Which waistcoat will Gareth Southgate be wearing for Waistcoat Wednesday and England’s biggest match for a generation? We sent reporter Amy Gibbons to try some of the finest items Ipswich has to offer – and seek out some inspiration for the big game.
England’s football may be cutting a dash on the pitch, but their manager has stolen the show from the sidelines.
Gareth Southgate’s trademark style has inspired a renaissance of the waistcoat – with England fans around the country donning their finest button-up suits.
As we prepare to celebrate England’s big day, dubbed ‘Waistcoat Wednesday’, I went to try some of the finest items Ipswich has to offer – and seek out some inspiration for the big event.
The three waistcoats, picked out from Coes of Ipswich on Norwich Road, offer a variety of different styles options for the big game.
The first, a classic blue number with five buttons – as is the England manager’s usual choice – is the closest to what we can expect to see this evening. With a design almost identical to Mr Southgate’s trademark M&S piece, it would reflect the former midfielder’s calm and collected demeanor.
The second choice, a grey tweed waistcoat, is a step out of Mr Southgate’s comfort zone – but still smart and classy.
The third and final option, a hot pink number with a matching bow tie, could be Mr Southgate’s choice if England make it through to the final.
Fitting perfectly with the mood of the country, it would provide a splash of colour and an injection of fun into an otherwise seriously tense fixture.
Waistcoat sales are on the up nationwide as fans giddy with England’s success look to dress up for the big event.
But many may not know that waistcoats have been fashionable for some time.
Karl Rosher, buyer and sales assistant at Coes, said they have emerged as versatile style choices as fashions have changed over the years.
“Waistcoats have been quite fashionable now for the last few years,” he said. “They have been coming back into fashion, first of all as tailored separates – so you’d wear it with a tweed blazer, and a chino or a denim jean with brogues in the winter.
“That fashion then kind of fed through into the suiting.
“Waistcoats with suits were mostly the preserve of weddings – ultra formal. Then it started to be fed into that kind of mix and match style.
“It’s been popular for a number of years prior to Mr Southgate – he’s probably just brought it to the media attention.”
Send us your photos of family, friends and work colleagues donning waistcoats today – email newsroom@archant.co.uk
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