Cummerbunds

Although usually considered to be of Indian origin, the cummerbund actually dates back to 17th century Persia. The word is derived from the Persian and Hindi words, kamarband. It was military officers of the British Raj that first popularized cummerbunds in the 1850s after seeing them worn by sepoys (Indian colonial soldiers). Its popularity grew in the early 1900s among the upper classes of New York City with the advent of the American version of the dinner suit, the tuxedo.

A cummerbund has the advantage of covering the entire waist and lower midriff, ensuring a neater, streamlined look. Another benefit is that it is slimming and can make a gentleman look taller too.

A cummerbund is typically worn as an alternative to a waistcoat. It should always be worn with a bow tie, since a neck tie usually extends to the waist anyway. It should be of the same or similar fabric to the bow tie. And, if pleated, should the pleats be worn upward or downward? The answer is upward. After all, cummerbunds are colloquially referred to as ‘crumb catchers!’