Menswear’s Next Favorite Accessory Is… The Cummerbund?!

If the Givenchy, Louis Vuitton, Sies Marjan, and Acne Studios Fall/Winter 2020 shows were any indication, the cummerbund is poised to make its grand entrance into the fashion juggernaut. Yes, really. Those oversized waistbands worn by old dudes at the opera might soon be a dominant force on the streets of SoHo. At fashion week, formality surged to the fore as one of menswear’s most sophisticated and least understood pieces emerged on the runway among a blare of sharper silhouettes, establishing itself as one of the accessory champions of the season. While it’s ill-advised to refer to an accouterment as timeless and traditional as the cummerbund as “in” or “out,” it’s safe to say that, until now, you’d be hard-pressed to find it anywhere but smug black-tie dinners and Great Gatsby-themed costume parties. Upper-class formality didn’t really fit into an era where streetwear, athleisure — and in turn, comfort — were considered king. Read more at Highsnobiety.