Pushing It | Casual Cummerbund

Ever since the first time I wore a tux I've been toying with the idea of wearing a cummerbund in a more casual, everyday sort of way. Most people only wear it (reluctantly) as part of the traditional black tie-uniform and I've never seen anybody try it outside of that context, which I think is a shame since it could make a much smoother transition from pants to shirt and allow you to inject a personal touch without drawing too much focus from the rest of the outfit, instead helping to harmonize and bring it all together.

My own concern about the traditional cummerbund is that it's back, like many vests, usually is far from as flattering as the front is. Therefore I haven't really put my thoughts into action yet. Luckily I've now discovered several versions that adresses that issue, which is why I'm beginning to seriously consider trying it out.

The picture above, from Hèrmes Spring/Summer 09 (one of my favorite collections this season by the way) is a perfect example of my idea of the casual cummerbund. A pair of well-cut pants paired with a casual shirt creates a clean, simple look that is raised a couple of notches by the grey cummerbund which makes the usually sharp contrast between black and white more laid-back, giving it that summery lounging vibe. It also makes the high-waist pants, which often can be an issue for someone like me who's grown used to low-cut jeans, look much more modern. All in all this is pretty much perfection in my eyes and makes me want to incorporate the cummerbund in my summer uniform this year. Then again maybe I just watched way too much Zorro when I was a kid..

See below for more pictures (including a fair isle-version from Burberry Prorsum):

Hermes SS09

Burberry Prorsum AW09