Silk Barathea Cummerbund in Black - Fort Belvedere

No Black Tie ensemble is complete without some kind of waist covering. Unless you are wearing a double-breasted evening jacket, and intend to keep it buttoned all night, to be in keeping with conventions you must wear either a formal evening waistcoat, made of black fabric and cut with a lowered buttoning stance, or a cummerbund, which, since the middle of the 20th century, has been the preferred Black Tie waist covering.

With its elegant pleats reminiscent of a romantic sash, the cummerbund is a beautiful and elegant accessory that helps to define your midsection while adding visual interest.

At Fort Belvedere, we are proud to carry a full line of cummerbunds cut to classic lines and made from all of the standard formal evening fabrics. As a result, you can achieve the apex of the Black Tie style by coordinating your cummerbund with the other fabrics of your look, such as your lapel facings or bow tie. 

In keeping with the formality of Black Tie, the waistband of your trousers and its various utilitarian features, such as suspender buttons or side adjusters, should be hidden from view. One can achieve this by wearing a fully-buttoned double-breasted dinner jacket or a formal evening waistcoat, but the most popular option today is to wear a cummerbund.

Evolving from a sash worn around the waist, a cummerbund is a unique accessory that refines your midsection while imparting an unexpected variation to your waist that breaks up the bulk of a dinner jacket and formal trousers. This produces an elegant effect that imparts dignity and sophistication to any gentleman.

During the Golden Age of Menswear, stylish gentlemen went to the effort of matching the fabrics of their Black Tie ensembles, ensuring that their bow ties, faced lapels, cummerbunds, and shoelaces were properly coordinated. To help you achieve this level of style perfection, Fort Belvedere is happy to carry coordinating bow ties, designed to harmonize with each and every one of our cummerbunds.    

While you may choose how to keep your waist covered, a waist covering of some kind is essential, and a cummerbund is, for most gentlemen, an excellent option because it flatters the figure by cinching the waist and, because of its reduced size, is more breathable and cooler than a formal evening waistcoat.

Outside of the traditions of certain clubs and military organizations, the cummerbund is always worn with the pleats facing upwards. You may find this easier to remember with the silly pneumonic that your cummerbund should be oriented like a “crumb catcher.”

This cummerbund features an elastic loop that should be secured to the button of your trousers. Doing so will securely hold the cummerbund in its proper position and ensure that it does not ride up as you move.

To be in keeping with Classic style conventions, your bow tie should be made from the same fabric as your cummerbund. You should also wear a boutonniere, with a rose or carnation being the most traditional for an evening ensemble. All of these accessories, and more, are available from Fort Belvedere.  

Gorgeous Barathea Luster. Known for its rich, deep luster, barathea silk has a relatively matte appearance that is given the slightest gleam because of its lightly pebbled surface. The result is a subtle glimmer that cannot be achieved by any other fabric. Our barathea silk is the finest in the world, and for a perfect complement of comparable quality, be sure to pair this cummerbund with one of our barathea bow ties.  

Handmade. The superior materials of this cummerbund are attentively assembled by master craftsmen, working entirely by hand to craft the best possible accessory. Features of this artisanal construction include a special cotton interlining, which dramatically improves the structure and fit of this cummerbund. 

Designed by Connoisseurs for Connoisseurs. Having worn countless cummerbunds and never being satisfied with them, Sven Raphael Schneider, the founder of Fort Belvedere, decided to design his own inspired by timeless, Classic style but with the benefit of modern improvements. Featuring a comfortable but secure closure and a flexible belt while maintaining its positioning, we had to go through several prototypes, but now, Fort Belvedere is proud to share our perfect cummerbund with you.

Ideal for all Black Tie Occasions. Whether needed for professional attire as a waiter, musician, or conductor, or for social occasions like a wedding or gala, the cummerbund is the most versatile Black-Tie waist-covering accessory, and every stylish gentleman should own at least one.   

Fully Adjustable. To help you achieve the trim, close fit typical of Black Tie, the waist of this cummerbund automatically adjusts to your size thanks to our elastic inserts. Whether sitting, standing, walking, or dancing, this cummerbund moves with you for a secure, comfortable fit. And, with its generous panel measuring 62 cm x 15 cm, or 24.5” x 6,” at its widest point, this cummerbund will also fully cover your waistband and prevent your shirt from poking out in an unsightly way