# White tie attire: Length of waistcoat? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 2, 2026, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-tie-attire-length-of-waistcoat/1026281 "2026-01-02T20:22:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2026, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-tie-attire-length-of-waistcoat/1026281/1 "2026-01-02T20:22:34Z")
How far below the front of a (buttoned) tailcoat should the bottom of the white waistcoat extend? I’ve seen images depicting the waistcoat not extending below the topcoat at all, to more-commonly, maybe an inch, to one image where there’s four or five inches of waistcoat exposed below the topcoat. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2026, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-tie-attire-length-of-waistcoat/1026281/2 "2026-01-03T03:37:50Z")
I consulted a fancy tailor site that shows photos of men wearing waistcoats that are several inches longer than the topcoat, but the written directions clearly say > **Waistcoat** : White piqué, single-breasted with a shawl collar, ending above the tailcoat’s front points for clean lines. And just for emphasis a little further down > A tailcoat demands custom formal wear or made-to-measure tailoring. The waistcoat and shirt must not extend below the tailcoat’s front, and the tails should align with the knees. A proper fit enhances posture and elegance. I also saw the photos of the 1-inch hem, and it looks pretty stylish to me. IMHO, if you’re having it custom-made, cut the waistcoat and tailcoat exactly the same, but if you’re renting for an occasion, a 1-inch exposure - but no more - would be acceptable. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2026, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-tie-attire-length-of-waistcoat/1026281/3 "2026-01-03T16:44:15Z")
Just curious; what are the circumstances under which you need to wear a tailcoat? American men’s formal dress seems to top out at a tuxedo, even though that is only semi-formal. ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2026, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-tie-attire-length-of-waistcoat/1026281/4 "2026-01-03T16:54:42Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > Just curious; what are the circumstances under which you need to wear a tailcoat? Among others, conducting an orchestra or attending a state dinner. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2026, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-tie-attire-length-of-waistcoat/1026281/5 "2026-01-03T16:56:43Z")
Yes, and the question was intended for the OP, who presumably has an event coming up that demands formalwear. Edited to add, the only time I needed formalwear was when I accepted the second Nobel Prize. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2026, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-tie-attire-length-of-waistcoat/1026281/6 "2026-01-03T17:17:24Z")
Wow, that was back in 1902! You don’t look that old. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2026, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-tie-attire-length-of-waistcoat/1026281/7 "2026-01-03T17:18:35Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > the question was intended for the OP, who presumably has an event coming up that demands formalwear. No, I will almost certainly never attend a White Tie event. I just wonder about things. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2026, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-tie-attire-length-of-waistcoat/1026281/8 "2026-01-03T17:53:48Z")
Sorry. I meant the second one awarded to me. ---
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2026, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-tie-attire-length-of-waistcoat/1026281/9 "2026-01-03T18:24:53Z")
Here’s a reference point from the 1950s: Fred Astaire and Jack Buchanan dancing side by side in white ties, tails, top hats and canes. Neither of them has their coat buttoned, although the two coats have different tailoring in front, and neither of their waistcoats go below the waist of the tail coat. To me, this is the classic look. Because they’re dancing side by side, it’s easy to notice the difference in the tailoring. Astaire’s coat has a wide gap in front with gently rounded, almost vertical sides and it looks like it would not be possible to button it. Buchanan’s coat has much more pointed sides and it might be possible to button it. I suspect that Buchanan’s style was intended to be a little slimming, as his larger frame suffers a bit in that style compared to Astaire’s slim trimness. [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/HV49I2Kx6FY/hqdefault.jpg "The Band Wagon 1953 Fred Astaire and Jack Buchanan I Guess I'll Have to Change My Plan remastered 4k") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HV49I2Kx6FY) ---
**Author:** ![SanVito](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sanvito/32/2805_2.png) [@SanVito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanVito)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2026, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-tie-attire-length-of-waistcoat/1026281/10 "2026-01-07T13:58:27Z")
There’s two gentlemen who spring to mind who are both known of their impeccable attention to fine tailoring, and their regular wearing of white tie. If these two don’t know how to wear it, no one does. First up: Kind Felipe of Spain: [![](https://www.regalfille.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/King-Felipe-and-Queen-Letizia-hosted-a-gala-dinner-in-the-honour-of-Chinese-President-8.jpg) ](https://www.regalfille.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/King-Felipe-and-Queen-Letizia-hosted-a-gala-dinner-in-the-honour-of-Chinese-President-8.jpg) Second up, King Charles (and son) [![](https://c.files.bbci.co.uk/DB59/production/_131935165_01hgxwgwqbv9ff68y6sqna69km.jpg) ](https://c.files.bbci.co.uk/DB59/production/_131935165_01hgxwgwqbv9ff68y6sqna69km.jpg) I think this provides conclusive proof that the white waistcoat should stop just short of the jacket front. Unlike some wearers we could reference…. [![](https://www.askandyaboutclothes.com/attachments/d8phduquwaawhha-jpg.31671/) ](https://www.askandyaboutclothes.com/attachments/d8phduquwaawhha-jpg.31671/) Rest assured, the royals WILL have taken the piss behind their backs ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2026, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-tie-attire-length-of-waistcoat/1026281/11 "2026-01-07T14:44:42Z")
And Trump’s waistcoat looks especially long, much like his neckties. ---
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2026, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-tie-attire-length-of-waistcoat/1026281/12 "2026-01-07T20:35:23Z")
That’s probably why he wore it that way. I would say it’s a combination of the waistcoat being too long and the jacket being too short, but in any case the waistcoat would have “won.” is that Jr. on the right side of the photo (I can’t be bothered to keep track)? He’s the one who looks most like a gorilla in dress clothes. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2026, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-tie-attire-length-of-waistcoat/1026281/13 "2026-01-07T20:37:55Z")
Yes, it’s Jared, Eric, Donald and then Donald Jr. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2026, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-tie-attire-length-of-waistcoat/1026281/14 "2026-01-07T21:00:53Z")
Honestly the Trump men look like high school boys dressed for the prom. They are so evidently proud of themselves. ---
**Author:** ![md-2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9d8465/32.png) [@md-2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/md-2000)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2026, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-tie-attire-length-of-waistcoat/1026281/15 "2026-01-08T20:15:27Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > Edited to add, the only time I needed formalwear was when I accepted the second Nobel Prize Was that the Nobel Peace prize? I hear almost anyone can win that… You just have to stop a whole bunch of wars… > [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > Yes, it’s Jared, Eric, Donald and then Donald Jr. Is there a rule about gold accents on white waistcoats? ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2026, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-tie-attire-length-of-waistcoat/1026281/16 "2026-01-08T20:45:09Z")
> [@Roderick\_Femm](#): > > Here’s a reference point from the 1950s: Fred Astaire and Jack Buchanan dancing side by side in white ties, tails, top hats and canes. Neither… of their waistcoats go below the waist of the tail coat. > [@SanVito](#): > > I think this provides conclusive proof that the white waistcoat should stop just short of the jacket front. Thank you. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2026, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-tie-attire-length-of-waistcoat/1026281/17 "2026-01-08T22:15:39Z")
> [@SanVito](#): > > Second up, King Charles (and son) I hadn’t realised that Charles was that much shorter than his son. ---
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2026, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-tie-attire-length-of-waistcoat/1026281/18 "2026-01-09T00:18:01Z")
I mis-wrote – 2 errors, one grammatical, one a wrong choice of words. I should have said neither of their waistcoats goes below the bottom front of the tail coat. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2026, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-tie-attire-length-of-waistcoat/1026281/19 "2026-01-09T01:23:57Z")
No, you were clear. Neither of their waistcoats extended below the tailcoat. I edited your post and included the editorial ellipsis to show that I did. ---
**Author:** ![md-2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9d8465/32.png) [@md-2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/md-2000)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2026, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-tie-attire-length-of-waistcoat/1026281/20 "2026-01-09T02:40:51Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > I hadn’t realised that Charles was that much shorter than his son. It was a bit of a laugh at the time that Charles had to stand on the step behind Diana in one of their engagement photos so that he did not appear shorter than her…