we make, unless you choose our Express service, the waistcoat will take 8-9 weeks to make – we have a half way baste fitting and then a forward baste fitting before the waistcoat is finished and delivered.
Details
This is a pure wool from a mill in Yorkshire. We have a huge range of cloths to choose from – including wools, cottons, silks and linen’s….and colours too!
Double Breasted For a Wedding
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Finding the right waistcoat for you
Tailor’s Notes
Double breasted waistcoats with a slim finish and soft cloth can bring a certain style to any occasion. There are all kinds of configurations for the buttons on a DB waistcoat but eight (pictured here) is the most versatile and flattering. There is also an opportunity to add a lapel too: notch, peak or shawl – no rules, just preferences. Having said that peak lapels can add some angles (and some attitude) to the occasion.
The Construction
Made and cut in England. As with every waistcoat we make, unless you choose our Express service, the waistcoat will take 8-9 weeks to make – we have a half way baste fitting and then a forward baste fitting before the waistcoat is finished and delivered.
Details
This is a pure wool from Holland & Sherry. We have a huge range of cloths to choose from – including wools, cottons, silks and linens … and colours too!
A Tailored Waistcoat
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Bespoke Waistcoats
Tailor’s Notes
We have nothing against wearing a waistcoat to work – and we are in fact big fans of the waistcoat. You don’t just have to wear it with a three piece, but you can wear it separately too. As bespoke tailors, Henry Herbert can offer any cut and style of waistcoat you wish. However, we have found that some styles tend to be the most popular: click here for a full guide.
The Construction
Every waistcoat is made and cut in England. As much of the jacket as possible is hand tailored. As with every waistcoat we make, unless you choose our Express service, the waistcoat will take 8-9 weeks to make – we have a half way baste fitting and then a forward baste fitting before the waistcoat is finished and delivered.
Details
We have a huge range of cloths to choose from – including wools, cottons, silks and linen’s.
Wedding waistcoat drawn by a customer
Images & Video
Bespoke Wedding Waistcoat
Tailor’s Notes
Henry Herbert was commissioned to make a wedding waistcoat to accompany the morning suit we were making for a young solicitor from London for his wedding. The customer knew the style of waistcoat he wanted and drew a sketch for us. From this sketch we……..a) made a pattern, then b) ordered the fabric from the mill, to c) make a baste fitting for him before, d) moving on to complete the waistcoat…and finally, the morning suit. This involved a huge amount of work, but was well worth the patience.
The Construction
Every waistcoat we make is made and cut in England. Every waistcoat is made by hand. As with every waistcoat we make, unless you choose our Express service, the waistcoat will take 8-9 weeks to make – we have a half way baste fitting and then a forward baste fitting before the waistcoat is finished and delivered.
Details
We have a huge range of cloths to choose from – including wools, cottons, silks and linen’s.
Henry Herbert Waistcoats
As bespoke tailors, Henry Herbert can offer any cut and style of waistcoat you wish. However, we have found that the styles below tend to be the most popular.
The Pocketwatch Waistcoat
The Pocketwatch Waistcoat is very similar to the Oscar Lafontaine Waistcoat (see below) with the exception of its pockets, which were originally designed to accommodate a pocketwatch or a stopwatch.
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The Edwardian Line
The Edwardian Line was a reaction to King Edward’s Waistcoat. Both
waistcoats have clean symmetrical lines defining their shape, but the Edwardian Line has a sharp line punching through the area around the tummy – a provocative but subtle style reaction to the King’s favourite.
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The Horse Shoe Sccop Waistcoat
The horse shoe sccop waistcoat is designed to be worn with a black tie. The low slung body hides it discreetly behind a buttoned dinner jacket and tuxedo shirt, but quickly reveals itself when the jacket is unbuttoned. It should be worn without a cummerbund and the waistcoat buttons should remain fastened throughout the evening.
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The Lounge Waistcoat
The Lounge waistcoat was once always a key characteristic of the three piece suit, but today it has been adopted as a popular choice amongst the youth of Britain, such as the style icon Kate Moss and the members of indie band Razorlight who wear them over casual shirts and jeans for a day-to-day fashionable look.
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The Oskar Lafontaine Waistcoat
Oskar Lafontaine is a German politician and former German Finance Minister. During his short tenure as Minister of Finance, Lafontaine was a major bogeyman of UK Eurosceptics. He is famed for always wearing a waistcoat, with two large, front pockets and five buttons, thus the Oscar Lafontaine Waistcoat.
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