Infographic | Your ultimate guide to waistcoat suits

Why a waistcoat suit?

The beauty of a waistcoat suit is that apart from the waistcoat, all other pieces are often useful. You can use the trousers and shirt as school uniform, provided they are the right colour. We would always recommend an elasticated fit on children aged younger than eight for two reasons.

Two things to keep in mind

- Children grow far too quickly; an elasticated fit can help assure the suit will fit when it comes to the special day.

- Ease of access; this is really more applicable to young boys, but being able to easily dress and undress them without fumbling about with belts and fiddly fasteners can be invaluable.

What style of suit to go for?

There are many different styles of waistcoat suit to choose from; you can go with matching trousers and waistcoat, a fashion forward check waistcoat, or a patterned waistcoat. We have a fabric and pattern guide here. They all have their uses; a patterned waistcoat is most applicable for a wedding as the colour can match the wedding theme – this is most often worn with a cravat. A check waistcoat is perfect for a day at the races or a golf club formal, whereas a plain waistcoat can be used anywhere appropriate without looking out of place.

The main thing to look out for when buying a waistcoat suit is the chest measurement – a waistcoat should never be baggy or loose! A snug fit around the torso is what you should be aiming to achieve, along with a length that ends around half an inch below the belt line.

The waistcoat suit is a personal favourite of ours for spring and summer occasions, and with these tips, you can’t go wrong.