Question:
My wonderful silk, bespoke Kilgour French, and Stanbury I got on eBay two years ago has velcro strips on the back on both the left and right sides, such that the two strips of velcro will not stick together if worn in the usual manner. Has anybody come across a cummerbund made as such? I wrote to Kilgour two years asking if they know of others made like this or have any suggestions why it was made with this design but they didn't really have an answer. Showing the cummerbund to several individuals wearing suggestions were two:
the first is to wrap it around my waist but make a loop in the back or one one side. The length isn't too good for that. The other idea is to put it on such that the two arms are in the front, twist one arm at a place such that the two velcro strips can then face each other and thus be fused together, and then turn the cummerbund such that the wide pleated front is indeed in front and the twist is on a side. This seems to work well but it may not look quite as smooth as the standard cummerbund which simply wraps around the waist. Of course nothing shows unless I have the dinner jacket off.
Have any of you seen such a cummerbund - with the velcro on both arms on the same (label) side? Sort of quirky - no? But made by a great Savile Row tailor so must be good. I was there (now just "Kilgour") in July and mentioned to several staff how one of them (manager?) had been kind enough to write back several times in 2005, etc.
One more rather simplistic question, please: how high is the cummerbund supposed to be worn? I was thinking centered where a belt would be but it certainly cannot seen at that height when I wear the coat with the one button fastened (it is shawl collar). Just high enough such that a hint of the cummerbund can be seen when the coat is buttoned? That would mean it is almost entirely over the shirt.
Thanks!
Answer:
This would be greatly helped with a picture or two.
That said, if I understand your problem correctly, why not buy a strip of the velcro of whichever type you need to join the two? If you need both types on opposite sides have them sewn together. You can do this in any configuration needed. Most fabric stores sell velcro in many sizes and colors. I'm not sure if this helps, because I'm not certain I correctly interpreted your problem. Good luck.
Answer:
I assume you thrifted this. You are likely missing the center piece[es] that have the buckle. My cummerbund is made similarly, except that the velcro strips on the sides are used to adjust the size. The cummerbund itself has a buckle attachments that connect to the ends.
Answer:
Thanks, dopey. Seems to me that two years ago suggested this be the case - that a piece be missing - but that possibility became moot; either I showed the item to someone who said there's no way a piece is missing and/or such a piece, e.g with a buckle, still wouldn't work with the velcro strips placed the way ithey are.
I'm sorry I'm not easily able to post any photos. However, could you possible explain in a little more detail just how your cummerbund looks. Mine is the wider centerpiece with folds and diamond pattern (I just saw a term for that but forgot it) and then two arms, so to speak, out to the sides - each with a strip of velcro across part of them. No evidence of anything else being sewed on, etc.
Answer:
tonylumpkin - Thanks for your trying to understand this. Unfortunately I don't have an easy way to created digital photos and post them here.
I wouldn't go to the lengths you describe because I find the cummerbund sort of an intriguing oddity and if it was designed that way through Kilgour I don't want to change the design one iota. It is, after all quite wearable as is. If I had proof the piece originally had something missing, naturally I'd go out to replace it, I suppose.
Answer:
That is the way mine is too. Except that the arms on the side fold in on themselves. Where they fold they make a loop and the buckle (one half of the buckle on each side) is threaded through the loop. The velcro is used to adjust the sizing - making the "arms" longer or shorter as needed.
Answer:
I'll try to post this:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/10945013@N00/68419580/
But no sign anything was attached in the middle. Can you possibly post a photo of yours? How is this buckle fabric attached? Sewed on? I can't quite picture it.
Answer:
Just showing general shape in photo above. Mine has no fasteners at end like one in photo, just the two velcro strips.
Answer:
Dopey - yours has arms with the velcro on the label side of both? These could both be folded in but the cummerbund does fit beautifully if I simply twist it such that the two velcro pieces come "marry," so to speak....
Incidentally, considering the way you responded to my posts a few weeks ago you seem to be somewhat of a purist. What do you think of one's wearing a decorative "wedding waistcoat" - such as one with a subtle floral pattern - with evening wear such as my midnight blue dinner jacket with black silk shawl collar? Or do you want to see these wedding waistcoats only with day wear?
Answer:
Yes. Each "arm" has half a buckle attached.
There are too many opportunities for this to come undone and it will likely look sloppy. Since the cummerband doesn't work right as you have it now, there is a near certainty that something is missing. You should find some solution that is secure, isn't too complicated and that will give it a finished look. Maybe a brass snap hook from a shoulder strap.
I have done it a few times and it never looked right. The biggest problem is not the pattern, but rather the height. A fancy low-cut waistcoat is a different story, but the high ones - like for a morning - coat look off. I wouldn't do it again and would suggest you use the cummerbund.
Answer:
Thanks, dopey. The cummerbund looks neater than you might think with a simple twist, but possibly I'll have something added. It really does look good they way it is, with the twist. And then it will hardly be seen, anyway. Basically the piece added may not look as tidy as the way it is now.
My seamstress added buttons to my very small shirt studs and they may stay in the shirt's buttonholes slightly better but the delicate gold and mother-of-pearl jewelry just doesn't look as neat with the plastic buttons added. Just an example.
Answer:
Was at our most upscale mall last evening and went around looking at the design of various cummerbunds. They all had some sort of buckle or clip, and none looked anything like the design of mine. Seems to me when I showed it to various individuals who expressed some curiosity several years ago, one or two remarked they actually admire the simplicity of the thing; there's absolutely no evidence there was ever more to it. The guy at Kilgour may have written to me something to that effect, as well. And he said yes - they do or have made some with velcro.
However, as I said, I would be interested in exactly how the buckle pieces are attached to dopey's, to determine if it really is about the same without the buckle.
Wow - I just discovered my cummerbund does have a compartment for theater tickets, as the books mention. A separate compartment on the top. A nice discovery! At first I thought the stitching is out....
As for design, it is one solid piece of satin fabric across the back - a total of about 52 1/2 inches long. From each end is a velcro strip about 21 1/2 inches. At the extremes are separate pieces of velcro of a different pattern.
On the front, which has this wonderful "brocaided" (is that the word?) raised diamond pattern, there is the usual widest section with three pleats, two narrowing pieces, and then what I'm calling the arms - all in the black silk. My waist is something like 34 inches, so obviously I have room for the twist I've mentioned.
I originally posted this basically not to find out what I can do with the cummerbund, because I believe it's all originally and I think it looks quite fine the way I'm able to wear it, but out of curiosity to find out if any of you have seen one like it - with only the two strips of velcro on the back and no buckle or clip or other fastener.
Answer:
I am already acquainted with your stubbornness, but you might consider whether or not the fact that the cummerbund doesn't work as is as evidence that something is missing. A good design would not require you to twist it in order for it to work. If nothing is missing then the velcro would have been on the other side.
Answer:
Well, that would spoil the design, IMHO. The facing side is symmetrical and no velcro showing.
Answer:
From what you are describing, it sounds exactly like Dopey's--minus the missing piece. The reason there are two kinds of velcro on each end, each on the same side of the band, is that they are intended to be folded over onto each other after passing through a buckle-like piece attached to a second, middle, piece that connects the two ends.
