It's a bold claim, but we'll make it anyway - Favourbrook has the largest waistcoat collection in the world. There, we said it. But size doesn't matter, does it? No, quantity means very little without quality, and we have plenty of the latter, if we don't say so ourselves. From plain silk single-breasted styles to ornately embroidered double-breasted styles, we believe we have a waistcoat that will tick everyone's style boxes. The waistcoat is not just a sartorial accessory but a very important piece of style real estate, injecting colour, pattern, and texture into a formal look. We specialise in such styles because we understand the importance of individual personal expression, and the waistcoat is the perfect medium through which to do this.
Ivory Davenport Silk Single-breasted |
Cream Belvoir Cotton |
Stone Bressingham |
Whether or not we really do have the world's largest men's waistcoat collection, the point is that we're very proud of our garments. The waistcoat, or vest as our American cousins like to call it, is one of those garments that swings in and out of menswear trends, but for sartorialists and lovers of tailoring it has always been an ever-present accessory.
Whether you are wearing morning dress for your wedding or Royal Ascot, or want to dress up a lounge suit, the waistcoat considerations remain the same. Single-breasted or double? This largely comes down to personal preference, but the double-breasted style is widely considered the smarter, more traditional option, but do bear in mind that the squared off front can be unflattering if you are quite portly.
 Antique Gold Brimstone |
Olive Winnington |
Pink Chatsworth Silk |
The single-breasted style is perfectly smart and the uniformity of the single row of buttons looks excellent with a morning suit. We have a huge selection of versatile, block colour silk styles, together with a host of more flamboyant patterned options designed to catch the eye and show personality. Floral motifs are especially popular during the summer months, with the ornate use of embroidery bringing a unique artisanal touch to the finish. Otherwise, a subtle geometric pattern is another great way to introduce a certain confidence to your sartorial look.
Every season, we release new timeless designs, but the essence remains the same - a waistcoat can be an integral element to a formal and smart ensemble, offering a hint of pattern, colour and personality in contrast to the charcoal or navy uniformity it peeps out from. On a more practical level, the waistcoat adds an extra layer of gentlemanly armoury, providing the torso with a little extra protection. From an aesthetic point of view, the angle of the waistcoat's lapels also serve a subtle but no less important function: along with the shirt collar and the lapels of your jacket, the sweep of your waistcoat makes up the trinity of shapes that navigate an onlooker's gaze upward to your face (the cherry on the cake!)
Pink Randwick Double-Breasted |
Dukes Pale Blue Double-Breasted |
Beige Gabardine Wool Double-Breasted |
For elegant summer events, not least weddings, the pastel tones in our linen double-breasted waistcoats make for excellent options. With that delicious swoop of the shawl lapel and a slightly textural slub in the linen, they pair beautifully with charcoal or black morning coats, not to mention our navy morning suit from our Royal Ascot collection.
When perusing our collections, you may notice that there are fewer patterned options for double-breasted waistcoats - this is not an oversight but rather an aesthetic principle - the asymmetry of the DB just doesn't hold pattern as well as the single-breasted waistcoat. With its single row of buttons down the front, it is just perfect for more elaborate designs. While plain waistcoats can offer an eye-catching swathe of colour, the patterned waistcoat demands closer inspection. God is in the details after all, and wearing a patterned waistcoat suggests that you have put not inconsiderable thought into your choice.
The other great thing about a patterned waistcoat is that it opens up lots of different tie and pocket square configurations. The multi-coloured aspect of the waistcoat pattern means you can use one or two of those different tones to influence your colour of tie and pocket square, creating a really interesting and complementary triumvirate.
Whichever style of waistcoat you decide to choose, rest assured that you'll find it at Favourbrook. It might take you some time of course - after all, we do have the largest waistcoat collection in the world.
